Original Q-Tron vs. original Mu-Tron III - once and for all!!

[FilterFunk]

I know there have been a lot of threads about envelope filters lately, but this particular debate remains unresolved, IMO. Of course, there won't be an actual "last word" on this, but I want to get as close to a conclusion as I can. For those of you who have personal experience with both the original big-box Q-Tron and a properly serviced and calibrated original Musitronics Mu-Tron III (especially if you've A/B'ed them side-by-side), how similar are they, what do/don't you like about each one, and based on sound alone, which do you prefer, and why? If you can also weigh in on the other Q-Tron versions, that would be a nice bonus. Thanks!

[groooooove]

they both have the same downsides, big, power supply, volume spike. the mutron's bypass is so bad you absolutely must have a bypass box for it, or mod it for true bypass. other than that, sound-wise, i owned an all original non-calibrated mutron, and ab/ed it with the big Q tron. qtron was close, and very obviously the same type of sound, but the mutron absolutely had more "presence," or "life" if you will, to the sound. it was definately dirtier sounding, probably due to its age, and weather or not a calibrated one would sound dirty im not sure, but i loved that character it added.

in the end, would i spend another $450 for a vintage mutron, and deal with the size/power/ext? absolutely, i know that will happen again in my future. will i ever buy a Qtron? almost certainly not..

[FilterFunk]

Originally Posted by groooooove

they both have the same downsides, big, power supply, volume spike. the mutron's bypass is so bad you absolutely must have a bypass box for it, or mod it for true bypass. other than that, sound-wise, i owned an all original non-calibrated mutron, and ab/ed it with the big Q tron. qtron was close, and very obviously the same type of sound, but the mutron absolutely had more "presence," or "life" if you will, to the sound. it was definately dirtier sounding, probably due to its age, and weather or not a calibrated one would sound dirty im not sure, but i loved that character it added.

in the end, would i spend another $450 for a vintage mutron, and deal with the size/power/ext? absolutely, i know that will happen again in my future. will i ever buy a Qtron? almost certainly not..

Thanks! That's pretty much what I've heard about these two units, but I've heard it from folks who've had one or the other, not both. I had a Lingenberg-serviced vintage Mu-Tron III that I bought for about $500, but I simply couldn't afford to keep it at the time. I've never played a Q-Tron. I'm happy with the filters I have, but nothing gets me "there" quite like the Mu-Tron. My current favorite filter, the EHX Riddle, gets really close, but it takes a lot of tweaking to do what the Mu-Tron does naturally. Anyone else want to weigh in?

[kaputsport]

groooooove... (Yes, I got all 6 0's in there)

Not quite sure what you mean in your review. You stated that the Q-Tron (I assume this is the large, old one with 4 knobs) was close, and obviously the same effect, but the Mu-Tron was more Mutron than the q-tron (say that 5 times fast).

Then you said you would spend $450 on a Mutron, but would almost certainly not buy a Q-Tron. If it is close enough, but not exactly, why would you not own one? Is it a preference thing, where you would sacrifice the effect for the size and power, or is it that you want only Mutron, or nothing at all?