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Topic: Matchbox 6A Revisited |
Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 22 Mar 2005 1:04 pm |
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Hi folks,
I've just re-found an old Goodrich Matchbox 6A that I got years ago with a used steel guitar but I never used. Now that I've fired it up I think I've got it figured out, but I'm curious if I've got this right and how people are putting this design to use. The 6A I have has a Tone knob, a Gain knob, and a two-way toggle switch at the top of the unit next to the input jack. When I first started playing with it I assumed that the toggle switch was a bypass switch that would take the buffer/op-amp out of the signal path. Now I don't think it is a bypass for the op-amp, but I think what the toggle switch does is bypass the tone control. With the switch toward me the tone control is out, with the switch away from me the tone control is in; however, in either position my signal is hotter and brighter than without the Matchbox, and the Gain control is in, but it is not passive in either switch position. This seems counter-intuative, as I would think that it would be most useful to be able to bypass the op-amp with a switch, but the boost stays in with both switch positions. So, I'm wondering what the point of having a switchable tone control is, when one could just as easily turn to know to change the tone. I would love to hear how people utilize this switch....do people use it a tone effect that they can flip in and out quickly? Perhaps I'm not getting something?
Thanks!
Cliff |
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 22 Mar 2005 8:08 pm
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Hi Cliff,
The Matchbox is an impedance matching device first of all. It matches the impedance of your guitar to that of the volume pedal. This allows you to, as much as possible, get the full tone quality of your guitar into the amp.
Yes, the tone control is "by-passable" via the switch. The volume control is integrated into the circuit and does not change the guitar's signal quality.
The Matchbox is not intended to be an "effect". It was designed to alleviate the tone-robbing effect of having a volume pedal, which had a potentiometer for a volume control, in the signal path. When the pot was set for low volume, the treble in the signal was attenuated significantly.
The tone control was just a means of backing off the treble if you wanted to.
Today, there are electronic volume pedals which have such circuits built into them thus eliminating the need for the Matchbox.
------------------
Every day is a Great day,
Mike
(aka Sideman)
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Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 8:14 am
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Thanks, Mike.
that makes sense. So, what's the objective of putting just the tone control on a switch? Do you use this switch? It seems like one would just leave the tone control engaged all the time. |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 9:53 am
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| Cliff, I think the idea was to have a switchable tone control like some Emmons guitars had. I believe it worked by backing off the highs. So you could have two tone settings to switch between - like having two switchable channels on an amp. With the tone knob switched off, you set your amp controls for a bright sound. Then with the switch on, you set the knob to give a darker sound. Now you can switch between the two sounds without having to readjust knobs each time. You might want the brighter sound for the E9 neck, and the darker one for the C6. Or you might want the brighter sound for fast numbers and the darker sound for ballads. Or the brighter sound for country, and the darker sound for jazz, etc. |
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Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 10:12 am
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Alright, that makes sense. I'll have to fool around with it some more. It certainly is like a super buffer. I dig having an onboard tone and volue control...it's pretty handy. It looks like something out of an old submarine or battleship, which is kind of cool, too.
Thanks for the good info! |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 11:58 am
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I have played through a Match Box for years and wouldn't be without it. If your 6A has a little switch on top, somebody put it on after it left Goodrich and I have no idea how it is wired up. The 7A was the first Match Box with the little switch on top. The purpose of the switch was to disconnect the battery from the circuit and eliminate the need to pull the output plug out a notch. This was to extend the life of the battery. I have a 6A and I wired in a little switch myself.
It sure is handy to have the tone and volume controls right at your finger tips as they are absent from most pedal steels.
Erv |
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