The Malaise Forever Rage Monster Germanium Gain Stage is a dual-stage germanium treble booster/overdrive pedal. Pedal of the Day, reviewing it on release, described it as "Packing some classic and modern boost sounds into one pedalboard-friendly enclosure," and noted that it comes "with a little added flexibility" beyond a straight boost.1
It sits in the boost and treble booster territory covered on the Boost Pedals page, but its second gain stage and tone shaping push it toward Overdrive Pedals as well. As Pedal of the Day put it: "Sometimes a boost pedal is just that, a boost, the Rage Monster Germanium Gain Stage takes that title up about 17 notches, destroying everything in its path (in the best way)."1
How it works
The circuit is two gain stages in series, with a variable low-pass filter between them and selectable output capacitance at the end of the chain.1
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Loud | Controls the output volume level1 |
| Body | Variable low-pass filter between the two stages, ranging from a flat treble response to a well-rounded frequency response with added low end into the second stage; acts as a tone control and saturates the second stage for more breakup and grit1 |
| Three-position toggle | Controls output capacitance (see below)1 |
| Internal gain trimpot | Controls gain, factory set at the midpoint for a consistent edge-of-breakup response1 |
The three toggle positions
The toggle changes the capacitance at the output, which shapes how much treble gets through1:
- Middle: bright and treble-laden, through a 4n7 output capacitor1
- Left: a 10nF cap is brought into parallel with the 4n7 cap, adding a slight low end hump to the output1
- Right: a 100nF cap is brought into parallel, for a satisfyingly full bass response at the output1
The gain control is a trimpot inside the pedal, not a top-panel knob. It ships set at the midpoint for a consistent edge-of-breakup response, so changing the gain means opening the enclosure.1
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the Rage Monster on 8 April 2022, covering it as a brand new release from Malaise Forever. The reviewer's verdict was that the pedal goes well beyond a simple clean boost, "taking that title up about 17 notches," while keeping the classic and modern boost sounds a player would expect from a germanium booster in a compact enclosure.1
Videos
collector//emitter
Pedal of the Day
The Pedal Platform
Questions
What does the Body knob do on the Rage Monster?
Body is a variable low-pass filter sitting between the pedal's two gain stages. It ranges from a flat treble response to a well-rounded frequency response with added low end going into the second stage. It works as a tone control, and it also saturates the second stage for more breakup and grit.
What do the three toggle positions do?
The three-position toggle controls output capacitance. The middle position is bright and treble-laden through a 4n7 output capacitor. The left position brings a 10nF cap into parallel with the 4n7 cap, adding a slight low end hump. The right position brings a 100nF cap into parallel for a satisfyingly full bass response at the output.
Where is the gain trimpot on the Rage Monster?
The gain trimpot is internal, inside the pedal's enclosure rather than on the top panel. It controls gain and is factory set at the midpoint for a consistent edge-of-breakup response, so players who want more or less gain from the pedal will need to open it up and adjust the trimpot with a small screwdriver.
Is the Malaise Forever Rage Monster a treble booster or an overdrive?
It is both. Pedal of the Day describes it as a dual-stage germanium treble booster/overdrive, with a little added flexibility. The two stages, the Body filter between them, and the selectable output capacitance let it cover classic and modern boost sounds in one pedalboard-friendly enclosure.
Does the Rage Monster use germanium transistors?
Yes. Pedal of the Day identifies it as a dual-stage germanium treble booster/overdrive, meaning its gain stages run on germanium, the transistor type associated with classic treble booster and early fuzz and overdrive designs.
Sources (1)
- Malaise Forever Rage Monster Germanium Gain Stage, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2022-04-08
