The Time Machine Boost is a tri-mode signal booster made under the Legendary Tones name by David Szabados and Robert Keeley1. Vintage Guitar reviewed it in March 2003 as a pedal whose purpose is to boost certain tonal frequencies in a setup, giving a variety of sounds, and it was designed for use with high-quality tube amps2. It sits in the wider family of boost pedals, and its full listing is on the Time Machine Boost product page.
What it does
The basic function of the unit is to flip between two boost tones, Modern and Vintage, and a mini switch then selects between two Vintage tones1. The Vintage channel features an intensity control that adjusts high frequencies and harmonic content2.
The reviewers at AMZ Guitar Effects described the Modern side as "a full-range modern almost HiFi sound (Gilmours Clean on the Wall-EMGs)"1. Vintage Guitar's reviewer, testing with a late-'70s Gibson SG into an all-tube half-stack, found that in Modern boost mode at the max volume setting "the unit boosted the amp's natural distortion to a sweet, singing, harmonically complex sound that would please any pro"2.
Controls at a glance
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Modern / Vintage stomp | Flips between the two boost tones1 |
| Second stomp switch | Second footswitch among the unit's two stomps1 |
| Mini switch | Selects between the two Vintage tones1 |
| Vintage intensity knob | Adjusts high frequencies and harmonic content on the Vintage channel2 |
| Other knobs | Two further knobs alongside the intensity control1 |
The pedal was designed for use with high-quality tube amps, according to Vintage Guitar's review, so its behavior with other amp types was not part of that testing2.
Videos
Kari Korva
Kari Korva
Jeremy Varao
Questions
What does the Time Machine Boost do?
It is a tri-mode signal booster designed to lift certain tonal frequencies in a setup and add volume. Its basic function is to flip between two boost tones, Modern and Vintage, and a mini switch selects between two Vintage tones. Vintage Guitar described it as giving a variety of sounds with the unit, and it was designed for use with high-quality tube amps.
Who made the Time Machine Boost?
The Time Machine Boost was made under the Legendary Tones name by David Szabados and Robert Keeley. Keeley went on to found Keeley Electronics, and the pedal is also listed under that maker's name on reference sites.
How is the Time Machine Boost powered?
It runs on a 9-volt adapter, which was included with the unit according to the AMZ Guitar Effects review. The review also counts three LEDs, three knobs, two stomp switches and one mini switch among its hardware.
Sources (2)
- Reviews of boost pedals, muzique.com (AMZ Guitar Effects)
- Legendary Tones Time Machine Boost, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2006-02-01
