Texas Instruments BC213C Silicon Rangemaster, Fat Switch, Atomic Teal Metallic Nitrocellulose

Description

Description of Product

The interesting thing about this Rangemaster is the transistor.

It is built around a Texas Instruments BC213C silicon transistor, but it does not behave the way I normally expect a silicon Rangemaster to behave.

The reason I kept this transistor was the cleanup. Roll the guitar volume back and it settles down remarkably well. Open the guitar up again and the Rangemaster comes straight back. It gives me much of the interaction I normally go looking for in a good germanium build, but without actually using germanium.

The circuit is hand wired as a one off build, with a Soviet silver mica capacitor and a tropical fish capacitor forming part of the component selection.

There is also a Fat switch. The standard position keeps the traditional Rangemaster emphasis. Switch Fat in and more body and midrange are allowed through, changing what is being sent into the next stage.

The enclosure is finished in Atomic Teal metallic nitrocellulose lacquer. Nitrocellulose will mark and change with handling over time. That is part of the reason I use it. This one will gradually become more individual to whoever owns it.

Description of Sound

A Rangemaster makes far more sense when you stop thinking of it as something designed simply to add treble.

In the standard setting this one removes some of the weight from the bottom of the guitar and concentrates the signal further up. Into an amplifier or drive that is already working, that can give notes more definition and change the way the next stage breaks up.

The Fat switch moves that emphasis down. There is more body behind the note and less of the traditional narrow Rangemaster response.

The BC213C is the interesting part for me.

Despite being silicon, it cleans up unusually well from the guitar volume. Back the guitar down and the circuit becomes noticeably calmer and cleaner. Bring the volume back up and the drive returns.

That behaviour is much closer to what I normally listen for when selecting a germanium transistor.

It gives this Rangemaster a guitar volume response I would not normally expect from a silicon version of the circuit.

Real World Testimonials

“Excellent Rangemaster. One of the best and most useful ones I have played.”

Reverb feedback, Hello Sailor Effects Silicon Rangemaster, Three Position EQ Treble Booster listing.

Call to Action

This is a one off Hello Sailor Rangemaster built around this particular Texas Instruments BC213C transistor.

The transistor, Fat switch, component selection and Atomic Teal metallic nitrocellulose finish make this particular build its own thing.

There will be other Rangemasters.

There will not be another exactly like this one.

If it speaks to you, it is available.