Treble boosters - simultaneously boosting gain and the high end of the tonal spectrum, whilst attenuating lower frequencies - have always been an integral part of Brian May's signal path, from Queen's earliest recordings to his current stadium-sized setup and the 2019 "New Horizons" single, and are an essential tool for any guitarist wishing to achieve a focused, cutting, overdriven sound, with clear note definition and string clarity.
The BMG TREBLE BOOSTER CLASSIC is a elegant and compact, multi-mode foot pedal designed by British electronics guru, Nigel Knight of Knight Audio Technologies, that combines three separate, uniquely voiced circuits that faithfully replicate Dr. May's most recognisable tones from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, providing modern guitarists with the opportunity to select the distinctive sound of their favourite May-era, at the flick of a switch and the turn of a level control, either to emulate the maestro or to explore their own new musical horizons.
Thanks to the unique access provided by his long term tech, Pete Malandrone, the sound representing each decade has been meticulously modelled after the actual vintage equipment used by Brian May during each period of his stellar career - his dynamic, germanium Dallas Rangemaster from the 1970's, the orange label, silicon BC149 transistor powered booster installed on his pedal board throughout the 80's, and an original 1998 Greg Fryer strap booster. Every possible technical nuance of these contemporaneous processors has been analysed in order to recreate the original circuitry and realise an astonishingly authentic reproduction of their tonal responses and output profiles.
Proudly made in England, the Treble Booster Classic is built into a compact, rugged, solid die-cast aluminium case and features a heavy-duty 3PDT footswitch for reliable, sustained use, true-bypass switching with LED status indicator, internal battery compartment, 9VDC socket for pedal-board power supplies, high quality Neutrik 3 pole jack sockets and a level control topped with a RS-style aluminium knob, so there is no mistaking the heritage of the tones therein.
The BMG Treble Booster Classic is easy to set up and use.
With power supplied by an internal 9 volt battery, or via the 9VDC socket (isolated mains adapter NOT supplied), plug your guitar into the ‘IN’ jack and plug the ‘OUT’ jack into your amplifier.
It is essential that the Treble Booster Classic is the first unit in line after the guitar in the signal chain (if you are using a radio system, then the TBC must sit between the guitar and the transmitter pack). For a thorough explanation of the science behind this, please see the section below.
Select the era that represents the sound you wish to use via the slide switch on the top right-hand side.
The three position switch has three decades - 70's, 80's and 90's - marked on the right hand side with three corresponding icons - treble clef, solid star and outlined star - on the left hand side. These icons match the icons printed around the LEVEL control which indicate the point where the level (or gain) of the Treble Booster Classic matches that of the original vintage unit.
Please note that the level pot in this device also acts upon the bias of the TBC transistor stage and therefore has a DC component present, in addition to the usual AC (signal) component. This will result in the LEVEL control exhibiting a certain amount of noise (a "scratchy" sound) as it is rotated with the Treble Booster Classic switched in circuit. This is perfectly normal for the design of this unit and is not a sign of any fault.
Obviously, these settings do not have to be strictly adhered to; they are simply guides to indicate at which point you will be enjoying a response exactly the same as Brian did in the corresponding era. The BMG Treble Booster Classic has more gain available than the original Dallas Rangemaster and Strap TB so you can adjust the level to suit your own sound and style or amplifier requirements.
Remember to unplug the input jack when not in use if you are running an internal battery to preserve battery life.
To avoid additional noise and hum, it is important to use a fully isolated power supply — ie. one that provides power and grounding that is electrically separated (usually by means of a transformer for each connector). You should therefore connect the pedal to its own power supply or, if using a power supply with multiple outputs, ensure that each output provides true isolation.
By Nigel Knight • November 2018
First and foremost, this is a treble booster, and so should sit first in line after the guitar in the signal chain. There has been much debate over the years as to why the TB should sit first so, to explain why, let’s start with the guitar itself...
Any Red Special-influenced instrument, in most modes of ‘BM’ style operation, employs at least two single coil pickups in series, whereas most single coil-loaded guitars configure them in parallel. This has the benefit of increasing the output level of the guitar, which helps drive the AC30s (or equivalent) further into saturation. In addition to this, in a number of switching set-ups, the pick-ups' polarity provides ‘humbucking’ qualities, thus reducing hum and noise.
