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Photo of Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII and more gear in a pedalboard

Photo of Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII and more gear

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII

^# 33

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$140.00 to $179.99 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (30)

7 Reviews

Find out who is using Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII

3 community setups

17 wishlisted

70 saved

Page last updated Jul 05, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 7 stores. Prices updated July 4, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

4.5 (9)

$179.99

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5.0 (9)

$179.99

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4.5 (77)

$146.99

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5.0 (78)

$140.00 72 available New

$78.00 105 available Used

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4.0 (17)

$179.99

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5.0 (5)

$179.99

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4.7 (37)

$176.00

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Average Price: $158

Standard/Professional

$80

$181+

Price Tier

In the Distortion Effects Pedals category, Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII is priced in the upper end of the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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Unleash the roaring sound of a classic-era Marshall amplifier with the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII. This pedal is a secret weapon for guitarists seeking that vintage Marshall tone, offering the dynamism and versatility of the acclaimed Marshall-style overdrive. The Dirty Little Secret MKIII is not just a pedal, it's a sonic powerhouse that forms the core of your sound, enhancing your tone whether you're playing clean or cranking up the gain.

The pedal features two modes: Super Lead and Super Bass, that replicate the tone and gain structure of Marshall Super Lead and Super Bass respectively. The Super Lead mode gives you a wide gain range from classic plexi to modified JCM800 levels, while the Super Bass mode offers a unique voicing that's great for achieving that elusive "not quite clean, not quite dirty" response.

The pedal can also be left always-on, allowing for great clean sound just by rolling back your guitar's volume knob, just like the old school Marshall players did. So whether you're a purist wanting that classic British sound or a tone chaser looking to enhance your sonic palette, the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII is a must-have for your pedalboard.

Key Features:

Two Modes: Super Lead and Super Bass
Wide gain range for versatile tonal options
Always-on functionality for great clean sound
Tone sculpting with the addition of midrange control
Robust feature-set from evolving listening and circuit skills
Controls: Treble, Middle, Bass, Master & Pre-Amp
Power consumption: 5 mA
Power supply with 9 V battery or via 9 V DC power supply (not included)
Made in USA

Product specs

Brand	Catalinbread
Model	Dirty Little Secret Licario Limited Edition, Dirty Little Secret MKIII, Dirty Little Secret MkIII, Dirty Little Secret MkIII Limited Edition, Dirty Little Secret MkIII Mountain Edition
Finish	Black, Black / Red, Mountain, Purple Gaze, Red
Year	2010 - 2025
Made In	United States
Categories	Distortion Pedals, Overdrive and Boost Pedals
Pedal Format	Standard

FAQs

What type of sound does the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII emulate?: The Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII emulates the classic sound of a Marshall Plexi, providing a rich, dynamic distortion that is reminiscent of vintage British amps.
Can the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII be used with both clean and overdriven amp settings?: Yes, the Dirty Little Secret MKIII is designed to work well with both clean and overdriven amp settings, offering versatility for different playing styles and tonal preferences.
Does the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII have a built-in boost function?: The Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII does not have a built-in boost function, but it is designed to deliver a strong, natural overdrive that can push your amp effectively.
Is the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII suitable for live performances?: Yes, the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII is well-suited for live performances, offering reliable construction and a powerful sound that cuts through the mix.
What power supply does the Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII require?: The Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII requires a standard 9V DC power supply, which is commonly used with most guitar pedals.

Videos

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ProGuitarShopDemos

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MK III Demo

ProGuitarShopDemos

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII

ProGuitarShopDemos

TPS AB Comparisons – Fulltone OCD & Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret

That Pedal Show

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Stock vs. Red Version

AndyDemos

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret

Guitarist

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII Demo

HarryAndAGuitar

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MkIII - How does it sound?

Audiofanzine in English

Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MK-III - Demo by Hovak Alaverdyan

Hovak Alaverdyan

Reviews

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PROS

Emulates classic Marshall amp sounds effectively
Offers dynamic response to playing and guitar volume control
Works well with both single coils and humbuckers
Versatile EQ settings with treble, mid, bass knobs
Built to last with solid construction
Compatible with 9V and 18V for different tonal options
Internal presence knob and SL/SB switch enhance tone shaping
Can be used as a foundation pedal or for high-gain tones
Plays nicely with other pedals in a chain
Low power consumption, efficient with battery use

CONS

Internal switch for Super Lead/Super Bass may be inconvenient
Some users report it doesn't exactly replicate a Marshall
Lacks a power adapter, considered a drawback for the price
May produce a "phaser-like" effect, not preferred by all
Mid frequencies may sound scooped to some users
Higher gain settings might not suit all musical styles

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII.

