The BSM RM Majestic Treble Booster is a boost pedal built around OC44 germanium transistors, based on the British Range Master unit produced between 1965 and 1969. BSM calls it the top-of-the-line treble booster model in its range, and describes it as much more transparent than the stock RM Treble Booster, with what the maker calls "an unheard richness of details in your sound"1.
The OC44 transistors
The Majestic uses OC44 germanium transistors from what BSM describes as a high grade selection stash, sourced from Valvo and Philips and dating from 1959, originally meant for professional measuring instruments such as the Siemens wobble-generator for SW, LW and MW. BSM notes these special OC44 transistors are very hard to find1.
How it compares to the standard RM
Against BSM's standard RM Treble Booster, the Majestic delivers 4dB more gain and more headroom, according to the maker. The average output level is 10dBm, and the maximum output voltage when the strings are struck really hard is 7V max1.
Pickups and placement
BSM says the RM Treble Booster was specifically designed for single coil and humbucking pickups with a relatively low or medium inductance, such as the pickups in Fender, Gretsch, Burns or Gibson guitars1.
BSM's manual states: "The Treble Booster is inserted between guitar and amplifier, not into the FX loop"2. Like the original Range Master circuit it is based on, it is meant to drive the amp's input stage.
Power
The positive pole of the battery is ground12. The unit is powered by a 9V battery with a current consumption of approx. 250 uA1. A positive-ground pedal cannot share a standard center-negative daisy chain supply with typical modern pedals.
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Haiko Heinz
Questions
Does the BSM RM Majestic run on a battery?
Yes. According to BSM, the unit is powered by a 9V battery, with a current consumption of approximately 250 uA. Because the positive pole of the battery is ground, the pedal is positive tip and cannot share a standard center-negative daisy chain with typical modern pedals.
Is the BSM RM Majestic positive ground?
Yes. BSM states that the positive pole of the battery is ground, which is typical of germanium transistor circuits of the era the Majestic is based on. That power arrangement matters when connecting it to other pedals.
Where does the RM Majestic go in the signal chain?
BSM's manual says the Treble Booster is inserted between guitar and amplifier, not into the FX loop. It is designed to drive the front end of a tube amplifier, which is how the original Range Master units it is based on were used.
Can the RM Majestic go in an amp's effects loop?
No. BSM states plainly that the Treble Booster is inserted between guitar and amplifier, not into the FX loop. It is meant to hit the amp's input stage, not a loop return.
What pickups is the RM Majestic designed for?
BSM says the RM Treble Booster was specifically designed for single coil and humbucking pickups with a relatively low or medium inductance, such as the pickups found in Fender, Gretsch, Burns or Gibson guitars.
How much more gain does the RM Majestic have than the standard RM?
BSM says that in comparison with the standard RM, the Majestic delivers 4dB more gain and more headroom, and describes it as much more transparent than the stock RM model.
Sources (2)
- RM Majestic Treble Booster, treblebooster.net, 2025
- Neutral_neu, treblebooster.net, 2025