The theoretical downside is that it also increases the overall impedance of the guitar which renders it more susceptible to ‘tone sucking’ if plugged into a low impedance load. Now, most guitar amplifiers and effects stomp boxes are designed to offer the guitar a relatively high impedance load (at least 500Kohm for some stomp boxes and 1Meg ohm or more for amps). Alas, the humble treble booster has other ideas, as it sits far lower than that at less than 100Kohm.
Now, here’s why the treble booster must come first, straight after the guitar (and when we say straight after, we mean STRAIGHT AFTER, so if you are using a radio system, then the TB must sit between the guitar and the transmitter pack).
So, the guitar is high Z (impedance) and the TB medium Z. Under normal circumstances the treble booster would just suck the high frequency detail from the guitar and that’s just what it does when the guitar is at full volume. The volume pot is fully open, and the low Z load of the TB drags down the high frequency detail of the Red Special. This is what provides the creamy, warm, fully distorted tones we all love. However, when Brian backs off the guitar’s volume, the signal distorts less and cleans up to his renowned glassy tones. This happens because the guitar’s volume pot is wired to effectively provide the pick-ups with a constant high Z load, whilst driving the TB with a varying source impedance. So, when the guitar volume is backed off, the guitar’s pickups see a high Z load, but the TB ‘thinks’ it’s being driven (pushed) by a low Z source, and so the TB can’t suck the high frequencies any more and delivers the glassy cleans.
So, it is imperative that you make sure the guitar and the TB can ‘talk’ to each other and interact with each other, because that is where the magic happens
Nigel Knight • November 2018
The Brian May Guitars Treble Booster Classic has been a long time in the making and was originally destined to be a single function TB that would be modelled on the current system used by Brian. However, a spark of genius from Mr. Pete Malandrone manifested itself in what seemed like a very annoying question one day: “Why can’t you make it sound like TB's from all of Brian’s eras?” Now, Pete is renowned for his penchant for throwing the odd curveball, but this particular one was going to cost me a lot of time and effort to pull off, and so initially I said "no" explaining that I simply didn’t have the time to do it, and that a single function booster was the way to go. So that’s what we started designing. However, that niggling head-worm courtesy of Mallers kept very close quarters until, in the end, I figured we should, at the very least, give it a try.
So how did we go about designing such a unique piece of kit?
First things first, I needed references of Brian’s TB's from each era, and so a trip into the depths of the maestro's lock-up would see Mallers and I pulling out box after box, trying to locate suitable candidates. The chosen units for each specific era were his Dallas Rangemaster from the 1970s, old BC149 units from the '80s, and an original 1998 strap booster by Greg Fryer.
These were then put on the test bench and analysed to the nth degree - gain, noise floor, peak frequency boost, peak frequency width and slopes were all measured and documented.
Well, that was the easy bit. Now I just had to design a single treble booster that could emulate them all with minimal controls and, most importantly, in a form that could be easily produced and sold at an affordable price.
After a lot of head scratching and swearing later, the first prototype was built and, as if it was just meant to be, it worked perfectly, straight out of the ‘metaphorical’ box. Much A/B testing was done, switching between units old and new, and a couple of component changes or additions followed, just to hone the responses to get them as close to the originals as possible, but the core circuit remained the same throughout.
A quick look at the comparison response graph below shows just how close they are to the originals.
The pedal is sturdy, looks and sounds amazing and is a must-have for all Queen fans. Highly recommended.
Nice sounds!!!! Cool item, I love it!!!!
Working as expected - Fast delivery.
Top qualité, top service, rien à rajouter. Juste prendre la guitare et profiter du son ! 🥰
There is a lot to be said for hitting the right timbre when setting guitar tone. I've tried several other mid boost options looking for that Brian May sound... they were all disappointing.This one is spot on.All three settings sound authentic to me. This pedal does crank out a lot of noise depending on the settings so I recommend having a noise gate on hand to tame the hiss. Once I added the noise gate to my setup this pedal is exactly what I had been looking for.
First off, I don't play in any kind of Queen tribute band but play mostly rock and pop. My solos have always been lacking that edge and I've tried everything on the market to try to get my lead stuff to cut through the mix without playing at crazy volume levels. This is it! I have it on the '80s setting and it's just perfect. This will live on my pedalboard for ever more.
