That Pedal Show – Tremendous Treble Boosters For Glorious Classic Drive Tones

Life too short for long YouTube videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.

In this episode we delve into world of the not-so humble treble booster. If you’re already a fan, you’ll know that they’re somewhat unfortunately named because to most of us, well, boosting treble isn’t exactly a priority with the majority of modern amps.
However, just as ‘Global Warming’ should actually have been called ‘Crap Weather And Periodic Regional Devastation’, so the dear treble booster might have been better named, ‘Make Your Pushed Amp Or Overdrive Pedal Sound Properly Bloomin' Rock’N’Roll’. Hmmmm. Might not have fitted on the screen print.
Nevertheless, whatever they’re called, they’re still largely misunderstood so here we do our best to offer some insight into how you may benefit from using one. Anybody who’s struggling along the road to getting just the right kind of ‘more’ from their already overdriven amp, listen up – this video’s streets are paved in golden knowledge and inspiration for you. Maybe.
It’s pretty nice with a Strat into a Plexi too. Mmmmm.

Please enjoy the video…

Pedals in this episode…

• TheGigRig Three2One

• D’Addario Pedal Tuner

• DWJ Boutique Pedals Treble Booster

• Analog Man Beano Booster

• Keeley Java Boost
No longer made

• Plosive May Booster
No longer made

• Bigfoot Passive Treble Booster

• Analog Man Sun Face NKT Red Dot

• Kingsley Page Booster

• TC Electronic Hall Of Fame 2

Interesting bits and go-to sections…
- Intro playing and background: 00:00
- A bit of (admittedly shaky) treble booster context and history: 1:32
- They are unfortunately named, right? 4:40
- DWJ Treble Booster sounds and discussion: 5:36 (8:53)
- Today’s amps: 6:48
- Mick’s always been scared of treble boosters: 11:04
- Analog Man Beano Boost sounds and discussion: 12:20
- …and a Sun Face: 13:35
- Keeley Java Boost sounds and discussion: 18:28
- How about a little internal fridge for germanium transistors then? 20:57
- Plosive May Booster sounds and discussion: 26:10 (28:09)
- Plosive and Java Boost Compared: 30:40
- Bigfoot Trouble Booster Uno: 32:48
- But what about using a cleaner amp and other OD pedal? 38:40
- Beano Booster into a cleaner amp – brace yourself: 40:34
- And now with an OD pedal (Kingsley Page Boost) after the treble booster: 41:40
- Java Boost - Page - Marshall and Vox. As good as it gets: 43:50

Amps in this episode
• Marshall 1987x with 2061x 2x12 cabinet with Celestion G12H Anniversary speakers

• Vox AC15C1 with Celestion Greenback speaker

Guitars in this episode

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[RobertKeeleyTV]

You have my all time favorite Java Boost on there, cream knobs, VIOLET LED! I probably built that unit in 2002-3. I learned so much from the treble booster design. One of my very first mods if you will, I added the switch to give people three "versions". In that design, the high pass filter to keep things tight, the added gain to the midrange and top end for saturation and sustain...then apply that concept and tone shaping ideas to all other circuits and you design to solve problems and create solutions. It's a really eye opening circuit in my mind. You guys did a great job on the history and use of the pedal.

[SCOREWIZARDSMUSIC]

I love when you guys talk about specific gear used on specific recordings

[Octopus]

My first dirt pedal was a germanium treble boost I built with an old Philips AC126, I've built variations usaing BC108 and 109, high gain BC548/9, low gain 2n2222a, newer AC188, 2n3440, pretty much any transistor I can get my hands on I test on a rangemaster style cirtuit. I've done everything there is to it, 6 way input cap switch, variable bias, variable gain, tone control, loads of output clipping arrays, 18v, using 2 in series. using 2 in parallel, PNP into NPN, anything, really.
Anyway, after all these years and many TSs, OCDs, Klones, etc, nothing gives me the same magic as the RM circuit. With the right bias and voicing it can even do the "TS into gainy amp for modern tight metal" better than the TS, tighter, stiffer and more natural sounding. Amazing circuit for pretty much anything with the right tweaks.
Cheers from Brazil. Love your show guys.

[retox]

I just got a Dallas Rangemaster from RelicBoxRus In Russia. Just what my strat wanted. So, watching these guys not only do we get great info, but a great Ld Gtr lesson at the same time. Thanks Guys

[Mistertbones]

Treble Booster into a cranked amp is one of my all-time favorite sounds. Guys like Rory Gallagher, Brian May, Tony Iommi, Marc Bolan, and Billy Gibbons used treble boosters to get their signature tones.

[DamonNicholls]

I stack my beano boost into either a tube screamer or my OCD and get wonderful results - like a focused fuzz tone that cuts through the band in a good way.

[DavidDyte]

Mick is in the dark about treble boosters, so Dan is here to brighten things up...

[JetAV]

"Shut up, I haven't played the Keeley!" I literally laughed out loud

[onenotesolo]

Just got my first ever treble booster - and rangemaster in one pedal, the Kasleder House of Blues. It’s a whole new thing versus the rest of my fairly silly (and more conventional) collection of low gain drives and boosts, and I’ve been doing lots of tweaking. Suddenly thought “I wonder if TPS has done a show on this.” And here we are. Bravo for the TPS back catalogue.

[darkenergy]

All kidding aside, every time Mick turns up his strat, my ear says, " Oh! Yes! Yes, I know that sound!" Had NO idea it was treble boosters creating that sound I grew up with. Thank you! you two are just the bee's knees!

[FastAnimal]

Legend has it, and you can follow up via an interview with him about this on this very website, Iommi let a stranger mod his Rangemaster when he was playing a small club before his Sabbath days. My assumption is that it was the output capacitor that was changed, as my Beano Boost at the "Low" setting sounds incredibly close to his tone to my ears. Plus if I'm not mistaken Mike Piera made his first Beano for Iommi to replace his old Rangemaster unit.

[MrPodvig]

I've been binge watching you guys staying at the beginning. Is it time for another treble booster review with more pedals that are currently in production?

[maxschrothbass]

IMO the best kind of pedal to have as a "always on"

[mke]

Just built my own treble booster. Both the first pedal I ever built and my first treble booster. It’s amazing. Sounds better than my tube screamer in my setup

[evanmiller]

Totally something I had never thought of. I was in the “spikey” camp. Not any more. Well done guys!

[curlybluesman]

Wow so amazing to see you use one of Dan’s pedals. He is indeed from Liverpool and he’s a legend! You guys should get hold of one of his amps, I’d love that!

[christurner]

My favourite piece of rock n roll footage was a Rory Gallagher gig. When solo time comes around he didn't a pedal, he swaggered over to his AC30 and turned up his treble booster by hand. I saw that video when I was about 9 and it stayed with me for some reason!

[mmarshall]

Funny how these are some of the best tones on that pedal show for the last 2 years - 1987x + AC15 + treble boosters... none better :)))

[a.j.fontana]

Just when I'm looking at building a treble booster clone you come out with this video. Awesome and thank you.

[vincet]

Couple of points there where I thought “this is a great way to find that microphonic preamp tube”! Great tones = loved it when you were hitting the Page.