Rangebastard by Distorque: Reimagining a Classic Boost
Immerse yourself in the world of legendary guitar sound with the Rangebastard plugin by Distorque. This virtual effect is a masterful emulation of the iconic Dallas Rangemaster treble booster – a pedal that defined the sound of many guitar heroes of the 60s and beyond. The Rangemaster was known for its ability to “kick” tube amplifiers, giving them extra dynamics, saturation, and, most importantly, a bright upper-midrange boost, perfect for cutting lead parts.
The names of virtuosos like Eric Clapton, Brian May, and many others are inextricably linked to the Rangemaster sound. This effect has become a secret weapon for turning a clean or slightly overdriven tube amplifier into a roaring beast with character.
More Than Just an Emulation
Rangebastard is not limited to a simple reproduction of the original. The developers at Distorque have taken the classic germanium transistor circuit as a basis and added a range of modern adjustments, making the plugin an extremely flexible tool. It’s not just a “treble booster”, it’s a full-fledged tone-shaping tool that can work as a full-range booster, overdrive, or a unique saturation effect.
The plugin works in both mono and stereo modes and always uses 2x oversampling for maximum sound quality without aliasing.
Main Controls
These controls are responsible for the basic functionality inherited from the original:
- Off/On: Turns the effect on or off.
- Boost Set: Controls the output level of the signal after processing by the effect.
Advanced Settings Menu (Tweak Menu)
This is where the true power of Rangebastard lies. These additional parameters allow you to fine-tune the sound or completely change its character, going beyond the classic Rangemaster. The default settings in this menu mimic a typical original Rangemaster.
- Input Level: The volume control at the plugin’s input. Allows you to compensate for different signal levels (e.g., from different pickups) or intentionally “warm up” the emulated transistor to get extra distortion.
- Input Filtering: A key parameter for shaping the frequency response. Adjusts the amount of filtering at the input, creating the “treble boost” effect. Reduce it for full-range boosting or set it to maximum for the classic Rangemaster sound.
- Treble: Allows you to cut off some of the high frequencies after processing. Very useful if you’re using the plugin as an overdrive and want to avoid excessive harshness. In combination with Input Filtering, it can help you get mid-range or even low-frequency boosting.
- Transistor: Choose between two modeled germanium transistors, based on real measurements:
- AC128: The classic choice, with a slightly less boost.
- 2SB175: Higher boost and slightly more mid frequencies compared to AC128.
- Stereo/Mono: Switching between mono and stereo modes of the effect.
- Grid Current: When set above zero, activates the emulation of a tube grid limiting clipping. This is the same type of tube distortion that occurs when the Rangemaster “hits” the input of a tube amplifier hard. The higher the value, the stronger this distortion is.
- Pickup: Emulates the interaction of the original pedal with guitar pickups. Select the type of pickups you are using (single coils, humbuckers, etc.) for the most authentic tone. The “None” setting turns off this filtering, simulating operation with a buffered signal or active pickups before the effect.
Conclusion
Rangebastard by Distorque is more than just a virtual copy of a classic. It’s a powerful, flexible tool that allows you to get both the authentic vintage Rangemaster sound and create your own unique guitar tones (and more!). Whether you need a screaming lead tone, a tight overdrive, or a transparent booster – Rangebastard is up to the task, adding the character and dynamics of legendary germanium circuits to your sound.