I have just received the Treble Booster Classic and couldn't be happier! Not only does it delivers the classic BM tones, but it is of superior build quality. The indicators for the different tones are super helpful. Additionally, I had to change another order and submitted my request. This was followed up by a call form the US rep to confirm everything... Well done!
I ordered the Treble Booster Classic pedal and Dave was really helpful during all the process, not only with my concerns regarding the shipment, but also other questions I had, and he's always available to reply - and I mean it, always! A pleasure to make business with.Oh, and the pedal is awesome as well, but I already was counting on that, considering the circuits integrated and who employed them...
Super device, it gives new dimension to the sound.
Not sure how this pedal compares to the Fryer Touring treble booster, but sounds good, nice and compact. Shame no power supply lead was included though.
A very high quality pedal which notably increases the sustain and boosts the sound, which we really need with our small home studio amps in the living room for many many RS pieces !!!Nice when you record near Avenue de la Princesse (origin of Bohemian Rhapsody in France), after hosting General de Gaulles in 1940, not far from Jean-Michel Jarre's studio, Monet, Renoir... Amusing: many of my colleagues participated in the construction or renovation of the great Parisian concert halls - Great times!
This booster was well worth waiting for. I plug my Brian May Red Special directly into it, run it through my pedalboard, consisting of a PastFx Foot Phaser Deluxe, expression pedal, two MXR Echoplexes, Cry Baby wah, and Boss chorus, and back to the Vox AC30 and it gives me all the Brian May tones. Without this treble booster you can’t achieve his sound. Top notch product!
This is an excellent pedal, complimenting my board nicely. You can’t get the tones of a master without using the same tools they used.
The BMG Treble Booster is an extraordinary sound enhancer. I didn't expect this amount of sound improvement. Only disadvantage is that it needs to be placed as first pedal in the pedla chain... even right before a wireless transmitter unit, which then you would have to carry around with you. But 5 stars for the sound.
A great pedal for my first that's small, very well built, is easy to use, and it gives a great sound, so super excited to start learning some of Brian's great pieces.
Notwithstanding the quality and function of the items (excellent), the sales and service from BM Guitars has been second to none, to be honest. International delivery (at no more than normal costs) to Switzerland was both quicker than expected, and completely trouble free (customs can be interesting here).I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending BM Guitars and House Music for anyone wishing to buy high quality items with superb service. Thank you.
It's not just Brian May's voice, you can use other guitarists' voices.Amazing!First of all, you need to adjust the thickness of the voice to reach the level of Brian May. The voice will be very loud, almost covering the timbre. If there is an attenuator, you can use it.（It took me a long time to adjust the timbre.o(*￣3￣o Brian May o(*￣3￣o Queen
Shipped to New Zealand. It arrived in perfect condition and works well. I needed to sort out power supply but that was not a problem. Tested battery source and that worked too. What I expected and perfect for what it is intended to do. I am very happy with this and it is now number one in my pedal board (as indicated it should be). It gives great added sound quality to the Red Special and the different settings are interesting and worthwhile. I am very pleased with this purchase
This is probably what many guitar players addicted to the treble boosters were seeking for many years... the all-in-one package idea is simply brilliant (although I'm sure it took some in-house arguing and discussions to make it happen - a technical challenge - and deliver it in such a sturdy & compact pro-like product). The delivered tone, at certain settings, is an exact replica of my father's old "Rangemaster" from the late '60s which I´ve been playing around with since I was a kid. On top, there is the further choice to adjust all the offered possibilities of different time periods (like a sound time machine) to get the desired tone adjustments. Bottom line is that is a great piece of kit to boost your tone (if you are a treble booster lover, of course). Love the metallic casing and pro-like foot button, that reminds me the old Mesa Boogie Mark Series pedal switches (indestructible!!).One tip when the package is delivered: carefully open the box as the control knob was loose and fell off to the floor. Not a "major" issue anyway.Thanks to BMG team for the swift delivery.
Bought for my 15 year old son, who has a just bought his first Strat and is a huge Queen and Rory Gallagher fan. Using it with a Vox Mini 5 at home on AC15 setting, it works really well, and brings the guitar to life unlike any digital amp settings. Lots of hiss etc. but that's part of the '70s trade-off with treble boosting AC15/30 amps. It's like a journey back in time, a great place for a 15 year old and 46 year old to start from, and the sounds are great, takes you to many interesting places. Well worth the money, love you and God bless you Brian. Hope to see you in Dublin again soon
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