Question about an older Matchbox 6A

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Howdy folks--my new old pedal steel guitar came with a Goodrich "Model 6A Super Sustain Match Box". I'm wonering just what this thing does, and what was changed on it with the newer version. This is what happens: with the toggle switch flipped toward the front of the unit the tone becomes bright and the gain control works (adds a slight but nasty OD breakup when turned up all the way), but the tone control is disabled; with the toggle flipped the other way the tone control works, the gain control works, but the tone is overall muddier, and the added brightness that happens in the position that bypasses the tone control is gone. This is with my LDG with the stock Sho-Bud single coil pickup. When I run my Stratocaster through it there is no brightness added to the tone in either position, and apart from the slight breakup from maxing-out the gain the unit sounds like a not-too-great passive tone control. My limited understanding of this unit is that it matches the impedence of output signal to my amp, and that it adds some gain (like a ZVEX SHO?)--there are some transistors inside and both batteries are good. I guess I would expect that the toggle position that adds the brightness to my signal would be the "on" position, but then I would expect that the tone control would be engaged, too.
What's up with these? Does my description sound conrrect, or I'm I misundersatnding what this thing does?

Thanks a lot, best regards,
Cliff

Jim Florence · From: wilburton, Ok. US * R.I.P.

Just bought a used one myself and like you didn't see a lot in it. I thought it wasn't working, Now I am thoroughly trained in the use of it. When the switch is toward you the electronics portion is off and you have a passive volume control, and no tone control. With it (the toggle switch) away from you the tone control works, the volume control works and you have a preamp(I think),anyway you must push the out cord in 2 clicks for the power to be on. That is the power switch. Also don't leave the "Out" cord plugged in when you're not playing, as you'll run your batteries down. I might be backwards on the toggle switch, but the odds are 50/50 ha. Hope this helps.
Jim

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[This message was edited by Jim Florence on 27 August 2000 at 01:53 PM.]

Cliff Kane · From: the late great golden state

Jim, I'll have to work with this more--you had the same reaction as me to it. I've left it out of the chain because I thought the guitar sounded better without it, and had better tone and presence with the effect switched out! I think that is the oppositie of what this unit is reputed to do--I probably need to work with it more. I just bought some George L cable: perhaps this will bring out the effect more.
Thanks,
Cliff

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