• From: Manchester, England
  • Registered: 2010-10-20
  • Posts: 27

Topic: Treble Boosters

Hi all,

Read a lot of gear posts on here but see very little mention of people using treble boosters/rangemasters etc in their current setups. I'm into 60s to early 70s style sounds like the Beano album, early Sabbath, Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash.

I'm currently using a BSM RM Treble Booster through a Blackheart Handsome Devil and love the results.

If you read about early Clapton (BB/Cream albums)  or Tony Iommi it seems they had rangemasters almost always on as a key part of their tone.

Just wondered what people's experience of treble boosters are and how results differ from using tube screamers/OD and the like to push valve amps???? Can you mix and match TB and OD without cascading squeals of awfulness?

Gibson Flying V Faded Cherry (Crescent Moons), Reverse Head Stock Custom Strat HSH, Vintage V100 Icon Lemon Drop LP, Blackheart Handsome Devil and Blackheart Killer Cab, BSM TrebleBooster, Metal Muff, Dunlop Wah, Vox Time Machine

2 Reply by DaveWammbarro (edited by DaveWammbarro 2012-02-01 08:57:42)

  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: Treble Boosters

I take my Analogman BB everywhere. Don't like to play without it. Mid setting on the 3-way.

Stacks perfectly with my Lazy J Cruiser.

  • Registered: 2010-03-20
  • Posts: 536

Re: Treble Boosters

DaveWammbarro wrote:

I take my Analogman BB everywhere. Don't like to play without it. Mid setting on the 3-way.

Stacks perfectly with my Lazy J Cruiser.


At the risk of sounding like a broken record (or broken MP3) the Pete Cornish TB83 is the king of treble boosters- it's Brian May in a box

"Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips...."

JB LP Goldtop No. 290- Aged...rather like me.
  • From: Ireland
  • Registered: 2010-10-25
  • Posts: 57

Re: Treble Boosters

A good treble booster just seems to push a tube amp so well, they are perfect to boost solos or good to leave on all the time for a more articulate sound.

Guitars: Epiphone JBLP, Epiphone Les Paul Custom
Amps: Marshall Vintage Modern, 18 watt clone
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Treble Boosters

run the amp bright, and roll back on the tone in guitar

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: Treble Boosters

jakey wrote:
DaveWammbarro wrote:

I take my Analogman BB everywhere. Don't like to play without it. Mid setting on the 3-way.

Stacks perfectly with my Lazy J Cruiser.


At the risk of sounding like a broken record (or broken MP3) the Pete Cornish TB83 is the king of treble boosters- it's Brian May in a box

I kid you not, James...you're pedalboard is worth more than my car.
I have never ever tried a P.C pedal. One day...give or take twenty years.

7 Reply by havoc41 (edited by havoc41 2012-02-01 18:30:18)

  • From: NH - USA
  • Registered: 2010-11-08
  • Posts: 149

Re: Treble Boosters

I personally like the Swart Atomic Boost with certain amps (very ringmaster-esk according to Swart) and the Lizard Leg Flying Dragon with others but in all fairness i have not tried a ton of them... i recently got a Lazy J Cruiser which is amazing and it can be dialed as a boost but i have not had enough time within those setting to have an opinion.

havoc41's Website

  • From: Cambridge
  • Registered: 2011-01-15
  • Posts: 912

Re: Treble Boosters

Well, I have an EQ which I boost the trebles with if that counts!! In fact I use it as a sort of platform shape...bass set at default then the mid and treble settings are raised to the same point

Jonny L

Videos of my playing: http://www.youtube.com/user/JonnyLowtherMusic
  • Registered: 2009-10-10
  • Posts: 438

Re: Treble Boosters

I had a Keeley Java Boost for a couple days(trial period).  I used it to push an overdrive pedal, not an amp.  It was a little thinner than a tubescreamer so I sent it back and kept using a second overdrive instead. I wish I had kept it because I have a Gibson now and I think it would sound great with it.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Treble Boosters

havoc41 wrote:

I personally like the Swart Atomic Boost

Anything by Swart drops my JAW and I drool

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Treble Boosters

I have used several over the years, they go in and out of the board.  The Analogman BB was awesome, and also the much more affordable and great sounding Fireplace (no switch, no knob, all controlled from the guitar).  Right now I do own a Keeley Time Machine, which on the vintage side is two flavors of treble boost.  Again, in an out of the board.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: Treble Boosters

I would also suggest the Plum Crazy FX Squawk...which might be even slightly better than the Analogman.

  • Registered: 2007-11-04
  • Posts: 404

Re: Treble Boosters

While its not a treble boost per say... I use a Tim Pedal and run it in front of a Fulldrive.  I set the time as a treble boost so that when I hit it it boosts the volume of the full tone with out making it muddy.  Really a wonderful pedal.  I can run it like a equalizer with pretty much no OD and it does great things to the Overdrives after it.  Wonderful pedal and for 170$ not a bad price point.