The Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster born in the mid-1960s. Its function was two-fold: to increase the signal strength of the guitar going into the amplifier, and to increase tones at the high end of the spectrum (a treble booster).
The need for a treble booster arose in the mid-1960s as British tube amplifiers such as the Vox AC30 or Marshall JTM45, tended to produce a slightly dark, muddy sound when overdriven, particularly when used with humbucking pickups. A pre-amplifier that also boosted treble proved a solution. Additionally, the vintage components in the Rangemaster circuitry could add characteristic distortion and overtones to color the guitar sound, much in the way of the more modern overdrive pedals.
The Rangemaster Treble Booster was first made in the 1960s by London company Dallas Musical Ltd., incorporated in 1959. It made guitars and amplifiers under different brand names, including Dallas, Shaftesbury, and Rangemaster.
How many Rangemaster Treble Boosters were built is unknown and original examples regularly fetch over £1000.
Notable users include Eric Clapton, Ritchie Blackmore, Rory Gallagher, Brian May, Tony Iommi, Marc Bolan, and Billy Gibbons.
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Famous Dallas Rangemaster Users
Eric Clapton
Brian May
Rory Gallagher
Tony Iommi
Marc Bolan