BSM HS Treble Booster

The BSM HS model is based on the short-lived early edition British HORNBY-SKEWES unit produced, as used by Ritchie Blackmore, the brilliant and impulsive guitarist of Deep Purple. The unit produces a powerful and biting sound that was used to help create the epochal masterpieces e.g. “Deep Purple In Rock” and “Fireball”. The long yearned for new edition, now issued under the name HS from BSM, includes the same germanium transistors as the 1965 version. The HS-Custom model includes a volume control (like Blackmore’s modification).

Almost all British rock guitarists using single coil pickup guitars used a germanium Treble Booster from the late 60’s to the mid 70’s. By the end of the seventies, the Treble Booster was replaced by a new circuit from Japan, the so called Tube Screamer and other similar overdrive circuits. These were based acoustically on the old Treble Boosters and therefore had a very similar frequency response. The germanium boosters on the other hand, sadly fell into oblivion despite their unique and inimitable sound. The HS and the HS-Custom Treble Booster has been specifically designed for single coil pickups with a relatively low coil inductance, such as pickups in Fender or Gibson guitars. On these pickups, the HS produces (with the volume control of the guitar turned up to the max) a fat, biting and penetrating lead sound, minus any shrill characteristics. By lowering the guitar’s volume control, many shades of crunch can be easily dialed in. Another thing to consider is that when a guitar amp’s volume is turned up (reaching saturation), the power amp normally begins to mute the highs, which results in a duller sound. At an amp’s full tilt, the HS Treble Booster allows a more transparent tone (covering the entire frequency range) to shine through. The presence control on the amp need only be minimally used (if at all). When vintage amps are used (such as the Fender Deluxe, Fender Bassman, Vox AC30, plexi Marshall 100w or Marshall Major) it is amazing what effect the use of a good treble booster has.

The Treble Booster is inserted between guitar and amplifier, not into the FX loop. The magical tone is achieved by the interaction between guitar pickup, treble booster and amplifier. The unit is powered by a 9V battery with a current consumption of approx. 280 uA. The average output level is 6dBm, the maximum output voltage when the strings are struck really hard is 5V max. Note: The positive pole of the battery is ground.