Tsakalis Ac Master

The Essentials to Know About the Tsakalis Audioworks AC MASTER Pedal

• Two British circuits in one pedal: VOX Top Boost style overdrive + booster inspired by the Range Master, usable alone or stacked.


• Ultra-flexible routing: dedicated inputs/outputs for each section and an FX Loop between the two circuits to insert other pedals exactly where you want.


• 60s tone on demand: from crisp, "chimey" edge-of-breakup to rich classic rock saturation full of harmonics.


• Handcrafted build: handmade in Athens (Greece), designed for pedalboard use and dynamic playing.

Two British Legends United: The Spirit of VOX Top Boost and the Range Master

The AC MASTER was designed to recapture the feel of 1960s British amplifiers pushed to their limits. The AC section is directly inspired by the famous VOX Top Boost amps of that era, renowned for their brilliance, complex harmonics, and musical compression when driven into crunch. Complementing this, the MASTER section draws from the DNA of the Range Master: a booster with a sharp character, associated with the iconic colors of British rock and blues rock, in the spirit of tones popularized by guitarists like Brian May and Rory Gallagher.

Within the Tsakalis Audioworks range, the AC MASTER stands out for its "two pedals in one" approach, but especially for its philosophy of modularity: instead of imposing a fixed order overdrive > boost (or vice versa), it lets you choose and even insert your effects to build a chain perfectly suited to your setup.

Who the AC MASTER Is For and the Styles It Excels In

This pedal is aimed at guitarists seeking an expressive drive that responds to touch, from clean tones flirting with breakup to more muscular saturations. It is ideal for classic rock, blues rock, jangly pop/rock sounds, and any situation where you want an overdrive that preserves attack and chord clarity.

In the studio, it allows laying down a credible British foundation without multiplying takes or stacking too many gain stages. Live, its two-section design and FX Loop facilitate a clean pedalboard: for example, you can place a modulation or delay between the booster and overdrive to keep repeats clearer, or route the booster to another drive already on your board.

Controls, Sections, and Routing: A Dual Pedal Designed Like a Mini-System

The AC section replicates the harmonic behavior and complexity of a vintage VOX circuit by relying on two blendable channels: a bright, bell-like Top Boost channel and a warmer, thicker Normal channel with a slight roughness that can recall a very mild fuzz when pushed. The idea is not just to add gain but to sculpt the texture by mixing the bite of the Top Boost with the body of the Normal channel.

The Top Boost features Volume plus interactive Bass and Treble EQ controls, while the Normal channel offers a dedicated Volume control. At the output of this section, there is an output stage with Tone Cut (to soften the high end) and Master Volume: handy for achieving nice saturation and compression while keeping output level controlled.

The MASTER section is a premium booster inspired by the Range Master, based on a selected silicon transistor to approach the dynamic response and musical character of vintage versions, with increased consistency and reliability. It offers Boost (amount of gain), Volume (output level), and a 3-position Range selector: Normal (classic treble boost), Mid (mid-focused boost), Bass (fuller response).

Finally, the AC MASTER shines with its connectivity: separate inputs and outputs for each section, and an FX Loop between the two circuits. You can thus use each section completely independently, place other pedals between them, and position the overdrive and booster at different points in your chain for maximum control.

The Sound

In terms of feel, the AC MASTER emphasizes dynamics and playing response: precise attack, natural compression when increasing gain, and saturation that enriches with harmonics without collapsing in the low end. The Top Boost channel brings a bright, snappy, and "chimey" quality ideal for open chords and arpeggios, while the Normal channel thickens the low-mids with a warmer, slightly grainy texture.

The MASTER section can act as a transparent boost depending on settings, or as a more characterful booster that highlights presence and bite. Stacking MASTER into the AC section yields a more saturated drive with generous sustain and a very pronounced British character, perfect for classic rock leads and rhythms that need to remain clear in the mix.

Technical specifications

Effects	Boost, Overdrive	Type	sector
Technology	Analog	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Orange
EQ	2 channels

AC section	VOX-style overdrive	Controls	Boost, Range, Volume
MASTER section	booster inspired by the Range Master	3-position frequency selector	Normal, Mid, Bass
Top Boost channel	Volume, Bass, Treble controls	Required power	9 V DC
Normal channel	Volume control	Connector	2.1 mm, center negative
Output section	Tone Cut and Master Volume controls	Consumption	approximately 36 mA