Vox VTB-1 Treble Booster
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Description
Few guitar sounds are as unmistakable as a VOX AC30 pushed into its sweet spot by a vintage British Treble Booster. Heard on recordings by icons like Rory Gallagher, Brian May, and Marc Bolan, this pairing helped define the sound of rock's formative years. The VTB-1 revives that legacy with a re-engineered, road-ready booster that delivers the expressive character of the original without the limitations of 1960s Germanium technology.
Vintage character, modern stability
Classic Treble Boosters relied on Germanium transistors, revered for their rich nonlinear response but notorious for temperature sensitivity, inconsistent performance, and noise. Simply swapping in Silicon typically loses the magic. So, the VOX engineering team set out to solve the puzzle: How do you preserve everything players love about Germanium while achieving the stability of Silicon?
After detailed analysis of multiple original units and months spent modelling their behavior, VOX developed a new approach that captures the wide, nuanced nonlinear region of a great Germanium transistor using a single, carefully biased Silicon device. By widening the edge-of-breakup zone and tuning the operating point with pinpoint accuracy, the VTB-1 achieves the smooth onset of drive, singing overtones, and exceptional volume-knob cleanup that defines classic Treble Booster tone.
At the heart of the VTB-1 is a hand-selected Silver Can BC108 transistor, chosen for its consistent performance, low noise, and authentic vintage feel. Modern thin-film resistors further reduce noise beyond what carbon-composition parts of the 60s could achieve.
The sound and feel of the originals
The VTB-1 preserves the simplicity of the classic single-transistor design while offering a significantly more predictable and stable playing experience. The custom bias circuit positions the BC108 in its ideal operating zone, allowing players to sit comfortably in that expressive edge-of-breakup range.
Dial back your guitar's volume for sparkling, chimey cleansa hallmark of the best original boostersor turn the Boost control clockwise to push your amp into a harmonically rich overdrive with massive headroom and focused presence.
Authenticity meets flexibility
By combining a period-correct voice with modern refinements, the VTB-1 offers an authentic '60s Treble Booster experience with greatly expanded versatility. The Fat Switch broadens the frequency boost, letting you tailor the pedal to your guitar and playing style, from crisp vintage attack to thicker, more modern punch. And thanks to careful engineering, the VTB-1 remains remarkably quiet, even at high gain settings.
The perfect partner for VOX amplifiers
Paired with a VOX AC30 or AC15, the VTB-1 unlocks the singing, harmonically rich overdrive that shaped the golden age of British rock. Dynamic, touch-sensitive, and beautifully interactive, it captures the soul of the original boosters while offering the reliability today's players need.
Iconic tone within reach
Classic Treble Boosters have long been rare, expensive, and unpredictable. The VTB-1 brings their authentic sound, feel, and musical response back to modern pedalboards with a beautifully refined, highly stable, and road-ready design.
Features
• Faithfully recreated vintage Treble Booster voice, tuned to make VOX amps sing• Unique Silicon design that authentically emulates Germanium's nonlinear behavior
• Single-transistor gain stage for traditional clarity and touch response
• Precisely targeted biasing for an expanded sweet spot and exceptional volume-knob cleanup
• Hand-selected Silver Can BC108 transistor
• Fat Switch to expand the boosted frequency range
• Exceptionally low-noise performance
• Compact, rugged, vintage-style enclosure
• Compatible with modern pedalboard power supplies and flexible placement in your signal chain
Q & A
Reviews
Protect your investment with the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty
A warranty can be a very important factor when making a buying decision. Because repairs can be very expensive in terms of parts and labour costs, manufacturers usually only provide one year limited warranties that generally only cover items that malfunction due to a manufacturer’s defect. With an important purchase such as a musical
instrument or piece of studio gear, however, many people want to have the peace of mind in knowing that their investment will be protected should the product no longer be performing at 100%.
Because of this, Long & McQuade provides our customers with a FREE one-year Performance Warranty on most of our products. The Long & McQuade Performance Warranty supplements the manufacturer’s warranty to ensure that our customers receive complete “no hassle” warranty coverage within their first year.
How does the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty differ from most manufacturers' warranties?
- Performance Guarantee: Normal wear and tear is covered, so your product will be performing as well as the day you purchased it for the entire duration of the coverage. Band and Orchestral Performance Warranty does not include replacing pads or cleaning for woodwind instruments, unless deemed necessary by our repair staff. Ultrasonic cleaning for brass instruments will be provided if deemed necessary by our repair staff, but is not routinely offered under the Performance Warranty.
- Product Replacement: If your product cannot be fixed or costs too much to fix, we will replace it with the equivalent model for no additional charge. If this is not possible, a full refund will be provided.
- No Lemon Policy: Your product will be replaced should the same problem occur multiple times.
- Convenient: Easy drop off and pick up of the product at any Long & McQuade location.
- Guitar Setup: Guitars purchased at Long & McQuade come with 1 free setup, to be redeemed within 1 year for new guitars and 90 days for used guitars.
- Loaners Available: A loaner product may be given while the product is being repaired.
- Power Surge Protection: Your product is covered even if damaged from a power surge.
- Accessory Coverage: Any peripheral devices or accessories that come with your product (i.e. foot pedal, case) are also covered.
- Commercial Use Coverage: Music and recording professionals who purchase gear for “heavy-use” commercial purposes will still be covered.
Long & McQuade reserves the right to restrict the purchase of additional years of Performance Warranty. Used products come with a 3-month Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Some products (i.e. computers, software, cymbals and other items) are covered only by the manufacturer‘s warranty. Consumables (i.e. strings, reeds, drum sticks, batteries, tubes, cross faders) are excluded as they are designed to be replaced. Cosmetic Damage, Accidental Damage, or problems caused by Humidity or Temperature Issues are not covered. Speakers damaged by overpowering are generally not covered. Our coverage does not provide compensation for loss of use. As of June 2018 the Performance Warranty is no longer transferable. The warranty is only valid in Canada.
Purchasing additional years of coverage
Some manufacturers provide warranties for longer than 1 year; however, these are usually limited warranties that do not provide the same coverage as the Long & McQuade Performance Warranty. Customers interested in more complete and convenient (but not necessarily longer) coverage are still able to purchase additional years of the Performance Warranty.
If you are interested in receiving this coverage for longer than one year, you have the option of purchasing additional years of the Performance Warranty. The pricing is as follows:
- NEW products: Starting at 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. Starting at 4% for each additional year.
- USED products: Starting at 4% of the current new selling price to increase the warranty from 3 months to 1 year. Starting at 4% for each additional year.
- GUITARS: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year. $45 maximum. An additional free setup is not included with additional purchased years of Performance Warranty.
- BAND and ORCHESTRAL instruments: 4% of the current new selling price to double the warranty from 1 year to 2 years. 4% for each additional year.
Reserve in Store
| Product | SKU | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| VTB-1 Treble Booster | 836605 |
