CHAMP ELECTRONICS -" THE VINTAGE VALVE
AMP HOSPITAL"
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND
THE CHAMP "TREBOOST PLUS" (2008)
There’s
a lot of “buzz & interest” out there
regarding my own clone of the original Dallas-Arbiter, Rangemaster
Treble-Booster, even as far away as Australia!! Steve, my Webmaster is
proud to own one too and loves it to bits……that's his in
the photo above!
An original unit (sorry about the
camera flash!)
The original unit with what looks
like a couple of previously changed components. Also, note the original
Mullard “yellow jacket” OC71 Germanium Transistor!
A
different original unit in-which I have changed just one cap. This one
clearly shows the original Mullard “metal-jacket”
Transistor…..this time an OC44.
The
first one. Built as a prototype and in an old power supply case I had
lying around. Called the “Champ Trebooster+” (which
I have since changed simply to
“Treboost+”). The purpose of the
“+” in the title is the fact that even from this
first prototype, I added a four position filter switch to give more
range & tone.
The filter switch. In position 4
the unit is full range. Position 3 gives less bass. Position 2 is
identical to an original unit whereas position 1 is even
thinner….or should I say
“ear-bleeding!!”.
The inners clearly showing the
filter switch & the four caps. I used a Mullard metal jacket
OC44 in this one.
The
inners of the first basic model. There has been some comments about the
strength of the case I have chosen. To be honest it is simply an
aluminium “project case”. However, with the lid in
place it makes it a very secure/sturdy box….you could stand
on it…..no problem! It certainly is just as strong as an
original Rangemaster.
The
front….not yet labelled, which brings me to another point.
Although nobody has commented on the simplicity of my units (as-in a
project box and a few stick-on labels) I could of course have some
cases professionally made….looking pretty and with nice
silk-screen writing but….come
on……it’s what it sounds like at the end
of the day!
A
finished unit. I make these to order & there are four types:
- Type
1. A basic unit with no filter switch and a choice of either an
OC71 or OC44….both Mullard Transistors (like an original
Rangemaster).
- Type
2. This is the same but with the added four position tone filter.
- Type
3. Same as type 1 but with the addition of an extra transistor (two
transistors [Mullard OC71 & OC44] switchable).
- Type
4. Same as type 2 but with the addition of an extra transistor (two
transistors [Mullard OC71 & OC44] switchable).
Close up of the “twin version” ready to assemble. I
had to laugh when I first took this photo, the layout of the switch
& the two transistors remind me of the Subaru “Boxer
Engine!”.
A completed Type 4. I doesn’t matter to me whether I build
these as an “amp-top” case (as above) or a
“stomp box” floor pedal. Hell, I’ll build
one in a shoe box if that’s what is required!! I would
imagine that now I have put this on my “world-wide”
web site, “everybody and his dog” will be
making them now with filter switches & twin
transistors…….who cares!! In fact, I have already
had an enquiry about making a “triple
version”…..with three
transistors…..OC71, OC44 & an
OC45….Mullard, of which I also have.
Mmmmm…..interesting!
Check-out four of the many e-mails I have received about this
little toy:
From David in Australia - Champ Treboost+.
"Hi John. Hope you are well :-) Sorry about the late
reply. Well, unfortunately the huge upheaval in the world
financial systems has keep me very busy doing anything but
music-related stuff. So, since the pedal arrived I think I
have touched my guitar once, which I am still very unhappy
about. However, that was when I plugged in your Champ
Treboost+ and I can say I was definitely very, very happy, to say the
least :-) Very nice :-)
Regards, David"
From Graham, UK - Champ Treboost+.
"Hi John. Your "own cloned" treble boost with extras arrived this
afternoon - I opened her up and was impressed by the innards - very
tidy, not as if I expected anything else from you! I set it up through
a little Vox AC4 and tried it out against several other treble boosters
I had kicking around - basically I did some side by side comparisons
with an original Rangemaster by Dallas - and a rare treble/bass booster
face by Arbiter (both from the days before they amalgamated into the
better known Dallas-Arbiter of fuzz face fame) and what is considered
by many to be one of the best current RM clones the Analogman Beano
Boost - Your box of tricks holds up very well indeed - it is very
similar in its sound giving a great clarity - particularly noticeable
when using chords - it lets all the notes get heard and giving a very
nice bit of overdrive when playing lead - I couldn't help myself but
started hitting some Rock & Roll riffs on a Fender (you know
Johnny B' Goode and all that stuff) - it thickened up the sound very
nicely indeed and although I only used it on the small Vox it was
bloody good at tilting that EL84 over into a nicely sustained
overdriven sound. I found (so far) that I just left the Gain control
maxed and used either the second or third tone filter setting. Apart
from on the most bass of the four settings I felt that my speaker was
safe!
Your Treboost+ pedal sits exactly with it's middle two tone settings as
good as any of the others I tried, so I think it will prove to be a
very useable bit of kit; particularly when you think that it only runs
to about a tenth of the cost of replacing the original Dallas-Arbiter
Treble Booster!!
Kind Regards & Many Thanks indeed - Graham."
From Steve, UK - Champ Treboost+
"Hi
John. Many thanks for sending me the Treboost. It arrived this morning
and I've just spent the last two hours trying it out. What a great
little box! I think that the sounds that I am getting out of this thing
are going to expand my (currently limited) musical horizons
considerably!
All the best, Steve."
From Tim in Switzerland - Champ Treboost+
"Hi John, I am writing back to follow up on the Treboost+ I purchased from
you. To start off, I will tell you my test equipment:
Amplifiers:
Marshall 1969 PA20 head & original cabinet, single 12" speaker with a G12H30
greenback. 1957 Fender Tweed Deluxe, Weber Alnico speaker. 1957 Fender Champ.
1969-70 Park 2x12 combo. Guitar: Fender Stratocaster, equipped with Lindy Fralin
H/SRV pickups (special wind with extended bass response).
I started off
running the Treboost+ through the Fender Champ running a 5Y3, a 6V6GT, and a
12AU7. This is one of my all time favorite amps as it can go from clean to
distorted at reasonable volume levels. Running the Treboost+ through this really
hit the front end of the amp hard and I got a very aggressive distorted sound,
reminiscent of P90's with a nice sustaining quality. At extreme settings on the
range dial the bass either got too loose or the tone sounded too constricted. I
opted for positions 2, and 3 as my favorites throughout all the tests. In
position 3, the bass held together nicely, while delivering a pleasing tone. As
an experiment, I cranked the gain and volume on '10' and ran it through the
paces. For the first few seconds it sounded very lively, then it sounded as if
there was a lot of gating going on. I wasn't sure if the transistor bias was off
or the rectifier was overloaded?
Through the Deluxe, the tone was equally
pleasing and aggressive, however, no gating at the extreme settings.
With
the Marshall the unit really shines. I had a bright cap placed across the input
of channel 1 and this, combined with the extended bass response of the pickups
makes for a nice combination. The Treboost+ enhanced what was already there and
sent the amp into a very nice over driven, distortion. The output on the unit
seems to be quite high and it really gave me a searing lead tone. The settings
on the range switch usually gravitated between positions 2 and 3.
Similar
results through the Park combo and the unit really came to life at higher
volumes. I didn't have any gating effects with the larger amps, which leads me
to believe there was some sort of overload placed on the Champ.
There you
have it! I like the unit a lot and find it very usable. Thanks for a great
product and let me know if you have any questions.
Regards, Tim."
