Review: Fulltone CS Ranger Treble Booster

If you read any guitar pedal forum, you will undoubtedly come across a thread about the outlandish price of the Klon Centaur and view its endless list of clone options. Bill Finnegan’s Klon was revolutionary in the 1990s by creating a “transparent”, clean overdrive. If you have an issue with paying $2000 – $3000 for an original Klon Centaur, you may get queasy viewing the original Dallas Rangemaster’s prices over $5000.
The Dallas Rangemaster was created in 1966 by the London company John E. Dallas & Sons. Up to that point Dallas & Sons only manufactured guitars and amplifiers. In the 1960’s, England was producing more than a few legendary rock ‘n roll bands. Guitar effects where in its infancy, and many guitarists where looking for new tones to stand out from their brethren.
Marshall and Vox amplifiers were all the rage with their meaty mid-range and bass. Les Paul guitars and overdriven British amplifiers had plenty of dark tones, what they didn’t have enough of was some higher treble tones. Guitarists wanted something to cut through the muddled tones. Dallas & Sons heard the problem and created a solution. The Dallas Rangemaster treble booster. A very simple circuit of one germanium transistor, three resistors, four capacitors, and a boost all packed nicely into a small silver box that could sit on top of an amplifier.
Why is the Rangemaster so expensive? Two reasons. First of all, some legendary guitarists used it to create some of their iconic albums. Little known names like Jimmy Page, Tony Iommi, Brian May, and Ritchie Blackmore. Secondly, nobody knows how many were produced, and they are almost sixty years old! Ye old supply and demand economics.
Over the past 20 years, pedal manufacturers have been trying to replicate the 1960’s sound of the Dallas Rangemaster. As a guitarist and collector of vintage gear, I personally have not spent my money on any of the Rangemaster clones…. until today.
Just in time for the winter NAMM show, Fulltone releases the custom shop CS Ranger treble booster pedal.
First of all, hat’s off to the Fulltone design team for recreating the late 1960’s look with the new CS Ranger. A silver masterpiece of metallic angles, one vintage black knob selector, an old school giant amber light, and a Texas Ranger symbol. Unlike the original Rangemaster, the CS Ranger is a foot pedal and its size will fit nicely on your pedalboard. The CS Ranger can also be powered with a single 9V battery.
The selector knob lets the user choose from 6 different settings. Select RM-1 and RM-2 to replicate the first two Rangemaster’s tones. You can also select FULL, LO-MIDS, MIDS or HIGHEST to create new tones.
Get in line for your CS Ranger, they are priced to move. Fulltone has an excellent track record of their effect pedals playing play well with other pedals through any type of amplifier.
- Fulltone always uses quality components.
- Affordable for any guitarist.
- Adjustable Transistor Bias Trimmer for fine tuning.
- Vintage 1960’s effect pedal style.
- 6 Different sounds to choose.
- The best all-around Rangemaster clone on the market.