Mastotron

clsmooth · #1 09-19-2011, 07:45 AM

So I bought a Mastotron the other day and after tweaking it for 3-4 days I found that it is either broken, or not for me.

I have an active bass, but I tweaked every knob and couldn't get rid of this harmonic pulsing every time I played. It sounded okay (though not great) when a note was ringing out, but the moment I stopped it sounded like a bunch of harmonics wringing out even though I wasn't playing anything.

Then at one point after tweaking with it, it started this pulsating on it's own through the amp...unplugged the guitar, muted the amp, and it was still there. I turned off the pedal, and it went away.

Is the pedal broken?

omie · #2 09-19-2011, 09:06 AM

Have you tried it with another bass? I had one and if memory serves, the pedal has a relax/push knob specifically for active/passive basses.

HolmeBass · #3 09-19-2011, 09:17 AM

I think if the Mastotron was self-modulating on all settings when there was no signal input then it does sound like the pedal was malfunctioning. Now if this only happened when all or most of the knobs were turned all the way up, then maybe it ok and you should just tame it down a bit.

I tried one of these in a music store w/ my active bass and it was pretty cool, I didn't have any troubles with the pedal self-oscilating out of control, but I didn't buy it as it just wasn't quite what I was looking for, although it's a decent effect for sure and I could see someone else getting a lot of cool tones out of it.

clsmooth · #4 09-19-2011, 09:46 AM

Yeah, the knobs were definitely maxed out in anyway. They were set at -

Volume - 2:30
Tone - 10:30 - 2:30
PW - 9:00 (anything above that and it just went crazy)
Fuzz - 11:00 (anything above that was squelchy and unlistenable)
Relax/Push - 9:00 to 11:30 at most (anything more than that, again it went crazy and sounded terrible)

I don't have another bass to try it with, but I imagine that it might be broken given the oscillations and general crappy sounds I was getting out of it.

Thanks for the feedback!

alec · #5 09-19-2011, 10:07 AM

If it does it with other basses, the pedal's got a problem.

RickenBoogie · #6 09-19-2011, 01:43 PM

Yeah, get it fixed, it's an awesome fuzz box.

clsmooth · #7 09-19-2011, 07:50 PM

So question, I know there is no real "answer" since it is based on preference, but I have the following pedals I have been messing around with in the FX loop of my amp (It has an FX mix knob) -

Micro Pog
Fuzz
EBS Chorus
Cathedral Reverb

I have been experimenting with the FX loop and have found that the Swollen pickle in the FX loop doesn't work, there is an oscillation for some reason that isn't present when I put it in-between the preamp and the guitar.

So I have the order as - Micro Pog>Swollen Pickle>preamp

Then I put the Chorus>Cathedral>Power Amp (All in the FX loop for a "touch" of reverb and chorus)

Just opinions but how would you all use the FX loop with the pedals listed above to take full advantage of the tone of the preamp?

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #8 09-19-2011, 09:14 PM

The effects loop on most amps are not designed for pedals they are for rack units. Try just plugging your pedals into your bass input on your amp. Go Bass>pedals>amp. Don't use the effects loop and see what happens. Someone else can explain the impedance differences better than I can but I'm guessing your fuzz pedals don't like the your effects loop. To answer your question about loops I don't use the effects loop on my amp at all.

clsmooth · #9 09-20-2011, 06:59 AM

Hmmm, the dillema I have is that I am trying to take advantage of the fx loops mix capability to get both a wet and dry signal at the same time since I like how the dry signal is still in the mix and makes the sound multidimensional.

Any suggestions on how to accomplish this besides running another rig in stereo?

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #10 09-20-2011, 07:08 AM

Buy an LS-2 or some other type of effects loop with a blend. .BOSS LS-2 Line Selector :: Overview

droskobass · #11 09-20-2011, 07:12 AM

On the Mastotron, It is an awesome pedal and shouldn't oscillate, especially if the wave shape is set to thin peak (clockwise). However, it is a LOUD pedal. So any shielding or single could noise could be greatly exaggerated, especailly with the volume at 2:30. In my experience unity gain is when the volume is set to about 10AM...

But that doesn't mean your pedal isn't broken, try it with you guitarists guitar, a keyboard, etc.. or better yet take it to a ZVEX dealer and A/B it with a new pedal.

Good luck and report back! and this pedal should work in effects loops, after other pedals/ buffers, with active basses, and in Blenders like the Xotic X-Blender.

The X-Blender should do the trick for clsmooth too.

It's a great tool to blend fuzz and clean, I'd keep the modulation in the loop though, but try it for yourself