sparkle motion! (list now OPEN)

[pillof]

in.

does the input volume control lessen the hiss comparing to the standard rangemaster?

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

honestly, i wasn't really getting much hiss on the build and i was testing it through a twin. the input control will lessen the hiss somewhat, though... here's a breakdown of what each control actually does:

input volume - the same thing as turning your instrument volume down.
pre-EQ - lets more or less bass frequencies through to the circuit. at fully CCW it is an OG rangemaster - treble-y and sweet, fully CW lets a lot of bass through which overloads the transistor - darker, heavier and more distorted.
bias - changes the bias of the transistor for some tonal shift. centered is around 4.5V, fully CCW is around 3V and fully CW is around 6V.
volume - output volume

keep in mind that this won't be a "standard" rangemaster, though at the right settings (input fully up, pre-EQ at treble, bias at 6V) you'll get the rangemaster sound. originals were biased at 7V, but i just think they sound better at a lower voltage. also, i'm using a slightly larger output capacitor to let a bit more bass through, which also changes the overall sound slightly when in treble boost territory.

[kbit]

So when can we hear this?

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

i'll see about making a clip today!

[hazelwould]

So, with input down I should be able to get a sparkley boost?

The only other treble booster I've had was the Plum Crazy Squack Box. It was cool, had an ok range but DID sound sorta squacky like a cocked wah sorta thing. When I rolled back the volume I was able to get a great clean tone and I actually even emailed the builder about getting that as an option, but never went through with it. Supposedly these sound better slamming other dirt boxes as opposed to something like a SHO.

[Wes Mantooth]

i'll see about making a clip today!

This sounds like exactly what I want

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiYFHm_15t0[/youtube]

named sparkle motion. i start out with a full range boost to show the slight sparkle you can get, then go through a bunch of different settings.

gibson sg reissue into sparkle motion into a 78 silverface fender twin. not the best amp to be using a treble boost on obviously... amp settings were: channel 1. vol - 2, treble - 4, mid - 10, bass - 5, master - 3.

edit: treble on amp was actually at 3.
also, i think i'll be adding a switch as well, making this the most complex rangemaster EVER.

[hazelwould]

I really hope this happens soon. Or I'll doubt your commitment to sparkle motion. :-/

[theactionindex]

I really hope this happens soon. Or I'll doubt your commitment to sparkle motion. :-/

F'real Brian.

[sylnau]

I really like what I hear at 1:57

[kbit]

Sparkle Motion -> Mountain Range.... mmmm what a thought.
Double pedal?

[hazelwould]

Sparkle Motion -> Mountain Range.... mmmm what a thought.
Double pedal?

Hey yea! I'm planning on using it as my "clean tone" and goosing my fuck.

[StopReferencing]

The shirts should read, "Goose My Fuck."

[coldbrightsunlight]

This sounds awesome, I'm definitely interested.

Plus the name is brilliant.

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

the addition of the switch is happening.
i noticed that when using the EQ pot, the trebliest point on the pot still had more bass than expected, so the switch just switches out the capacitor making it super bass-less and trebly "standard" rangemaster-ish. the EQ pot is a dual type, so you can still add in a little more bass with the treble switch on. i'll post the schematic shortly so peeps can build their own if they want.

also, i should add that i've never played an *actual* rangemaster. i've built 3 or 4 for myself and my ex-girlfriend, with varying degrees of standard to modified; but that's my only viewpoint. i haven't played other people's rangemaster clones, i'm not using MOJO! parts and the design is now radically different from a "stock" rangemaster - pretty much it's own thing at this point. you can still easily dial in the rangemaster sound, but there's a lot more. just want to get this out there in case anyone thinks that this will be some sort of vintage clone thing...