This Wylie Deluxe is built in a vintage Sterling Power Meter-- probably the most perfect dual pedal repurposed enclosure I have ever come across. Both meters were originally part of this thing. I didn't have to cover up any of the original lettering and the original holes for the probes worked perfectly for the controls on the pedal. This thing was begging to be reincarnated as a rad stompbox.
I made the custom acid etched labels with a bit of a worn look for a better match to this 60 year old enclosure and adapted these cool knobs to make them work on this pedal. The meters both work-- though they aren't real smooth in their travel across the scale. The Volt meter travels to about 1 o'clock on the dial as you turn up the volume and the miliamp meter travels about 80% of the way across the meter.
Circuit details below.
The Wylie Boost gets its name from the guy who made the booster that inspired me to start building myself. The Rangemaster clone that Wylie Gelber (bassist of the band Dawes) built in a repurposed enclosure with a vintage meter on top is used extensively by bandmate Taylor Goldsmith. This Deluxe version contains both ethe Germanium boost circuit and a Jfet boost circuit.
The Wylie Boost is a Germanium transistor boost, (in the tradition of the original Rangemaster), but with my own circuit topology. Powered by the mysterious NOS black "top-hat" germanium transistor, the Wylie incorporates additional controls for gain and tone along with overall volume. To add a little vintage flavor, the circuit is built on turret board, similar to early hand-wired tube amps. But unlike a lot of early Germanium powered pedals, this one runs off a standard tip-negative power supply.
The Germanium transistor has a unique sound. It's a boost, but it is by no means clean---unless you want it to be. Due to the circuit's low input impedance, it is very responsive to guitar volume control. Rolling back the guitar volume will clean up the signal and add a little sparkle.
Controls:
Volume controls the overall output of the signal. It is recommended to use the Boost with the volume at 12:00 or beyond for best sound quality.
Gain is a unique control to this booster. this control slowly adds a bit of output, but it's main function is to add some grit. Rolling up the gain will allow a little more bass into the signal as well as adding some unique break-up.
This Deluxe version also includes a 2nd boost circuit: this one a Jfet transistor powered boost for smooth tube breakup characteristics. Controls are very similar to the Germanium circuit with the Gain control adding volume and low frequencies to dirty things up. Run it with volume all the way up and adjust gain for desired level for cleans or run it with the gain all the way up and adjust volume to desired level for driven sounds.
Tone is a treble roll-off. Though the circuit is voiced to be a full range boost with emphasis on the mid range, you may want to roll off some highs when using single coils.
It is highly recommended that the Wylie be the first pedal in your signal chain, even before the tuner if your tuner is buffered (BOSS) in order for the Germanium boost to interact appropriately with the guitar pickups
-Housed in a repurposed vintage model train controller/ammeter/vintage metal enclosure.
-Japanese built top of the line DeMont Smooth-Click stomp switches
-Acid etched Aluminum name plates and logo
-Vintage meters move along with volume controls of their respective circuits. These meters are very old and their travel is a little jumpy, but they give you a cool effect.
-Rugged turret board construction and handwiring
-Wrought Iron Satisfaction Guarantee
