Time Machine Boost LegendaryTones User manual
LegendaryTones
Time Machine Boost®2004 Model – User Guide
www.timemachineboost.com
Thank you and congratulations on your decision to
purchase the LegendaryTones Time Machine
Boost®. This unique two-channel tri-mode booster
for guitar enables you to obtain a wide range of
boosted sounds to help inspire you to play or c
your music. From its two select vintage booster
tones inspired by those made famous in the 1960s
and 1970s, to its modern, ultra-transparent clean
boost, the Time Machine Boost aims to satisfy
even the most discriminating players.
reate
Built as a no-compromise design, the Time
Machine Boost features a completely hand-wired
circuit with top grade components that are
optimized for the best tone possible as well as low
noise.
Your complete satisfaction is our goal. If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at
tmb@legendarytones.com.
The Team: The Time Machine Boost was born out of an initial vision and desire for this type of product by
Legendary Tones (www.legendarytones.com) president David Szabados. By partnering with Robert
Keeley, president of Keeley Electronics (www.robertkeeley.com), the two worked together on the various
aspects of the design where each person’s talents were best suited. Every element from inside the finely
detailed and crafted point-to-point layout, to the exterior design and layout, was carefully planned and
executed over the course of a year. This collaborative project between Szabados and Keeley is what
ultimately became the Time Machine Boost. Joining Szabados and Keeley for production TMB’s is
technician and builder Tom Lindenstruth. Tom’s attention to detail, perfection, and quality inspection and
assembly goes into every TMB built. The partnership between Szabados and Keeley and the fine work of
Lindenstruth have created something that can be called more than just a success and future collaborations
are planned. But with that said…
Thanks are in order! Many ears and eyes helped the team with the creation of the Time Machine Boost –
it’s always good to get an outside perspective especially when valid criticisms surface as they often lead to
breakthroughs and even better ideas! So with that thanks are in order to the following people for their
insight and input: Gary Holladay, Yamini Huigoil, Tiffany Keeley, Victor Mason, Steve McCampbell,
Mike Mullen, Jack Orman, Scott Smith, Alicia Szabados and Anna Szabados.
Basic Unit Features
• Two independent channels of operation (Vintage and Modern) with three modes of boosts
(“1966”, “1973”, and “Modern”) and separate level controls per each of the Time Machine
Boost’s two independent channels
• Intensity control for Vintage channel to control harmonic level and shape tone
• True bypass with individual LED indicators for On/Off, Vintage, and Modern channel selection
• Rugged, blue baked enamel finish in a durable die-cast aluminum enclosure finished with
attractive silk-screened art and complete labeling.
• 9v battery operation or optional DC adapter; Unit will also function with most onboard pedalboard
power supplies that use a positive sleeve (9-9.6 v 200mA) connection.
• Limited Lifetime warranty (see Warranty section below for complete details)
Getting Started Using Your Time Machine Boost
Vintage Channel Controls
• Volume – increases vintage channel volume
• Intensity – increases or decreases high frequencies and harmonic content. Note on Intensity
control: Leaving the Intensity control at the full-clockwise position can be considered a “stock”
normal starting point for obtaining vintage-types of tones. This control can be adjusted lower if the
overtones don’t complement your particular equipment at the “stock” full-up setting.
Modern Channel Control
• Volume – increases modern channel volume
Vintage Mode Select Switch (only functions while unit is in Vintage channel)
• 1966 – Classic treble boost effect that increases harmonics and gain in select upper mid and high
frequencies
• 1973 – Custom modified treble boost effect with more enhanced mids as well as fuller bottom end
9v DC input –The 2004 model Time Machine Boost operates from a standard 9v battery or 9-9.6v DC and
may be used with standard power supplies and with multi-effect systems that utilize a positive sleeve
connection.
Channel Select Footswitch – Toggles between Vintage and Modern Channels. Channels can be pre-set with
unit power OFF.
On/Off Footswitch – Turns unit on or off. Has true bypass so if unit is damaged or otherwise non-
functioning, true bypass will allow signal to continue to flow through the circuit so guitar’s signal will not
be cut out. Note on True-Bypass switching: This circuit employs true-bypass switches to physically
remove the circuit from your guitar signal when it is off. This being the case capacitors that couple your
signal to the effect are not perfect and the voltage they have on them drifts. This voltage will make a pop
when the circuit is initially reconnected. Simply switch the unit on and off a couple times when you first
connect the pedal to stabilize the voltages in the unit.
LEDs (Power On - RED, Vintage Channel - BLUE, Modern Channel - WHITE).
Battery Access – Battery for the Time Machine Boost can be accessed by removing the four screws on the
bottom of the unit. Current draw is low (approx. 12 mAs) and the battery will provide many hours of use.
Applications
The Time Machine Boost is a level/input voltage-altering effect that is specifically designed to work
together with quality tube amplifiers. It is not an overdrive or distortion unit, but a specific set of unique
booster circuits designed to enhance the sound of your guitar rig. By using the Time Machine Boost with its
levels set high, your amp will respond by naturally compressing to provide further overdrive and sustain –
especially if your amp is set for initial clipping before the Time Machine Boost has been activated! The
effect is very safe and in fact these boosting techniques are one of the methods that have been used by
professionals for many years. Boosters in various forms were often a musician’s “secret weapon” for tone
enhancement.
