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Topic: Is there an alternative unit to the Goodrich Matchbox? |
Cody Stewart
From:
Traverse City Michigan, USA
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 11:01 am |
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Fellow Steel Players,
I'm on the hunt to find an effective and cheaper alternative to the the Goodrich Matchbox 7A super sustain. Does such a thing exist? Any information would be much appreciated.
Respectfully,
Cody Stewart |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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forrest klott
From:
Grand Rapids Mi USA
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 1:29 pm
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Cody,
If I were going to get a new buffer it would be the Freloader from Brad Sarno. He really makes some amazing products. Looking forward to hearing you again at one of Danny's shows.
Skeeter |
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Jerry Overstreet
From:
Louisville Ky
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 1:45 pm
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MXR Micro-amp. Older model from the 80's....don't know anything about the current model. Good buffer in a stomp box, but you can use a double ended 1/4" male plug and plug it right into your guitar jack.
You can find them online places like GC used for under $60 and cheaper sometimes. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 2:37 pm
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+1 on the FreeLoader.
_________________
Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande
There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.
Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 3:09 pm
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Freeloader, or perhaps a Black Box. Although that's not a cheap solution. But it sounds GOOD.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 4:22 pm
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With the Goodrich Matchbox 7A and Sarno FreeLoader as backups, here is the one I actually use…
Battery don't last all that many hours – use external power, but it is an excellent, and pretty cheap, buffer for steel … with an extra "touch" when that's needed  |
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Ken Metcalf
From:
San Antonio Texas USA
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 5:11 pm
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I will sell you a 7A for $150 plus shipping?
_________________
MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 30 Jul 2018 5:12 pm
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I forgot about pedals with built-in buffers.
My Holy Grail was almost as good as my Lil Izzy.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 31 Jul 2018 3:27 am
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
I forgot about pedals with built-in buffers.
My Holy Grail was almost as good as my Lil Izzy. |
As expected … most buffered pedals have an input-impedance of around 1Mohm, which is the same or higher than most dedicated buffers 
If ones normal setup already contains a buffered effect unit as first stage after the instrument – preferably one without "true bypass" so the buffer-stage cannot be taken out of the signal-way, there is rarely ever much, if anything, to gain qualitywise by inserting a dedicated buffer right after the PU.
There are also only "purely theoretical" improvements in eliminating the short cable – from a few inches up to maybe three feet in length – between the instrument's output-jack and the first buffered stage. "Active VPs" need no buffer ahead of them, and neither does a buffered unit placed on the floor alongside the VP or one attached to the leg. All they need is a good-quality and reasonable short cable connecting them to the instrument. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 31 Jul 2018 4:26 am
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+1 for the MXR Micro Amp. It has a high impedance input and a low impedance output, plus a gain control.
Actually any similar device will probably do the same thing.
_________________
GFI Ultra Keyless S-10 with pad (Black of course) TB202 amp, Hilton VP, Steelers Choice sidekick seat, SIT Strings
Cakewalk by Bandlab and Studio One V4.6 pro DAWs, MOTU Ultralite MK5 recording interface unit |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 31 Jul 2018 5:17 am
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| I agree with Jack and Jerry. The MXR Micro-Amp is a good buffer, and I have one myself. Normally though, I don't use a buffer, as a pot pedal just sounds better and a little less "sterile" to me. |
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Greg Lambert
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2018 12:36 pm
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| I have a Goodrich Matchbox super sustain but it doesnt say 7A on the unit. Is there any difference? |
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John Goux
From:
California, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2018 3:39 pm
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Any Boss stomp box will give you a nice buffered signal. They are cheap. Place it before or after your VP. The tone change is subtle but good. You don’t have to turn them on, they buffer in bypass.
I’ve listened to and compared a bunch of buffers, expensive, and not so much.
My favorite is one on my guitar pedalboard built by LA Sound Design.
I also really like the new Goodrich buffer VP, but is is not cheap.
The 7A is great. And it gives you EQ, which is a good thing for on the gig adjustments.
I love Brad Sarno’s products and the Freeloader gives you EQ. I don’t know if it is actually a buffer.
TC pedals also have a nice sounding buffer that can be bypassed.
The Telonics VP is too loud and too bright for my personal taste.
Lil Izzy, too Hi Fi for my ears.
In the end, I usually go back to my passive Goodrich(with the Bradshaw upgraded pot) into a tube amp. That may be the “caveat bufferâ€.
My opinions, like anyone’s, are subjective, and the tube amp is a big part of my tone preferences.
John |
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