Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
- Thread starter Gr8Scott
- Start date
Gr8Scott
Wookieologist
Re: Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
I think you can do the rangemaster. It's one of the simplest circuits there are but there's two twists that you have to take into account. You have to bias the transistor and you have to put a heat sink on it to solder it in place. Go to radioshak and get yourself a breadboard to mock up the build before you actually heat up the iron. This will let you bias it before you build it and therefore save you from soldering it in and then removing a couple of legs to resolder the correct resistors in place. Smallbear I think will send you the correct resistors right out of the gate (he'll pre-select the transistor he sends you and then send the correct resistors to bias it if you select the correct item on his page) Instead of using the heat sink, you can get a three prong socket and use it to take the heat of the soldering out of the germanium transistor equation. This will also let you swap for different resistors if you choose later also because it's plug and play with the transistor that way. It never gets heated up, but instead it's plugged in like a chip socket more or less.
I definitely want to build a Rangemaster. I'm having second thoughts about the tubescreamer being a part of the same pedal though. I'm beginning to think I've found something better than the tubescreamer. I'll post a review in another thread.
Corbic said:
I think you can do the rangemaster. It's one of the simplest circuits there are but there's two twists that you have to take into account. You have to bias the transistor and you have to put a heat sink on it to solder it in place. Go to radioshak and get yourself a breadboard to mock up the build before you actually heat up the iron. This will let you bias it before you build it and therefore save you from soldering it in and then removing a couple of legs to resolder the correct resistors in place. Smallbear I think will send you the correct resistors right out of the gate (he'll pre-select the transistor he sends you and then send the correct resistors to bias it if you select the correct item on his page) Instead of using the heat sink, you can get a three prong socket and use it to take the heat of the soldering out of the germanium transistor equation. This will also let you swap for different resistors if you choose later also because it's plug and play with the transistor that way. It never gets heated up, but instead it's plugged in like a chip socket more or less.
I definitely want to build a Rangemaster. I'm having second thoughts about the tubescreamer being a part of the same pedal though. I'm beginning to think I've found something better than the tubescreamer. I'll post a review in another thread.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
I highly recommend starting with the beginner project and then going on to other things. With stuff like this, it's better to learn and know what's going on rather than "paint by numbers". It makes it so much easier, and a lot more fun.
It was pretty easy for me. I built it in an afternoon, literally. Perfed, wired and boxed. Started after lunch and had a finished pedal after dinner. The fun part came afterwards......tweaking. I ended up adding a switch that would allow me to choose between two different input caps, one allowing more low end, or a fuller frequency spectrum, than the other. Now I have the issue of RF (radio) interference at certain places. What a PITA that can be, and the recommended fix doesn't always fix it.Corbic said:
I highly recommend starting with the beginner project and then going on to other things. With stuff like this, it's better to learn and know what's going on rather than "paint by numbers". It makes it so much easier, and a lot more fun.
Corbic
New member
Re: Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Thanks guys, I think I will start with the beginners booster like Erik suggested. But I have two questions. Erik's circuit will probably be the one I follow for the Rangemaster, so they are mainly about it. Heres the link to the circuit: http://aronnelson.com/gallery/vanhansen/dallasrm_perf
First, from which points on that circuit would I solder in wires to connect to the jacks and switch? I know the gain lug 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the lugs on the pot, and I'm guessing the input and output markers are where I'd solder in those wires. For the rest of the stuff electronics in the pedal, I'm following the BYOC instructions that joelap posted: http://www.buildyourownclone.com/rangeraddboard.html
And second, could I do that circuit using PNP germaniums instead of the NPNs Erik used? What's the difference?
-Corbic
Thanks guys, I think I will start with the beginners booster like Erik suggested. But I have two questions. Erik's circuit will probably be the one I follow for the Rangemaster, so they are mainly about it. Heres the link to the circuit: http://aronnelson.com/gallery/vanhansen/dallasrm_perf
First, from which points on that circuit would I solder in wires to connect to the jacks and switch? I know the gain lug 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the lugs on the pot, and I'm guessing the input and output markers are where I'd solder in those wires. For the rest of the stuff electronics in the pedal, I'm following the BYOC instructions that joelap posted: http://www.buildyourownclone.com/rangeraddboard.html
And second, could I do that circuit using PNP germaniums instead of the NPNs Erik used? What's the difference?
-Corbic
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
The input/output points go to the input/put jacks' tip lug through the bypass switch. You can use a DPDT or a 3PDT stompswitch. There are diagrams on Aron's stompbox page to help you out there.
Yes, you can use PNP Ge's. In fact, the original circuit uses PNP Ge's. Just follow the schematic from that site exactly. I converted mine to NPN. You can use the same layout, just turn the electolytic caps around the other way.
The input/output points go to the input/put jacks' tip lug through the bypass switch. You can use a DPDT or a 3PDT stompswitch. There are diagrams on Aron's stompbox page to help you out there.
Yes, you can use PNP Ge's. In fact, the original circuit uses PNP Ge's. Just follow the schematic from that site exactly. I converted mine to NPN. You can use the same layout, just turn the electolytic caps around the other way.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
The Dallas Rangemaster was a PNP circuit but there are NPN variations out there from the DIY community.
I haven't messed with many different Germaniums so I can't say. What I can tell you is that NPN and PNP are totally different. They are not interchangable in the same circuit. NPN means negative ground which means you can use them with standard power supplies and the like. PNP means positive ground which means the positive DC goes through the ground plain and negative (or ground) is what is normally the power plain. Read up at www.geofex.com too. Lots of good info there.Corbic said:
The Dallas Rangemaster was a PNP circuit but there are NPN variations out there from the DIY community.
rhmcfarland
New member
Re: Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
I've used a BSM OR for a few years.
Really great pedal.
They've got several versions.
Kinda pricey, but they are dead-on vintage retro pedals.
You can hear the BSM at www.soundclick.com/randotones
I've used a BSM OR for a few years.
Really great pedal.
They've got several versions.
Kinda pricey, but they are dead-on vintage retro pedals.
You can hear the BSM at www.soundclick.com/randotones
