Dual Rangemaster | Germanium NKT CV7087 and Texas Instruments BC213C Silicon | Handwired Treble Booster

Description

Description of Product

There is a reason I keep coming back to the Rangemaster. It is a simple circuit, but changing the transistor, the gain and the frequencies you feed into it can make a surprising difference to how the rest of your rig behaves.

This particular build puts two complete Rangemaster circuits into one enclosure. One germanium and one silicon. Each has its own footswitch, gain control and fat switch, so you can explore the differences without having to swap pedals.

The germanium side uses a military specification Newmarket NKT CV7087 transistor. A proper British germanium device from the period when these circuits first appeared.

The silicon side uses a vintage Texas Instruments BC213C. This is my favourite silicon transistor for a Rangemaster. I’ve tried plenty of alternatives over the years, but I keep coming back to this particular device.

Both circuits have their own fat switches. In the standard setting you get the familiar Rangemaster frequency response. Engage the fat switch and more lower frequencies are allowed into the circuit, giving you a fuller sound without abandoning what makes a Rangemaster useful in the first place.

Both circuits are completely handwired on traditional tagboard, using vintage and mojo components throughout. It is the same construction approach I use across my Hello Sailor builds. Everything is assembled and soldered by hand, with the wiring kept accessible and serviceable.

The enclosure is finished in metallic blue over a vivid neon base. The neon shows through around the edges, giving the deep blue finish a contrasting green outline.

On the front is a vintage inspired wrestler pin up, accompanied by the Hello Sailor Effects artwork. The rear is individually marked with the transistor details and my signature.

It is a one off build. There will be other Rangemasters, but not another with this exact combination of components, artwork and finish.

Description of Sound

The interesting thing about a Rangemaster is that it does much more than simply make your guitar brighter.

What it feeds into the amplifier matters just as much as the amount of boost.

With the fat switches disengaged, both circuits concentrate the signal towards the upper midrange. Low frequencies are reduced before they reach the gain stage, allowing the amplifier to be driven harder without the bottom end becoming quite so congested.

That is particularly useful with an amplifier already beginning to break up. Single notes come forward, chords retain definition and the guitar can cut through without simply adding more volume.

The fat switches change that relationship.

Engage one and more lower frequencies enter the circuit. The result is a thicker, broader boost with more body behind the notes. This can be especially useful with single coil guitars or an amplifier that needs a little more weight.

Then there is the difference between the two transistors.

The NKT CV7087 germanium circuit offers the traditional germanium Rangemaster response, where the amount of signal entering the transistor and the setting of the gain control have a considerable influence on the result.

The BC213C silicon circuit has a more direct character. It is a particularly useful transistor for driving an amplifier into a harder, more defined sound.

Neither is automatically better.

That is the reason for putting both circuits together. You can hear what each transistor and its surrounding circuit does with the same guitar and amplifier, rather than making assumptions about germanium and silicon.

Both sides respond to changes in guitar volume and picking attack. Open the guitar volume and drive the next stage harder. Roll it back and the response becomes more restrained.

And because each side has its own gain and fat controls, there is quite a bit of room to find the response that suits your guitar and amplifier.

A Rangemaster should work with the rest of your rig, not just sound impressive on its own.

Real World Testimonials

“The Silicon is Beefy and Aggressive, while the Germanium is Bright and expressive”

Guitar Pedal X, Stefan Karlsson, reviewing a previous Hello Sailor Dual Rangemaster.

This is a one off Hello Sailor Effects Dual Rangemaster, built around a military specification NKT CV7087 germanium transistor and a vintage Texas Instruments BC213C silicon transistor.

Two complete handwired circuits, independent controls, metallic blue over neon finish and wrestler pin up artwork.

There will not be another exactly like this one.

For November, all Hello Sailor Effects pedals are available with 20% off using code HSE20.

Available at hellosailoreffects.com/shop

If it speaks to you, it is available.