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so i bought a vox AC15c1. in my search of things to spend money on, I've heard that a Treble booster is a must have. suggestions for one? and why is it so amazing? thanks

Wow, I was going to post this same thread today.

Dont think - just buy

Heavy_Soul wrote:Dont think - just buy

Then we'll all end up with Digitech flangers and DS-1s and commit mass suicide.

Rangemaster types are really good into Vox amps. I have a few Hornby-Skewes circuit treble boosters too, which are great into my old Traynors, but I don't like them as much into the AC30.
Depending on your budget, there are loads of really good ones around. Rangemaster's also not complicated and you could easily build one yourself -- it's only really one transistor, a couple of caps & resistors, a switch and a pot.
The early Rangemasters had OC44 or OC71 trannies, which sound different to each other, but there are also a few good alternatives and I think the hfe is more important than the actual transistor.

"Best" is subjective, but a few good ones:

DAM Red Rooster -- I've got a few of these, I like the OC71 the best.
Champ Treboost is awesome -- mine has switchable OC44/OC71 and switchable caps to boost different frequencies.
Creepy Fingers Sugar Boost -- this would be my vote for a readily available and not too expensive but still excellent crunchy treble booster.
The JMI Rangemaster is surprisingly good, just a bit overpriced and sold by a bunch of unethical sharks. If you can find one used for a good price, jump on it.
Keeley's Java Boost is good and easy to come by, so's the AM Beano (but I found that one kinda meh, YMMV).
Ian Shewen/Ghost will make you something awesome if you ask nicely.
PigeonFX in the UK will send you a kit of NOS parts (minus the trannie) for $20.

Why is it so awesome? It's a booster that pushes harder at certain frequencies. The drive you get from a good treble booster sounds like nothing else. My old Vox is a pretty dark sounding amp, so the Rangemaster cleans that up and gets this great natural sounding overdrive out of it.
Cranked Vox + treble booster is a pretty classic tone. You'll like it.

(Although, doesn't that amp have a top boost? You might not need the treble booster ... )



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGt__g5a8_A[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywqi2nWzJq8[/youtube]

it has a top boost channel, but it's separate from the "normal" channel. other than my algal bloom, i don't have any usable dirt pedals at the moment. i have a boss MD1 but i haven't touched it in months so i feel like a pedal in that range is up next

Can't you link channels in those amps?
You need to have the amp running pretty dirty to benefit from the treble booster -- so it can get pretty loud (I've got a Ho attenuator on my AC30 to control the amount of deafening but still keep it close to cranked).
A Crowther Hotcake is also a good drive pedal for those amps.

I used to have a bbe freq boost that I picked up on eBay for $20. I don't know how it stacks up against other treble boosters, but I loved it, especially considering how damn cheap it was...last I checked, you could easily find one of those for under $50. Other than that, yeah, I've heard that rangemaster clones are the way to go for that Brian may vox tone.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHBkOUpyy7w[/youtube]

is a treble booster the secret to that tone? the guitarist uses an old ac30 but i've only ever seen a klon or sho on his board

love me some spoon! the secret is probably just a good boost in general (into a good amp, of course), which could have been delivered by either of those pedals...

yeah i figured that much. i guess i'm just trying to differentiate a treble booster from a toney overdrive.. if they are really that different at all.

and glad to hear it! spoon is honestly one of my favorite bands. i am so gay for britt daniel

Could be the Klon I guess...http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?837019-quot-Pedalboard(s)-Of-The-Stars-quot-Collection!/page193

check the second post down..

I've never heard a guitarist that needed more treble. Explain?

aen wrote:I've never heard a guitarist that needed more treble. Explain?

It's a bad name -- I always thought it was a kinda EQ so why not just turn up the treble, but it's not. It's a boost but it boosts more in the treble frequencies, and is good for shoving your amp into overdrive.
Black Sabbath? That's a Rangemaster into various amps -- he used AC30s a swell as the Laneys early on.
Brian May? Rangemaster into Vox AC30.
Deep Purple? He used a Rangemaster into an AC30 as well as the HS treble booster into AC30 and Marshalls.
Rory Gallagher? Rangemaster into Vox AC30.
T-Rex? Rangemaster into Vox AC30 (among other things).
There's all sorts of arguments about whether the John Mayall Beano album has a Rangemaster into Marshall on it or not. EC says he didn't use one, but it kinda sounds like it.

it doesn't really give you more treble, it boosts, but the boost has a peak in the top end.

OIC!