An antenna 'matcher', 'tuner' only does one thing. It transforms one impedance to another impedance. If there's an impedance mismatch between two devices then a 'matcher'/'tuner' can change one impedance to another so it ends up as if there's no impedance mismatch. So, yes, a 'matcher'/'tuner' between the radio and the amplifier can 'solve' an undesirable SWR at that point. The mismatch is still there, but it's been 'changed' from one to the other. So why not do it that way? Because it can be done in a much simpler way, by correcting the circuit that's supposed to be doing that transformation to start with, the input circuit of that amplifier. By adding -another- impedance transforming device between the two will also add a little bit of 'loss' in the signal going from one to the other unnecessarily. Depending on just how bad that impedance mismatch is the 'loss' may not even be noticeable, but there is going to be one. If there's already an impedance transforming thingy there, and it's not working correctly, why not fix/adjust that existing transforming device instead of adding another one? The most common answer to that is that 'fixing'/adjusting isn't as simple as just adding another stage of transforming.
The quick-n-dirty answer is that yes a tuner/matcher can 'correct' the apparent problem. The 'catch' is that there is a loss associated with that 'correcting', there ain't nothing free. If the 'cost' is less than the effort to do it 'right' then I'd have to say do it.
So, which way do you, want to/have to, do it?
- 'Doc