User guide

8
5. DRAG™ CONTROL
Drag™ control was originally introduced on the Radial JD7 Injector as
a means to correct the loading that is lost when a guitar signal passes
through an ‘amplification stage’ or a buffer.
Here’s the scoop: When you connect your
guitar directly to your amp, the amplifier’s
input impedance reacts with the pick-up and
this relationship plays a critical role in the
tone of the instrument and amplifier combi-
nation. Since the Switchbone is essentially
a pre-amplifier, it actually turns your passive
guitar into an active one. The problem is that
your guitar no longer ‘sees’ your amplifier.
It is seeing a ‘perfect’ load from the Switchbone. But no matter how
perfect ‘perfect’ is, sometimes perfect may not sound right. With one
simple control, Drag™ allows you to reintroduce the relationship that
is lost.
Start with DRAG set to 12 o’clock. This is about normal for a Fender
Strat and a Twin. As you go clock-wise, you are reducing Drag. This
sounds like a slightly high frequency or presence boost. Move the
control until it sounds right to you. We have purposely recessed the
Drag™ control so that once set, it is not easily changed. Use a guitar
pick like a screwdriver to make the adjustments.
6. BOOST CIRCUIT
The Switchbone is equipped with a power booster to allow you to kick
up the output level for solos, or to compensate when using only one
amp. The boost level is variable and is controlled by the recessed po-
tentiometer next to the Drag control.
There are also two slider switches
that are associated with the boost
circuit. The first switch assigns the
way the foot switch is being used.
There are 3 settings:
Position 1 – MUTE: disengages the
boost function and turns this into
a mute switch. This allows you to
monitor the Tuner output without having any sound pass through to the
output of the JX2. Be careful! This is usually the first place to look if
you are not getting any sound out of your Switchbone!
Position 2 – MID boost ONLY: This bypasses the boost function and
directs the signal through a mid boost. The mid boost is used to
increase sustain for soloing. There are three settings on the mid boost
circuit. Flat, 5dB and 10dB. These have been carefully selected to
provide a functional increase that will match most guitars.
Position 3 – Mid Boost and GAIN boost: This is the most often used
setting. This allows both gain and mid boost to be boosted as needed.
Simply adjust the boost level and away you go.
Radial Engineering Switchbone Owner’s Manual
True to the Music True to the Music