The first "Heritage Crunch" models ran off the production line and were sent to my favorite Guinea pigs for testing The pedals are sporting a fine pearly crunch like a refreshing summer rain but also a huge output if you dial it in because of their booster origin. With this setting you can drive the pre-amp stage of your tube amp into saturation as easy as 1,2,3. With the boosters volume control you can balance between FET and Triode crunch in very fine steps.
After valves (tubes) had already asserted themselves in electronics for a considerable timespan, engineers started from about 1940 to revise certain valve stages in a most clever way. The objective was to specifically optimize the characteristics of particular circuits. In order to give individual amplifier stages a considerable boost in their gain, new concepts – some of them quite daredevil-ish – were developed and patented. In most of these two triodes (we shall limit ourselves to triodes here) were connected "on top of each other" ... which is why the configuration is sometimes designated a "totem pole" amplifier. From a large number of such solutions, only single one (together with its electrical relatives) is still remembered: this is the SRPP circuit (US-Pat.-No: 2.310.342 by M. Artzt, filed 1940). Especially in the field of High-End-HiFi, the further development of the circuit has become and remains well-known as the "Aikido"-amplifier.
read moreNachdem die Röhren sich seit längerer Zeit durchgesetzt hatten, begannen die Ingenieure weltweit ab etwa 1940 die einzelne Röhren Verstärkerstufe höchst intelligent zu überarbeiten, um bestimmte Schaltungseigenschaften speziell zu optimieren. Um nun die einzelne Verstärkerstufe mit merklich mehr Verstärkung auszustatten, wurden z.T. richtig tollkühne Konzepte erarbeitet und patentiert. Bei fast allen saßen dabei zwei Trioden – wollen wir uns jetzt hier nur auf Trioden beschränken, „übereinander“, daher wird sowas manchmal dieser Anordnung wegen auch als „totem-pole“ amplifier bezeichnet. Von all dieser Vielzahl von Lösungen bleibt aber nur der SRPP Schaltkreis (US-Pat.-Nr: 2.310.342 von M. Artzt, filed 1940) mit seinen elektrischen Verwandten in Erinnerung. Insbesondere im HiFi/HiEnd wird seine Weiterentwicklung zum „Aikido“ Verstärker Konzept bekannt werden und bleiben.
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The fine BSM V-TB, a replica of the old V*X TrebleBooster from autumn 1964, has finally made it from a custom order to a regular model. Roger McGuinn of the Byrds created his 1960´s sizzling "jingle-jangle" trademark sound with the V*X TrebleBooster along with his 12-string Rickenbacker guitar. With the "Bass Boost" switch, the bass frequencies can be raised by +10dB, resulting in a beautiful sparkling tone, Tom Petty and his sideman Mike Campbell comes to mind.
Here's the next strike from BSM: a powerful booster originally designed for medium output humbuckers, but works also very well with singlecoils. Bernd Meiser took the idea of Angus Y. playing not also live but in the studio with his Schaffer Vega device wireless system. Yes, Angus the "no effects" man used it as a booster/compressor to get his live sound on tape. Bernd did not make a simple copy of the circuit but came along with his own idea to realize the functions with silicon transistors. It is designed to hit the high treble input of a Marshall plexi hard. What came out is a real monster, working with 18volts. But we have to admit that it works very well with 9volts, just a little less monstreous. It also comes with a status LED. Because of the controls for preamp and output stages you can easily tame the beast!
The RM Recording is the BSM top-of-the-line treble booster model for all studio and recording purposes. Instead of the original OC44 transistor it is not loaded with a selected OC44 like a CV7003 as in our RM Majestic but with a German made industrial germanium transistor with an extremely ultra-low-noise design that was designed, built and used for military purposes where no room for any tolerances and compromises is. This transistor is from the 70´s and features the same sound and behaviour as the original OC44, but with almost zero noise. This makes this booster the first choice for all studio and recording applications. Regarding noise this transistor is in the same ballpark as the best low-noise silicone transistors, but with the powerful germanium tone and punch you expect from a Rangemaster.
Good news for all Ritchie Blackmore fans. The high output level of many BSM Treble Booster and preamp units often causes problems with the following modulation unit, especially with the echo-unit that is necessary and important for the real post 74´ Blackmore sound. BSM solved this problem with the RB box (aka Ritchie´s Box), a pure passive looper with two custom-made special line-transformers.
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The new "RPA California II" booster is finally released now, and is the soul-mate of our California unit, complementing it with a different goal in mind. Whilst the well-proven RPA California primarily highlighted the best possible adaptation to the various pickups by means of an "EQ", with a view to generating Ritchie"s tone at its very best and under all possible conditions, the new RPA California II now calls for the correct pickups. The California II makes use of the free space gained via a volume pot. This allowed for the opportunity to map Blackmore"s tone even with small amps.
There is a new special preamp/booster pedal in the making: the "RPA Full Quarter", developed for fat single coil pickups like the "Schecter F500", the OBL 450XL (or similar) double blade humbuckers that Ritchie Blackmore used in the 1980 and beginning of the 90s. The pedal ensures no muddy or dull sound with powerful pickups like these in the operation of conventional amps to achieve a dynamic transparent sound.
read moreNew "RPA California II" booster in progress and will replace the California unit. Whilst the well-proven RPA California primarily highlighted the best possible adaptation to the various pickups by means of an "EQ", with a view to generating Ritchie"s tone at its very best and under all possible conditions, the new RPA California II now calls for the correct pickups. The California II makes use of the free space gained via a volume poti. This allowed for the opportunity to map Blackmore"s tone even with small amps.
BSM proudly presents Bruce John Dickinson from the famous English rock band "Little Angels" doing a few videos playing BSM stuff. Watch the RW-F, AP-WA, RM Early days pages.
BSM designed a new private stock Booster just for the favourite taste of the company's mastermind. It was intended in the first place to emulate the sound of the 1975 studio recording "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow", second to achieve Ritchie's early Rainbow live sound that can be heard on the nov. '75 bootlegs, e.g. Bacon Theatre, NYC.
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The new "Albuquerque Booster" was inspired by Bad Company's live Bootleg from Albuquerque on March, 3rd 1976. Guitarist Mick Ralphs as a habit recorded the gig amongst many other concerts. Ralphs had a rich harmonic Les Paul overdrive sound and with drums and bass layering the perfect Rock basis for Paul Rodger's hoarse blues based vocals.
read moreNew "Andy Powell/Wishbone Ash" booster in progress, the prototype will be shown to the public at the upcoming Musikmesse 2011. The new booster will give you the pearly-sweet and creamy live tone, known from the british guitarist Andy Powell during 1973-76. His band Wishbone Ash was one of the leading european bands at this time, well known for their harmonic chorus playing of the two lead guitarists. BSM will focus on the clean & boost live sound of the "Ballad of the Beacon" folk-rock song, more about it at the Musikmesse 2011.
BSM will be at the Musikmesse 2011, please visit us at booth C63 in hall 4.0
The brandnew BSM RW-F Treble Booster is released and available
The brandnew BSM RM Early Days is released and available
Ritchies CM Booster (aka 71/73) will be officially released at the Frankfurt Musikmesse 2010, for more infos please see the new Blackmore Mk2 ToneZone H E R E
BSM will be at the Musikmesse 2010, please visit us at booth A40 in hall 4.1
The new Blackmore discussion forum is online H E R E and anyone is invited to join and to discuss blackmorisch equipment from any manufacturer openly there