These MODTONE pedals have been around quite a long time, we bought this one way back in the late 1990's I think it was, for our studio engineer to 'play around' with although I notice the 'modern' MODTONE Lemon Squeeze pedals have a slightly different layout.
I like to know who is 'behind' a piece of equipment and with these I cannot find out much. I do believe that these MODTONE's are actually rebadged BELCAT pedals but try as I might online, I keep gettting timed out internet connections (to a chinese website).
Used to provide a consistent volume level, whether your sound is clean or dirty.
For solos with the sustain knob increased to give your single notes and lead lines more muscle, this add-on gives just the right amount of compression without 'washing out' your original tone.
MODTONE - Guitar Effects Pedal
Model: Lemon Squeeze MT-CP
Function: Compressor / Sustainer
Made in China (?)
Robust, rugged ALL METAL diecast case and foot switch
Knobs however are plastic
Three user controls, LEVEL - ATTACK - SUSTAIN
Dual power, either a standard 9V battery or plug an external 9V power source into the rear connector (100mA or more would easily power this unit)
4x adhesive rubber feet fitted - helps prevent the box sliding all over the floor!
SUPPLIED:
LEMON SQUEEZE Modtone MT-CP
NOT SUPPLIED
9V Battery (Australia Post does not like customers sending batteries through the Post)
Leads - neither the input or output audio leads are supplied (standard 1/4" jack plugs)
External power pack is not supplied - easy to obtain, nothing special to this unit EXCEPT the centre pin is NEGATIVE - watch out for that!
COSMETIC CONDITION:
In very good condition
Clean
Plastic knobs are undamaged and firmly secure in place
Footswitch operates fine (with a positive CLUNK when activated)
Case has a small piece of top/side damage to the lime green paintwork ONLY - the case itself is not damaged.
TESTING:
It's been a while, in fact a long long time since this pedal was 'fired up'
Being a techie, I took a look around inside (check for damage and just the overall circuit design and build quality)
Nice solid, rigid layout on a single PCB. ALL connections, except the footswitch, are made directly to this board - no loose wiring to speak of. This should enhance the equipment reliability.
PCB observations:
SMD technology used for the passive devices
LM3080 Transconductance Op Amp does all the active work (now an obsolete device)
PCB: EPC856 V3
Nice rugged footswitch although I cannot find a manufacturers name on it
To get the board out, all pot nuts, 1/4" sockets and foot switch nut have to be removed - these all work together to hold the board snuggly in place.
First up, checked that when an instrument lead is plugged in I can see the Blue LED light up when the footswitch is activated - all good here.
Battery leads are undamaged, clean shiny. Battery fits snuggly inside the compartment and held in place by the base plate.
Tested 'live' using just the battery...
So, what does it sound like?
I am a 'tech head', roadie type of sound guy and besides, most of my instruments from the post production studio days have found new hands and feet, so ... I rang my mate and had him come over with his geeeeetar (Les Paul copy for what it's worth) and he played with this little box of tricks and the FREEDOM pedal listed separately.
Uh huh! Here's a problem!
He/I noticed that the instrument input socket was a bit 'intermittent' meaning if the plug is wiggled around, the Blue LED and audio would disappear! Dirty socket contacts for sure so I have given both sockets a nice squirt of cleaner and very light filing on the contacts with a jewellers file (extremely small!)
Now it is much much better! The audio/Blue LED do not cut out all the time and the contacts appear to be reliable - problem fixed!
So Jimmy P (not his real name) had another go and we believe the sound is as expected, good and clean with the two main controls ATTACK and SUSTAIN working correctly. No scratching noises while changing settings (this would indicate dirty pots).
Stomp on the footswitch and the Blue LED goes out and the audio signal is now direct input to output with no changes made by the unit.
It's not big money so don't expect too much from such a pedal but it does perform well.
HERE IS AN INTERESTING VIDEO OF THIS UNIT IN ACTION, ENTERTAINING!
