Reuss Musical Instruments

Reuss Tone Booster (blow-out sale) preorder

Sold out.

SOLD OUT - Discontinued model

The perfect companion to the old Reuss RF-01/02 Repeater Fuzz pedal

This is a clone of the 1960s Vox V1531A Treble/Bass Booster module, which was one of the four built-in effects of the vintage Vox Ultrasonic and Starstream guitars

It looks like a plain tone knob, but this is actually a fine little sound shaping tool, adding it's own unique flavour to your guitar sound. Turning it up, it will boost treble frequencies and turning it down boosts the bass. But nowhere at the dial is it neutral. It always adds something (but no distortion).

The Reuss Tone Booster is built to the exact schematic of the old sixties module, using a vintage new old stock Motorola BC109B transistor. I have added a LED pilot light and true bypass switching and nothing else.

In addition to being part of the effects chain of those vintage Vox guitars, the original Treble/Bass booster was also available as a little stand-alone module which plugged straight into the guitar. According to internet wisdom this was used by The Velvet Underground, and it's believed to have contributed significantly to their guitar sounds. The plug-in module was called the V8401, but to my best knowledge it's the same circuit.

Despite the tiny micro pedal format, the Reuss Tone Booster is built to the same high-end standards as the other Reuss pedals. Made in Europe and wired by hand with an upgrade quality footswitch and Switchcraft jacks. No SMT parts.

Visually, the Tone Booster is created as a companion to the discontinued Reuss RF01/02 Repeater Fuzz pedals. It's a great match with the stand-alone Reuss Repeater and Reuss Fuzz pedals, and the combination of these gives you have a nice little 'Dreamweapon' trio of pedals.

Please note: Being true to the original vintage circuit, the pedal gives a slight volume drop, despite being called a booster.

Also please note that there is no room for a battery in the TB-01

Reuss Tone specifications

  • Vintage-identical V1531A Treble/Bass booster circuit
  • Vintage new old stock Motorola BC109B transistor
  • Uncompromising 'boutique' construction and build quality. Wired by hand
  • 100% handmade in the European Union
  • Rugged aluminium enclosure finished in silver grey metallic with silk screen printing
  • True bypass switching
  • High-quality Switchcraft jacks, wired by hand
  • 'Pro' upgrade quality footswitch (good for minimum 15000 stomps - the standard footswitch is rated for 6000)
  • 24 months warranty against manufacturing faults
  • Runs on a standard guitar pedal 9V DC power suppply (no battery option)
  • 100% Handmade in the European Union (Denmark & Bulgaria)
  • Worldwide shipping from Denmark. Orders posted before 2:00 PM Central European Time on weekdays ships same day

Download the Reuss TB-01 Tone Booster manual here

Youtube demo

(please note, to replicate the signal chain of the built-in effects of the old Vox guitars, the Tone Booster need to be placed after the fuzz. Not before, like in this video, sorry)

PLEASE NOTE: Prices at the webshop are listed without VAT. For customers in the European Union VAT is added at check-out