Interested in a MuTron Octave Divider clone?

[Jared Lash]

So I've been talking to a builder about recreating what is possibly my favorite pedal of all time. It seems doable, but being that the circuit is complex it would make the most sense if several people were interested in getting one.

I don't want to give too many details now, but basically it will be a slightly smaller, 9V operable, slightly tweaked (in ways that are still being discussed) version of the original.

My preference is for a bare metal/etched enclosure as well, though that is negotiable.

I have a few more details that I could discuss, but just out of curiosity, who else would be interested in buying one if it came to fruition?

 

[Markus Bender]

subscribed...

 

[Chris Ramlar]

price??

 

[CliffD]

Yes and yes, I would be interested for sure.

 

[groooooove]

if its reasonably sized, can run off a 1spot, and true bypass

i'm in.

(assuming it sounds fairly close, and behaves in the same beefy "bigfoot" manner)

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

if its reasonably sized, can run off a 1spot, and true bypass

i'm in.

(assuming it sounds fairly close, and behaves in the same beefy "bigfoot" manner)

All of the above, plus I have to throw in....Price tag.

 

[Joe Gress]

Curious, but I have never actually heard a Mutron Octave divider. Can you post clips on examples of one?

 

[fightthepower]

Curious, but I have never actually heard a Mutron Octave divider. Can you post clips on examples of one?

Larry Graham breakin' it down:

Keep an eye out for Big Foot

 

[bongomania]

price??

This is the sort of thing where the price will surely be at the high end of the boutique spectrum.

I was all set to clone the Conn Octa/Vider, which is another kvlt analog multi-octave effect, but when I started tracing it out I discovered than many of the parts are just not available anymore.

 

[Mingus Addict]

plastercaster

am I interested? yes

 

[Jared Lash]

And just a note, bongo is right that this will not be a cheap build. I was given a rough estimate that I'm comfortable with (especially given what the originals go for now) and it would go down a bit if more people wanted one but it will definitely carry a boutique price tag.

As for size, there are two large boards so there's a limit to how small it can be made. Smaller than the original but still sizable. Maybe 7" x 4" though I'm hoping for it to be layed out horizontally with top mounted jacks.

Tweaks are still to be decided on but one possibility is isolating the square wave octave down for the choice of a more synthy sound. And if anyone has ideas for other possible mods I'd love to hear them. One might be replacing the Green Ringer with another circuit but I don't know what that would be.

Questions and input are welcome. The MuTron Octave Divider is very possibly my favorite pedal ever and I'm excited to see this project become a reality.

 

[CliffD]

If you need email addresses for a list let us know, is there any way you can divulge the maker?

 

[markjazzbassist]

great pedal, i've owned 2 of them, but i'm actually pretty happy with my boss oc-2. the octave down sounds a little different, but they both have that ring mod-esque type tone.

really the only thing it has over the OC-2 is the tone option, and the green ringer circuit. also the bass only footswitch, which was nice.

great pedal, i really enjoyed it, but i am enjoying the smaller size and power of the OC-2.

No for me.

 

[Unrepresented]

Don't know anything about these other than that you're jonesing for one.

How does this differ from say a Big John Granny Puker?

 

[pb12ay7]

Yup - definately interested.

 

[jetofuj]

I remember that one guy posted long Octave Divider's clip somewhere here.

 

[Deluge Of Sound]

Curious, but I have never actually heard a Mutron Octave divider. Can you post clips on examples of one?

I'm with Joe.

 

[wdinc01]

I'm just subscribing to see how this goes. I'm interested, but not sure if I would have the use to justify the price tag. But I'm all for someone making a clone of this!

 

[Spencer!]

Questions and input are welcome. The MuTron Octave Divider is very possibly my favorite pedal ever and I'm excited to see this project become a reality.

What makes prefer it over currently-available octavers?

 

[Jared Lash]

What makes prefer it over currently-available octavers?

A reasonable question since there are several good octavers available. Of course, it's a bit like asking why some people prefer the original MuTron to other envelope filters - basically because they dig the tone.

That's a big part of it. The Mutron has a bouncy "smoothness" to it that I really dig.

I've owned the Mutron, Boss OC-2, Digitech Bass Synth Wah (which can be a surpringly good octaver), EBS Octabass, FoxRox Octron2, MXR Bass Octave Deluxe, the octaver in the Chunk Octavius Squeezer and probably one or two other analog octavers that I'm forgetting. Outside of the Aguilar Octamizer, pretty much every commercial offering.

And the Mutron is still my favorite. My second favorite is either the Octabass (for fretless or rock stuff) or the OC-2 (for synthy or funky stuff) but I like the Mutron better for both. It has a synthy tone somewhat like the OC-2 but not as harsh.

Plus it has the tone knob, bass only switch, stabilizer (for aiding tracking) and the green ringer circuit for adding a higher synthy tone.

And of course a large part of the appeal to me is getting a custom pedal and collaborating on the name and aesthetics, not to mention the potential for cool tweaks and improvements.