Serpent Boost (Rangemaster/Naga Viper)

[coldchain]

#2's up with a quick one I grabbed along with a Tubescreamer I want to put together (that's next). The build itself wasn't much on this one but it took a little finagling to get the enclosure setup how I wanted it since the board was designed to fit in a smaller enclosure with side jacks. I've taken a liking to 125Bs and top-mounted jacks so I made it work. Ended up with too much wire going on which I didn't really need but for this one I was putting a lot more focus on the finish since I wasn't all that satisfied with the spray paint on the first one.

Opted for the EHX aesthetic of bare metal sides and masked off just the top for painting. Laid down a couple coats of base and then sponged a little contrast over it. Then I took to Photoshop and laid out a decal which was applied to waterslide paper and put on top of that. Came out almost perfect, didn't realize until today actually that the bottom corner is poking out from under the black... oh well.

So all in all a simple one but I think the finish turned out pretty darn good and this pedal absolutely rips. Definitely going to be a permanent fixture on my board.

 

[szukalski]

Nice one!

If you like the Silicon Rangemaster, try the Germanium version (ie. PPCB Chickenhead) and get your socks knocked off. Or go for an evolution like the Duocast, you can build it without the transformer and it sounds the same (it did to me at least).

 

[coldchain]

Nice one!

If you like the Silicon Rangemaster, try the Germanium version (ie. PPCB Chickenhead) and get your socks knocked off. Or go for an evolution like the Duocast, you can build it without the transformer and it sounds the same (it did to me at least).

The Duocast looks interesting, I'll add that one to the list. I think this is actually the first boost I've ever used, definitely different from an Overdrive and it really kicks my G20 in the arse.

 

[szukalski]

The Duocast looks interesting, I'll add that one to the list. I think this is actually the first boost I've ever used, definitely different from an Overdrive and it really kicks my G20 in the arse.

The best boost for me is still the Modus Operandi. Simple and fairly transparent. It kicked the Viper off my board and hasn't really left.

 

[coldchain]

The best boost for me is still the Modus Operandi. Simple and fairly transparent. It kicked the Viper off my board and hasn't really left.

I was actually looking at that one the other day. Definitely have a new class of pedals to be checking out. I always kind of glossed over boosts but I can see that I have been wrong.

 

[Alan W]

The best boost for me is still the Modus Operandi. Simple and fairly transparent. It kicked the Viper off my board and hasn't really left.

Damn, @MichaelW is right! You are “the enabler!” Now I’ve gotta look up the Modus.

 

[szukalski]

Damn, @MichaelW is right! You are “the enabler!” Now I’ve gotta look up the Modus.

He enables me more than I do him.. he just has more time and doesn't have the barrier of EU customs charges. If it weren't for the taxes, I would have 75% of the PPCB catalog sitting in my backlog!

Aside from the usual "slam the front end of an amp" option for the boost, I read a post by Bjorn Juhl where he talked about approaching pedal stacking as simulating various amp stages:

An amp usually has four major sections that effect the performance and tone of the output.

Preamp > Poweramp > Transformers > Speaker

PREAMP:
Preamp tubes usually reach saturation first and as they do a
few things happen; the tube runs out of headroom and the
treble is reduced and limiting and compression /sustain set in, also
there is a loss of bass as the tube runs out of power (it takes
more power to move bass frequencies), so you can end up with a
mid hump and treble/bass loss and added compression,sustain and limiting .


POWER AMP SECTION:

A typical poweramp can be divided into three basic stages regardless of
design
1. The inputstage
2. The voltage amp
3. The outputstage or current amplifier.

And all three become one stage.

It made me think more about how to construct sounds in this way, and the Modus is great in between two low-mid gain pedals to get an overall mid-high gain sound. Ie. Duocast low gain > Modus low gain > Timmy mid gain. Generally not set high enough to make it a hissing beast, but the sum together really shines.

 

[iamjackslackof]

Another happy Modus user, also enabled by @MichaelW lol. Though I do love the Naga Viper for a treble/dirty boost a lot.

Great build @coldchain !