The Steel Guitar Forum

I am a new player with an old msa s10 semi classic. Do I need a matchbox & if so why??
Ny info would be greatly appreciated.

The purpose of a matchbox is to provide a better impedance match between your guitar and your pedal. A pick up is a high impedance device, meaning low current output. The matchbox will turn that high impedance signal into a low impedance one, allowing you to drive longer cables, and improve the frequency response. When I say low impedance I mean higher current output.

There isn't a huge difference in sound quality with and without the matchbox. Where you would really notice it is when you're driving a long cable. You can also accomplish the same thing with a guitar pedal. I don't think a 7A is worth the price, unless you get one used

That is a nice explaination of the Matchbox Glenn......well spoken words of infomation my friend.
Ricky

Help me out here, guys....
Since I have never used a Matchbox, I assume these are "Active" devices, i.e. they a battery or other power source in them? So...

If the Matchbox matches the impedence between the guitar and the pedal and is good for long cables, when would you have a long cable betweent he guitar and the pedal anyway?

The amp input is a voltage driven device that would see the pedal impedence as 500K or less since the coils are across the pedal pot. A little more info would be appreciated.

Thanks ---Roger

Ever since I began using Matchbox ,probably 20 years ago, I have never been satisfied without it. I agree the difference in sound is subtle,but once you use it you will notice the difference IMHO.

Do I notice whether another player is using it just by listening to him? No.

Jim...do you need a matchbox? The answer is no. Would you benefit from one? The answer is maybe. Some players swear by them, and others (like myself) seem to do just fine without one. If you have a good amp, and aren't running a lot of cable (over 12'), you'll be just fine. The biggest difference you'll notice using one will be more signal (volume) to play with.

My suggestion would be to forget about gadgets (since you're a new player) and concentrate on learning to play. There is no "gadget" that will make you sound like Buddy or Paul...it's mostly skill that does that. Once you have the basics down, and start to develop your own style and sound, then you can start worrying about the fine points...and start trying out the gadgets.

Thanks for all the input. But one thing Joe a gadget is a gadget but I am talking about tone. I have played long enough to know that if your tone sux you won't work as hard or as long trying to develop that style or individuality. I am trying to find a way to help myself enjoy what I am hearing to make it easier to set there for hours after hours practicing. Would anyone suggest a new pickup over a matchbox??<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Jim Whitaker on 09 December 2001 at 09:34 PM.]</p></FONT>

Hi Jim,

I believe in keeping things simple. The less stuff in the sound chain, the less to go wrong IMHO. I would therefore concur with Donny Hinson's reply for right now. Should future gigs demand a bigger sound, you might see if there's a way to install a Lawrence 710 or 910 or similar pickup on your MSA, that way you won't have to be dependent on toting a matchbox or similar gadget around.

Having said all that, if someone happens to GIVE you a good matchbox it probably won't hurt to hook it up and give it a try!

"Well I'm sittin' here wonderin' if a matchbox hold my clothes..." (Carl Perkins).
All right, I suppose if you don't have too many clothes a matchbox may fill the bill!

Tim R.

I use a 7A Goodrich Matchbox.
But if you get one of the volume pedals with it built in, you won't need one.


<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by KENNY FORBESS on 10 December 2001 at 08:20 AM.]</p></FONT>

The 7A is most beneficial at the shows where you plug your guitar into a stage-amp. You can make finite adjustments in tone and response with it from your guitar without having to get up and down to tweak the amp. I never use it when I have my own gear.

I use a MatchBox all the time. It really cleans up the sound. If your pot in your volume pedal is rather scratchy, it does a great job in cleaning that up too! Plus, you have an active volume and tone control. You say, but Erv, I have a foot volume pedal why do I need another control? It is very handy in adjusting your "overall" volume without having to go to your amp.
Buy it! You can never have too much equipment! Soooo much equipment, so little time!
Erv

There is an old saying that if you use a 7A once, you will never want to play again with out one-------I found that to be true and it does keep it simple.

<SMALL>Where you would really notice it is when you´re driving a long cable.</SMALL>

But why in the world should a steel player want to use a long cable? We can´t leap across the stage like some guitar players do, and in most of the stage setups I´ve seen, the amp is placed pretty close behind the steel.