Features and functionality

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The super bass mode can be used as a clean tone shaper, ideal for stacking with other drives for high gain.
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Super lead mode offers a distinct EQ that may not seamlessly align with other drives but offers unique tonal possibilities.
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The pedal excels at stacking with other pedals, particularly fuzz, enhancing tonal versatility when used as a foundation overdrive.
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The super bass mode is particularly appreciated when used at 18V, offering enhanced tonal characteristics not achievable at 9V.
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Comparisons

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Preferred over the Barber Direct Drive v3 for Marshall-style tones with a Deluxe Reverb amp.
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Owners suggest the Wampler Plexidrive, Plextortion, or Pinnacle as alternative MIAB (Marshall-in-a-Box) pedals for those seeking varied gain ranges.
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Boss DS1 with Keeley Mod is preferred by some for its tone and cost-effectiveness, being half the price of the DLS MKIII.
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Use cases and applications

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Super bass mode is noted for stacking well with fuzz pedals, akin to Plexi Drive's performance.
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Running the DLS MKIII at 18V into an amp's effects return can significantly improve tone, although it requires additional switching equipment.
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The Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII pairs well with a TS808 Tubescreamer Mini for added gain, enhancing its performance for plexi-style tones.
Source

User experience

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Owners have swapped out the DLS MKIII for other compact options like the Mooer Solo due to limited pedalboard space.
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Some users find the DLS MKIII too harsh and aggressive, lacking the saturation and fullness of a real Marshall amp.
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Owners report a significant tonal difference when running the pedal at 18V compared to 9V, describing it as experiencing "two different worlds."
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4.5 out of 5

Based on 7 Reviews and 30 Ratings

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1 star

matt_gilson

125

over 3 years ago

Great Distortion Marshall or not!

I went on a little journey for a Marshall distortion sound that would sound great with 65 Deluxe style amp/Tone King in my case. I stumbled upon this after trying JHS offerings.

What I liked about this pedal is the bottom end isn’t tamed so much. I can sculpt it myself and the EQ is very versatile! Many overlook the presence switch inside the pedal. Simply set all to noon, and if to dark or bright, open up and set the presence. The presence is 3.2k and mostly your high area. The high external knob more works as an upper mid boost wort the tone stack…as explained in manual.

Once you dial in the presence with all set to noon, it’s very easy to work with. Once I tuned it to my amp, I could pretty much scoop or turn up mids, lower bass or keep center to 25%. This goes from normal to a chug machine!

After presence set I noticed I barely had to touch my high knob. Maybe just nudge it up a few. At first I had it all the way up, until I set the presence correctly. That’s one thing I think people miss, or demos don’t talk about.

With that out the way, the distortion is great! Reminds me of early 90s Grunge, 70s rock and can be pretty much Black Keys in a box. It nails the Green Day, Pearl Jam and In Utero Tones great as well. It is a bit on the older 70s style compared to say an Angry Charlie pedal.

But it has more function imo to tailor. I see no reason I wouldn’t want this on my board! It works extremely well with blues breakers behind it, Klons and any stacked low over drive if you want more modern territory. I returned a JHS @ pedal that had a way too tight low end, but was cool for solo modern players… as I favored this pedal more for Rhythm, over the many MIAB I tried with bright cap type amps!

It works on bright and dark amps, so it’s hard to go wrong with this. Having a Fender or Vox tone then being able to use this is a game changer! More versatility for your playing, and the jump from my Morning Glory to this pedal sounds natural on my amp. I play mostly Indie rock and current stuff. For the Metal player I’d say good if you’re into sludge type stuff. But it’s not a Steve Vai solo machine…I found that in the @+ but just not my style.

Simply put, it’s great fit as a main high gain sound on you board!

Roles:

Guitarist Keyboardist Composer

Genres:

Electronic Rock Electronica

roy_muscutt

209

almost 8 years ago

Fave Marshall in a box

If you are looking to build a good cheese board of guitar tones, you would do well to have a look at the DLS. It is one of many 'Marshall in a box' pedals. What makes this for me is that its an easy pedal to get a good tone from. Controls are layed out like an amp. The gain interacts very much like a Marshall DSL which is good for me. Fairly common so they dont go for loads 2nd hand.

miroslav_suvada

109

over 9 years ago

Sweet Marshall foundation overdrive

Have non Marshall amp but you really dig that iconic sound of pushed Marshall? Search no more! This pedal does exactly that! Without noise. Beautiful pedal and I really like it.