Rangemaster

Joel.Chandler · April 25, 2009, 07:25:17 AM

I just got done building a rangemaster following the schematic/layout from general guitar gadgets and while it sounds very nice to mine ears (a good tight boost into a sweet natural amp OD) I would like for it to have a little more output. Any way that might be possible? the link to the layout is here http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/geb_rm_lo_pp.gif and the schem is here http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/diagrams/geb_rm_sc_pp.gif. I don't know if this would have any effect on the outcome of the sound but I used a 68k resistor attatched to a blue LED as I didn't have any red LEDs or 8k2 resistors. Welp. Thanks for the help!

grolschie · April 26, 2009, 09:47:30 PM

My RM seems pretty loud already. What transistor are you using? HFE of transistor? Add another gain stage perhaps?

Joel.Chandler · April 27, 2009, 06:33:29 PM

I used an oc44 transistor. How would you add another gain stage? sorry if that's a silly question, i'm very new to all of this. Thank you!

grolschie · April 27, 2009, 06:52:47 PM

What is the HFE measurement of your OC44?

You could have 2x Rangemasters? Or tack on a single booster circuit like a ZVex Super Hard-on (SHO) after the RM?

Joel.Chandler · April 27, 2009, 10:58:44 PM

Im such a noob. I don't know what HFE is...and I don't know how to test it...that's embarrassing...how do you do that? gah i feel foolish.

grolschie · April 27, 2009, 11:20:36 PM

That's fine. We all have to start somewhere.

HFE is the gain of the transistor. If you have a digital multimeter, it might have a transistor tester that shows the HFE. 3 holes for the prongs of the transistor.

R.G's article might help.

Joel.Chandler · April 28, 2009, 05:34:24 PM

Thank you for that link I am going to print it out when i get to a printer! And thank you for not judging me and for being helpful. My multimeter does not have the transitor reader on it. womp womp.

chi_boy · April 28, 2009, 06:24:06 PM

Can't help much, but where did you get the tranny? I have the Rangemaster on my "list" and I'm planning to get the transistor from smallbear. I know Steve always tests and reports the gain. Is it possible you landed a low output part?

George

Joel.Chandler · April 29, 2009, 09:24:05 AM

I got my OC44 from westflorida electronics because they had a lot of the parts I needed all at once and it was fair shipping...unfortunately it didn't say the output of the transistor. But after I boxed it up and plugged it in it does sound good. I made it for a friend of mine for studio use. I think it'll probably sound best with a LP. It's a little much for my strat and dr.z unless i go to the neck Pup and roll some tone off. But it does give a nice tight boost/od. Hopefully this will show the picture of the finished product...It's only my 3rd pedal...please don't judge

News:

Rangemaster