Texas Instruments BC213C Silicon Rangemaster | Fat Switch | Hand Wired Tagboard

Description

Texas Instruments BC213C Silicon Rangemaster | Fat Switch | Hand Wired Tagboard

Description of Product

The Rangemaster is one of those circuits that has survived for more than sixty years because it does something very specific remarkably well.

This one takes the classic idea in a slightly different direction.

At its heart is a vintage Texas Instruments BC213C silicon transistor. Rather than trying to make the circuit behave like a germanium Rangemaster, I have allowed the silicon transistor to bring its own character to it, with a strong, immediate attack and plenty of definition when it pushes whatever comes next.

The circuit is wired by hand on tagboard and includes a Fat switch which changes the frequency response of the booster.

In its standard position you have the familiar focused Rangemaster response.

Switch to Fat and considerably more of the midrange comes through, taking it from the traditional treble booster sound towards a broader mid hump. It is particularly useful with single coil guitars where the additional weight can make the whole sound feel much bigger without losing the purpose of the Rangemaster.

This particular build is finished in blue over fluorescent yellow nitrocellulose lacquer with pin up artwork and an aged anodised blue aluminium knob.

The nitro finish will mark and change with use. That is part of the reason I use it. Over time the pedal becomes increasingly individual to whoever owns it.

Description of Sound

Despite the name, a Rangemaster is not really about simply adding treble.

The classic setting reduces some of the lower frequencies before increasing the level into whatever follows. Into an amplifier or another gain stage, that can tighten the bottom end, bring the guitar forwards and introduce the focused, vocal character associated with some of the great British guitar sounds.

The BC213C gives this version a particularly immediate response.

There is plenty of cut and definition in the standard Rangemaster setting, making it useful when a guitar or amplifier begins to disappear into its own low end as the gain increases.

The Fat switch changes the character considerably.

Instead of concentrating so heavily on the upper part of the guitar, more midrange and body are allowed through. With a Stratocaster, Telecaster or another lower output single coil guitar, it can turn the Rangemaster into a much bigger sounding boost while retaining the focus that makes the circuit useful in the first place.

It also gives you two quite different ways of pushing another drive pedal.

Use the standard setting when you want definition and cut.

Use Fat when you want more weight behind the note.

Neither setting is intended to replace the character of the guitar or amplifier. The point is to change what you feed into the next stage and hear how the rest of the rig responds.

Real World Testimonials

“My rig now has 2 epochs: before HSE Rangemaster, and after HSE Rangemaster.”

Reverb feedback

“Excellent Rangemaster. One of the best and useful ones I’ve played.”

Reverb feedback

Call to Action

This is a one off Hello Sailor Rangemaster, hand wired on tagboard around a vintage Texas Instruments BC213C silicon transistor.

Blue over fluorescent yellow nitrocellulose lacquer, pin up artwork, aged anodised aluminium hardware and the switchable Fat circuit make this particular build its own thing.

There will be other Hello Sailor Rangemasters.

There will not be another exactly like this one.

If it speaks to you, it is available.