The original “Rangemaster” was connected to the amplifier input and set to filter out low frequencies at the same time as boosting the overall signal level. It essentially behaves as a “treble boost” as it hits the preamplifier of your guitar amp.
**If you have a particular corner frequency you want on any of the settings, just write to me, and I’ll fine-tune your pedal for you at no extra cost.
Originally designed to provide clarity to rather “dark” sounding early designs of British valve amps, this circuit loves tube amps. By “hitting the input hard” you drive overdrive the first stages of the amplifier. And by reducing the level of low frequencies this overdrive does not “trigger” off of low notes too heavily, leading to a smooth overdrive, rather than a heavy distortion.
Leave it to guitarists to mess about and discover new sounds… the godfather of metal, Tony Iommi, had his rangemaster modded to boost more low frequencies into the amp, creating some of the first “heavy distortion” tones on early Black Sabbath albums.
So in addition to the Boost control, the Range control allows you to select from a “Hi” tuned input, a touch thinner than classic Rangemasters, the “Vint” (Vintage, a.k.a. “Beano”) setting, a “Fat” boost, increasing the low frequency content, and a “Full” boost that amplifies all guitar frequencies equally. For 70’s proto-metal tones, try the latter two!
Each of these has it’s own character and interacts differently with amplifier inputs and other pedals. Dig in, mix and match, and find your own tonal formula.
We have 3-way and 4-way switches in stock. The 3-way are nice heavy metal switches, which I certainly prefer… on the other hand, the 4-way allow for another frequency selection. The 4-way are decent quality, just with plastic housing… Let us know if you have any questions. We’ll make sure you have the right frequencies in your boost.
The original “Rangemaster” was connected to the amplifier input and set to filter out low frequencies at the same time as boosting the overall signal level. It essentially behaves as a “treble boost” as it hits the preamplifier of your guitar amp.
**If you have a particular corner frequency you want on any of the settings, just write to me, and I’ll fine-tune your pedal for you at no extra cost.
Originally designed to provide clarity to rather “dark” sounding early designs of British valve amps, this circuit loves tube amps. By “hitting the input hard” you drive overdrive the first stages of the amplifier. And by reducing the level of low frequencies this overdrive does not “trigger” off of low notes too heavily, leading to a smooth overdrive, rather than a heavy distortion.
Leave it to guitarists to mess about and discover new sounds… the godfather of metal, Tony Iommi, had his rangemaster modded to boost more low frequencies into the amp, creating some of the first “heavy distortion” tones on early Black Sabbath albums.
So in addition to the Boost control, the Range control allows you to select from a “Hi” tuned input, a touch thinner than classic Rangemasters, the “Vint” (Vintage, a.k.a. “Beano”) setting, a “Fat” boost, increasing the low frequency content, and a “Full” boost that amplifies all guitar frequencies equally. For 70’s proto-metal tones, try the latter two!
Each of these has it’s own character and interacts differently with amplifier inputs and other pedals. Dig in, mix and match, and find your own tonal formula.
We have 3-way and 4-way switches in stock. The 3-way are nice heavy metal switches, which I certainly prefer… on the other hand, the 4-way allow for another frequency selection. The 4-way are decent quality, just with plastic housing… Let us know if you have any questions. We’ll make sure you have the right frequencies in your boost.
