Colour Boost (2007)

Description:

Classic '60s and '70s Germanium voice without all the wildness and noise of those old pedals.
The Colour Boost by 65 Amps is a fantastic evolution of one of our favorite pedals from the 1960s - the Germanium Treble Booster. The Colour Boost recreates the Holy Grail tones of '60s Germanium pedals but with enhancements derived from 65 Amps diligent, decade long research into components, build quality and endless pursuit of improvement.
The Colour Boost will surprise you with its modern attention to build quality, noise floors and sensitivity, all the while delivering the classic sounds you’ve sought for decades. This classic treble booster design offers two distinct features – classic Germanium distortion when pushed and the elusive “Ticket to Ride” clean tone when your guitar volume is rolled back. There’s no better way to the British Invasion super chime that is so hard to nail - The Colour Boost hits it perfectly. In addition to the original treble booster design, 65 has added a four-position voicing knob that utilizes the premium coupling capacitors from SoZo that 65 uses in all their amps.
Made with Premium Germanium transistors and amp parts, not pedal parts, the Colour Boost is a step forward in the modernization and improvement of classic designs. Utilizing the same amp parts used in all 65amps, instead of pedal parts, adds elements of tone, dynamics and quality that makes the Colour Boost a typically overbuilt 65 product. Introduced in 2007.

Specifications:

  • Classic '60s and '70s guitar tone
  • NKT 274 Premium Germanium Transistor
  • Modern appointments like SoZo coupling caps, Allen Bradley carbon comps and Vishay Dale metal films
  • 4 way “Voice” that notches midrange frequencies
  • “Gain” that adjusts the output of the Germanium Transistor
  • Jacks: input, output, 9VDC Power In
  • Internal 9VDC Battery (non Alkaline battery preferred)
  • External 9VDC direct. Germanium is reverse polarity and is not happy in a series “chain” power supply.
  • Dimensions: 3-¾” x 4-3/4” x 2-¾”
  • Weight in box: 1.25 lb.

Historical info:

This Germanium-based booster pedal was designed around 2004 - 2005 by session and touring guitarist "Toneman" Don Butler for the - in those days - 65 Pedals division next to the 65 Amps division within the 65 Amps corp. (note the 65 Pedals logo on this Colour Boost). Don Butler had the rights to the Rangemaster name and the 65 Amps Colour Boost pedal is sort of a Rangemaster on steroids. Don added a ‘Color’ knob to it just like the amplifiers of 65 Amps have and it was voiced to compliment them. It's designed to be very useful with a much wider tonal range than a regular Rangemaster.

List Price back in the days (2008):

  • $229

Two pictures

of the model with a Salt & Pepper pattern on the casing (thanks for sending the pictures Kirk!).