NKT CV7087 Germanium Rangemaster | Input Simulator | Fat Switch | RebelRebel

Description

NKT CV7087 Germanium Rangemaster | Input Simulator | Fat Switch | Hand Wired Tagboard

Description of Product

The Rangemaster is an extraordinarily simple circuit, which is precisely why the details matter.

This version is built around a military specification NKT CV7087 germanium transistor and adds two ways of altering how the circuit interacts with the guitar and the rest of the rig.

The first is the input simulator control.

Rather than simply changing the amount of boost, this sits at the front of the circuit and changes what the Rangemaster sees at its input. That gives you another way of altering the response and feel of the germanium circuit before you even reach the traditional Rangemaster controls.

The second is the Fat switch on the side.

In its standard position you have the familiar focused Rangemaster response. Switch to Fat and considerably more body is allowed through, moving the circuit towards a broader mid focused boost. It is particularly useful with single coils or whenever the traditional Rangemaster setting needs a little more weight.

The Fat circuit on this build uses a large vintage ITT silver mica capacitor.

The input also uses a WIMA gold capacitor of the type found in 1960s Selmer crocskin amplifiers.

I could achieve the required electrical values with modern components. That is not really why I use parts like these. I enjoy building modern pedals with a physical connection to the amplifiers, components and construction that helped create the guitar sounds that inspired them.

At the centre of it all is the military specification NKT CV7087 germanium transistor.

The entire circuit is wired individually by hand on tagboard.

Like my other PNP Rangemasters, it is designed to work from a conventional 9V centre negative supply without using a voltage inverter. I have experimented with inverter circuits and do not like what they do to the sound of my Rangemaster, so I take a different approach.

You retain the germanium circuit I want without having to treat the pedal differently from the rest of a modern pedalboard.

This particular example is finished in blue over fluorescent yellow nitrocellulose lacquer, with Leia Rebel Rebel pin up artwork and vintage style bakelite knobs.

The nitrocellulose will mark and change as the pedal is used. That is intentional. It means the finish gradually becomes particular to the person who owns it rather than remaining permanently factory new.

Description of Sound

A good Rangemaster is not simply about making a guitar brighter.

The circuit changes what is being sent into the next stage.

In the standard setting, some of the lower frequencies are held back while the upper mids and level are pushed forwards. Into an amplifier or another gain stage, that can tighten an overly soft bottom end, bring individual notes forwards and produce the focused, vocal character that made the Rangemaster such an important part of British guitar sounds in the first place.

The CV7087 gives this version the character and response of a germanium Rangemaster, but the additional controls allow you to decide how traditional you want that response to remain.

The Fat switch is the most immediate change.

Leave it out and the circuit retains the familiar focused treble booster response.

Switch it in and the large ITT capacitor allows more body through. Single coils become noticeably fuller and the pedal moves towards a stronger midrange push without losing the fundamental Rangemaster character.

The input simulator goes deeper.

Germanium circuits are unusually sensitive to what is connected directly in front of them. Altering the conditions at the input changes how the transistor responds, giving you another range of sounds without turning the pedal into a completely different circuit.

It makes this a Rangemaster you can explore rather than simply switch on.

And like every Hello Sailor Rangemaster, I test it through both my valve amplifiers and a small transistor amplifier.

A Rangemaster should not require several thousand pounds worth of vintage amplifier before it becomes interesting. Brian May’s use of a treble booster with the little transistor Deacy amplifier is a good reminder of just how effective a simple booster and a modest amplifier can be when they interact properly.

Whether it is pushing a valve amplifier already beginning to break up, another drive pedal, or something considerably smaller, the important thing is what the Rangemaster makes the rest of the rig do.

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 built around a military specification NKT CV7087 germanium transistor.

The input simulator, Fat circuit with its oversized ITT silver mica capacitor, WIMA gold input capacitor, hand wired tagboard construction and blue over fluorescent yellow nitrocellulose finish 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.