At lower level settings, the Time Machine Boost can either alter the tonal frequencies and enhance the
musical harmonics while in one of its two vintage modes, or serve as a completely transparent preamp that
allows volume and dynamic changes to be served up at the click of its footswitch. The possibilities for
applications are only limited by one’s imagination!
The Time Machine Boost can also be used successfully with overdrive and distortion pedals for a variety of
additional unique uses. By positioning the Time Machine Boost AFTER an overdrive unit in a chain set to
an amp running otherwise clean, you can increase your volume level without changing the character or
amount of distortion created by the overdrive unit itself. This is useful for example when you'd like to move
“up front” in the mix during a solo. The Time Machine Boost can also be placed BEFORE an overdrive
unit to increase the amount of distortion/drive of the unit while retaining similar output levels. This is
effective for moving from light overdrive to heavy drive musical passages with easy footswitchability.
Experiment with these two positions of Time Machine Boost placement within your signal chain to
determine the best uses for you.
The Time Machine Boost may also be used for a wide range of other purposes such as a clean preamp to
strengthen the tone and body of guitars that use lower output pickups. It can be used creatively to alternate
between its two boost modes using different level settings for each channel so you can use it for unique
rhythm and lead tone applications. The key is to experiment and have fun!! What follows is a description
of each of the Time Machine Boost’s three modes.
Vintage 1966 - Classic vintage “Treble Boost” effect and drive at the heart of which is a New Old Stock
(NOS) premium germanium transistor. This is the boost sound based on Eric Clapton’s famous
Rangemaster booster that he used when playing on John Mayall’s Bluesbreaker’s album. What makes 1966
so special is that with its increase in upper mid and high frequency response comes a natural clipping effect
in those same frequencies, courtesy of the select germanium transistor.
Vintage 1973 - Classic vintage Boost specifically tuned for more bottom end and fuller range, yet still
retaining the great top-end sparkle and drive by way of the same great NOS germanium transistor. 1973 is
based on the best of the modified treble-boosters of the day which also had more midrange punch as well.
Brian May of Queen used a modified booster circuit with his famous combination of a custom-built guitar
coupled with Vox AC30 amplifiers. Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath also used similar modified boosters to
drive the front end of his powerful Laney stacks.
Both of these circuits operate in the ways of the classic vintage boosters of the past and every effort was
made to faithfully recreate those sweet vintage tones. In the Vintage channel, musical notes are amplified
more or less depending on their frequency. A note fretted higher on the instrument will be amplified more
and sound louder than a bass note. Every precaution has been taken to make sure the Time Machine
Boost’s Vintage modes are as noise-free as possible. The difference in noise levels can’t be fully
appreciated however unless one has tested an original treble-booster and played it side-by-side with the
Time Machine Boost!
Modern - A uniquely-tuned, very transparent clean boost that delivers high output with low noise that can
overdrive a tube amp into greater and more, harmonically-rich distortion, or serves as preamp to strengthen
the initial gain signal of a guitar's pickups. Modern is transparent and offers a LOT of clean boost
headroom. It’s secret is its use of two hand-selected JFETs that offer a very high input impedance of about
1 Mega ohm. Powering this pair of JFETs is a voltage doubling power supply that delivers 16 volts for
increased headroom. The Modern channel can deliver 12 volts peak to peak of output. A nominal guitar
signal is only about 0.1 to 0.2 volts. The Modern channel is uniquely designed to give you all of the
transparent gain your heart could ever wish for. It’s designed to give you YOUR tone, just MORE of it.
Whether you want to take a vintage Fender amp “over the top” to provide stinging rich blues, or beef up the
distortion of your Marshall for harder rock sounds, Modern is for the player that wants to maximize the
versatility of their gear without altering the inherent tone that they’ve strived so hard to obtain.
Design Features
• Point-to-point, hand-wired design using premium components and assembly techniques
• Limited new old stock (NOS) germanium transistor for vintage channel
• Unique dual-JFET design with voltage-doubling circuit used for modern channel to provide tube
like tone, and deliver clean transparent gain with loads of headroom
• Premium 3DPT footswitches for true bypass with LED
• Switchcraft input and output jacks
• Heavy-duty die-cast aluminum housing
• Premium 22 gauge solid core Teflon insulated wire connected with silver solder
Warranty
Your complete satisfaction is our goal as is our desire for you to have a lifetime of enjoyable musical use
with your Time Machine Boost. As a result, The Time Machine Boost itself is covered by a limited
Lifetime warranty to the original owner. This includes a lifetime of assurance that the craftsmanship and
non-mechanical components will be covered free of charge in the event of a component failure. Warranty
does not cover abuse as determined by the manufacturer, nor does it cover “extreme circumstances” such as
damages caused by natural or unnatural disasters, etc. We will do our best to take care of any reasonable
repair quickly and will use identical parts when available though parts may be substituted IF original
equipment parts are no longer available. Your tone however will NEVER be compromised. Replaced parts
will be equal to or better than what was used previously. All mechanical components on the Time Machine
Boost are warranted for two years from date of purchase.
Please Help Spread the Word! Post your comments at the www.harmony-central.com user review
database at the effects section listed under LegendaryTones. We can’t offer you money or bribes for your
comments but we would be very appreciative if you help us spread the word about the 2004 Time Machine
Boost! Please feel free to post a detailed review once you’ve had the chance to fully test your Time
Thank you again for your business and enjoy your Time Machine Boost!
David Szabados, Robert Keeley, and Tom Lindenstruth
The LegendaryTones Team
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