Dallas Rangemaster mod

[jaguarcat311]

alright, i just built the dallas rangemaster (http://www.diystompboxes.com/pedals/DallasRM2.jpg) but i substituted a couple parts, the PNP transister i used is a 2n3906, and for the two 25uf caps, i used a 22uf and 3.3uf in parallel, for the input cap, a .0082uf, and for the output cap, a .047uf. so it turned out to be more of a mid boost/ slight distortion. its kinda nice, it actually doesnt boost the highs at all, and it breaks up nicely, when i first plugged it in i didnt even notice it distorted because i was playing soft. i built it for my friend to drive his pignose tube amp, i think he'll like it, the only way his amp sounds good is kind of bright, so hopefully this will boost the mids a bit more. i was wondering what made the biggest difference on this pedal, substituting the transistor, or input/ output caps? or both? I used slightly higher values to get a bit more bass out of the pedal, so i was expecting the lows, but i thought it would be a bit brighter.

[MartyMart]

I've never tried one with a 3906 in it, but if it seems to sound "good" then
that's fine.
Caps will make the differences to bass/treble just as you've noticed but
the "real deal" Ge transistor is what gives it it's signature "sound"
If you can get hold of a decent germanium, with hfe around 70-100 you
will know what i mean, just a different "texture" you get from them, which IMHO silicon trannies just dont give you in this circuit.
There you go

Marty.

[brian wenz]

Hello Hello--
   Yeah, a real Rangemaster circuit with a good germanium tranny really has it's own character but  the same circuit [with a properly biased silicon tranny] can be a good booster, too.  Most of those single-tranny boosters fall somewhere inbetween  a  Rangemaster and an LPB-1....it just depends on what  input cap you want to use.
WWW.OTTOSGUITARS.COM
Brian.

[BDuguay]

Hey Brian, I just checked out your website. Cool!
I had the pleasure of seeing and meeting Bill Kirchen in Buffalo a couple of years ago. Awesome and inspiring.
B.

[brian wenz]

Hello Hello B--
     Thanks!
 Yeah, Bill is a great human being.....I here he plays guitar, too.......
Brian.