Re: My GAS Range (RangeMaster) pedal

On 16 Aug 2005 13:02:50 -0700, "RichCI" <richci@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
>PMG wrote:
>> On 10 Aug 2005 14:15:52 -0700, "RichCI" <richci@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >LULU wrote:
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "PMG" <xxxxxxxXX@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> >> news:mtr2f1pbrh3umn7orsabepu5dtf6398nbn@xxxxxxxxxx
>> >> > Ok, I'm finally done with this thing. Thank God. Pedals are a pain
>> >> > in the *** to build.
>> >> >
>> >> > But here it is, my GAS Range pedal, based on the Dallas Arbiter
>> >> > RangeMaster circuit. I used the schematic found on this website:
>> >> >
>> >> > http://www.boardsprep.com/mp3/treble_boosters.htm
>> >> >
>> >> > In place of the OC44 or NKT275 transistors suggested on the schematic,
>> >> > I used an NTE158 Germanium transistor because it was easy to get hold
>> >> > of. And in place of the .0068uf input cap, I used a .01uf, and a
>> >> > .005uf to come up with .015uf. I used the suggested .10uf output cap,
>> >> > and it's wired PTP between the pot, and the DPDT Carling stomp switch.
>> >> >
>> >> > The jacks are SwitchCraft, and those were wired into the enclosure
>> >> > using cloth covered solid core wire because I like using it, and I
>> >> > want those wires to stay put. The wires that need to flex are
>> >> > recycled stranded wire from a car stereo wiring harness. The cloth
>> >> > wire, Carling stomp switch, and the jacks are from Lord Valve, and
>> >> > most of the rest is from PartsExpress.
>> >> >
>> >> > Pictures:
>> >> >
>> >> > I like that polished aluminum look, but hate polishing it:
>> >> > http://amplifyer.home.comcast.net/GAS_Range/RangeMstr_front.jpg
>> >> >
>> >> > Inside view, all wired up:
>> >> > http://amplifyer.home.comcast.net/GAS_Range/GASrange_inside.jpg
>> >> >
>> >> > This is the underside of the perf board:
>> >> > http://amplifyer.home.comcast.net/GAS_Range/GASrangePerf_flipped.jpg
>> >> >
>> >> > I put that one polarized cap on the underside of the perfboard to keep
>> >> > down the clutter.
>> >> >
>> >> > Don't want to do this again anytime soon, but the pedal's a blast to
>> >> > play through and gives me a lot more gain than I need (I have to run
>> >> > it at less than 50%). It's like a boost pedal with an attitude. I
>> >> > like it a lot better than the MXR MicroAmp and the EH LPB-1.
>> >> >
>> >> > Nice pedal, but it's a combination of a good circuit design, and a lot
>> >> > of blind luck selecting parts.
>> >> >
>> >Looks great, Pete!
>>
>> Thanks.
>>
>> >
>> >I recently purchased an Analogman Beano Boost:
>> >
>> >http://www.analogman.com/beano.htm
>>
>> I bet that's a cool pedal.
>>
>> Keeley builds a RangeMaster based pedal too.
>>
>> http://www.robertkeeley.com/
>>
>> And this guy who was working with Dan Armstrong:
>>
>> http://www.vintagetoneproject.com/
>>
>> Couldn't bring myself to spending any money on one right now. Gotta
>> pay off some more Visa. So I thought I'd take a shot at building my
>> own.
>>
>> I was considering adding a switch to choose between input caps, like
>> everyone who knows what they're doing does, but I figured the less
>> complications the better. I might try to add that later.
>>
>> >I noticed you have a Duracell in the box. In an interview with
>> >ToneQuest, Mike recommends using a carbon (regular heavy duty) battery
>> >rather than an alkaline in devices like treble boosters and fuzzes as
>> >they give a brighter tone:
>> >
>> >TQR: What's your take on alkaline vs. carbon batteries?
>> >
>> >"Alkaline batteries are OK for most things except fuzz pedals, or a
>> >really simple early pedal like the Dallas Rangemaster. In those
>> >pedals,the battery really becomes an integral part of the circuit, and
>> >not only will it sound different with a carbon battery, but you'll
>> >get more volume from a carbon battery in those pedals."
>> >
>> >http://www.analogman.com/tq.htm
>>
>> I'm busy going through the Tone Quest article, but it's kind of long,
>> so it'll take a while.
>>
>> >
>> >There are some sound clips on the Sun Face fuzz page where they swap
>> >batteries and the difference in the tones is pretty pronounced:
>> >
>> >http://www.analogman.com/fuzzface.htm
>> >
>> >Maybe try a carbon battery and see how how your box sounds with that
>> >compared to an alkaline. You might still end up prefering an alkaline,
>> >but it's a cheap experiment that would be interesting.
>>
>> He's probably right that the old carbon 9Vs sound better. They're
>> getting a lot harder to find though. Walgreens used to sell them, but
>> I haven't seen them for a while.
>>
>> I used to buy six packs of them, then one time they were on sale, so I
>> bought a whole mess of them. Most of them ended up in the garbage a
>> long time later because a bunch of them were completely drained by the
>> time I got to them.
>>
>> Claude mentioned that Mouser has them, but I haven't checked yet.
>>
>> Duracell is my favorite grocery store brand though, and they're easy
>> to find.
>
>
>How are you enjoying your treble booster, Pete?

So far, I still like it a lot.

I am rather curious about how it would have turned out if I'd spent
the money on a NOS cork sniffer germanium transistor, or added a bias
pot to help tweak it like all the pedal building enthusiasts would
have had me do... but I didn't do either one of those things *or* use
a transistor socket, and I still love this pedal.

You know, and if I'd bought a Rangemaster based pedal from one of the
boutique guys, and got a chance to play through that before building
this one, I might have a very different opinion of it.

>I gotta say, the more
>I play around with mine, the more I love it. These things really open
>up a lot of possibilities for different tones and feels.

This one adds a lot of aggressive snarl to my sound. The thing's very
lively. I tend to leave it on most of the time. I'm not sure if it
really changed my sound, so much as it gave me a sound that I like
more often, so I don't have as many off days. Because I was able to
EQ in this basic sound before, but it didn't have that lit fuse thing
happening. This sort of adds adrenaline.

It's occurred to me that I've been using it mostly with my humbucker
Telecaster, and I probably need to try it on some other guitars.

>Also, I stopped by my local shopping mall where there is a dollar store
>and they did have heavy duty/carbon batteries. I picked up a two pack
>of Panasonic 9v's for a buck. The expiration on them is for 2009 so I
>might stock up on a few more later on depending on how long the
>batteries last in the treble booster.

I guess I need to make an effort to find some carbon batteries.

You know, a few years ago, I bought a distortion pedal by DOD that
they made (claimed to) exclusively for MF. And it came with a
Panasonic carbon battery. Probably exactly what you bought. And that
pedal sounded great to my ears, until I had to replace the battery,
then all of a sudden it didn't sound very good any more. And that
wouldn't have been a simple circuit, like Analogman mentioned, but
replacing the battery wrecked it somehow.

So there has to be something to the whole carbon vs. alkaline thing.

Pete


--
But if you are after mere parlor tricks,
you will be sorely disappointed. --Dr. Orpheus

.

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