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Mutron III power switch

ped

ped

User
Commercial User
Aug 30, 2006
1,208
1,315
York, England
www.basschat.co.uk
#1
Hi folks

So why does the Mutron III have a power switch?

More conventional pedals of course are powered 'on' when there's something inserted into the input.

Does playing through the pedal with the switch off just bypass the unit, and not drain batteries like it would on a new pedal (even when 'disengaged)?

What's the difference in playing through the pedal with the power switch engaged, but the effect bypassed? I think I read that the gain control is active in this state?

Cheers
 
#2
ped said:
Hi folks

So why does the Mutron III have a power switch?

More conventional pedals of course are powered 'on' when there's something inserted into the input.

Does playing through the pedal with the switch off just bypass the unit, and not drain batteries like it would on a new pedal (even when 'disengaged)?

What's the difference in playing through the pedal with the power switch engaged, but the effect bypassed? I think I read that the gain control is active in this state?

Cheers
Click to expand...

Hello. I have an original Mu-tron III here somewhere, but I can't remember where and don't have time to look now. But I'm pretty sure it doesn't have a power switch. What does have power switch from that generation, I am sure, is the Mu-tron Bi-Phase.

Neither model uses batteries, as none of the other Mu-trons of that generation did, I believe. Thus any of them with a power switch, it isn't there to save batteries.
 
#3
Thanks, but you might want to dig out that Mutron and have a look, because they take batteries and have a power switch :)
 

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#5
I'll dig out my instruction manual in a while.

as far as I remember, because of the way that circuit works, even with it bypassed it continues draining one of the batteries (one of which drains at twice the rate of the other, when in operation).

I always made a point of just removing the batteries, when not in use.

the other thing is, at least with my Mu-Tron III (and I think just generally) even when it's bypassed, it still affects the tone, by rolling high frequencies off a little.
 
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#8
ddnidd1 said:
From the original operating instructions:

View attachment 4533189
Click to expand...
Thanks, yeah I get that, but what happens if you’re playing through the pedal with the switch off?

What happens if you now play through with the switch on but the effect off? (Gain works?)

Just trying to figure out what the switch does - and if the battery gets drained if the unit is plugged in but the switch is off.

Thanks
 
#10
ddnidd1 said:
I'm must be missing something. Its a Power switch. It turns the pedal on and off. No power - no sound.
Click to expand...
I’m confused too! So if the switch is off, your signal is muted?

If it isn’t, what’s the point in the switch?

I thought you switched it on and then you can set the gain level, then press the foot switch to engage the filter?

So when the switch is off, the unit is bypassed entirely but the signal is not muted.

Someone must have one and can explain!
 
#11
ped said:
I’m confused too! So if the switch is off, your signal is muted?

If it isn’t, what’s the point in the switch?

I thought you switched it on and then you can set the gain level, then press the foot switch to engage the filter?

So when the switch is off, the unit is bypassed entirely but the signal is not muted.

Someone must have one and can explain!
Click to expand...


I just looked in the manual :

On page 1, it says the power switch disconnects the batteries / power supply.

On page 4, it says the leaving the unit turned, particularly with the Drive switch in the down position, will result in battery life being significantly shortened.

I haven't used mine in a while, but as far as I recall, turning off the power killed the signal dead.
 
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#13
You turn that red power switch off while you're playing, you're gonna hear a large bump going through your speakers. Then you'll have no sound. This pedal was designed long ago, it has an power on/off switch. That's that. The new Hazlab Mutron has it because the original had it. Although the Arp Mutron has a ac power cord and no switch.
 
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#14
Funkinthetrunk said:
You turn that red power switch off while you're playing, you're gonna hear a large bump going through your speakers. Then you'll have no sound. This pedal was designed long ago, it has an power on/off switch. That's that. The new Hazlab Mutron has it because the original had it. Although the Arp Mutron has a ac power cord and no switch.
Click to expand...

Great - so one could liken it to removing the jack. And does anyone know for sure if the battery is fully disconnected or will it leech power like it would on a more modern pedal switches by the jack
 
#17
Lebowsky said:
might not be entirely relevant to this thread, but just so you know, a few years ago I sent my original Mutron III to TheGigrig, and they rewired it so that it can use a regular 9VDC power supply instead of a battery
Click to expand...
Yes I wouldn't really recommend running a Mu-Tron off of batteries as they drain (unequally) very quickly, (although a Mu-Tron on dying batteries can sound awesome). I use CAE Sound's dedicated Mu-Tron III power supplies for mine which work a treat. Lingenberg Sound also makes a power supply, however it doesn't ship outside of the U.S.
 
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