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 the Germanium boost circuit and a Jfet boost circuit. When both are activated, you get a great sounding crunchy, gnarly overdrive with a touch of top end sizzle. Bring up the gain controls for more low end and it can get into pretty heavy territory.
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.
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.
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.
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 ammeter whose needle indicates Ge circuit volume
-Rugged eyelet board construction of audio circuits and USA made pcb for meter driver circuit.
-Wrought Iron Satisfaction Guarantee
