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

Description

NKT CV7087 Germanium Rangemaster | Pickup 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 changing how the circuit interacts with the guitar and the rest of the rig.

The first is the pickup simulator control on the input.

Rather than simply changing the amount of boost, this alters what the Rangemaster sees at the front of the circuit. Germanium circuits can be particularly sensitive to what is connected before them, so changing the input conditions gives you another way of shaping the response and feel of the pedal.

The second is the Fat switch on the side.

In its standard position you have the familiar focused Rangemaster response. Switch to Fat and more body is allowed through, taking the circuit towards a broader mid focused boost. It is particularly useful with single coil guitars when you want more weight without losing the character that makes a Rangemaster useful in the first place.

Inside, this particular build uses a WIMA gold capacitor alongside a vintage blue moulded capacitor of the type commonly found in 1960s Fender and Magnatone amplifiers.

I could achieve the required electrical values using modern precision parts. That is not really why I use components like these. I enjoy incorporating old parts with a genuine connection to the amplifiers and equipment that inspired much of what I build.

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

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

This example is finished with heart tattoo artwork and white cupcake knobs.

As with every one off Hello Sailor build, the circuit, components and artwork come together as an individual pedal rather than something intended to be reproduced exactly.

Description of Sound

A good Rangemaster is not simply about adding treble.

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 the 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 NKT CV7087 gives this version the response and character of a germanium Rangemaster, while the additional controls allow you to alter how the circuit is driven and how much body it passes.

The Fat switch gives the most immediate change.

Leave it out and the pedal retains the traditional focused treble booster response.

Switch it in and more low mids and body come through. With a Stratocaster, Telecaster or another lower output single coil guitar, that can make the sound considerably fuller while retaining the push and definition of the Rangemaster circuit.

The pickup simulator goes deeper.

Because the germanium transistor responds to what it sees at the input, the simulator allows you to alter that relationship before the signal reaches the main gain stage.

It gives you another range of response without turning the pedal into a completely different circuit.

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

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 valve amplifier before it becomes interesting. Whether it is pushing an 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 pickup simulator, Fat switch, WIMA gold capacitor, vintage blue moulded capacitor, hand wired tagboard construction, heart tattoo artwork and white cupcake knobs 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.