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The Mutron Club : only quacks allowed...

#761
So I spent some time A, B and C-ing my Musitronics Mu-Tron III's, Mu-FX Mu-Tron 3x and Micro-Tron's. To my ears all three versions sound VERY similar. There are some subtle differences in sound between the three though.

The Mu-FX version is definitely the most powerful filter and sounds the cleanest and most modern to me, (it is the deepest sounding and had the most extreme squelch especially in the 'up' sweep and 'high' filter mode

The Micro-Tron is somewhere in between the other two, but if anything sounds closer to the vintage unit, whilst the original has this lovely warm tube-like gain that comes through the mix when you engage the filter peak.

I'd always assumed that the combination of age of circuitry and the Vactec cadmium based vactrols (no longer made) gave the original that slightly dirtier quack? However I then found a really simple way to get the Mu-Fx and Micro-Tron's sounding really close to the original: I always used to have my bass at 100% volume but by dialling back my bass volume a little and dialling UP the Pre-amp levels on either the 3x or Micro-Tron seems to really hit the slightly dirtier sweet spots. In fact by doing this on the MuFX 3x in 'Pre' mode it can sound even grittier than the vintage Mu-Tron!
 
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#762
Bo0tsy said:
So I spent some time A, B and C-ing my Musitronics Mu-Tron III's, Mu-FX Mu-Tron 3x and Micro-Tron's. To my ears all three versions sound VERY similar. There are some subtle differences in sound between the three though.

The Mu-FX version is definitely the most powerful filter and sounds the cleanest and most modern to me, (it is the deepest sounding and had the most extreme squelch especially in the 'up' sweep and 'high' filter mode

The Micro-Tron is somewhere in between the other two, but if anything sounds closer to the vintage unit, whilst the original has this lovely warm tube-like gain that comes through the mix when you engage the filter peak.

I'd always assumed that the combination of age of circuitry and the Vactec cadmium based vactrols (no longer made) gave the original that slightly dirtier quack? However I then found a really simple way to get the Mu-Fx and Micro-Tron's sounding really close to the original: I always used to have my bass at 100% volume but by dialling back my bass volume a little and dialling UP the Pre-amp levels on either the 3x or Micro-Tron seems to really hit the slightly dirtier sweet spots. In fact by doing this on the MuFX 3x in 'Pre' mode it can sound even grittier than the vintage Mu-Tron!
Click to expand...
I'm still kicking myself for not getting in on the Tru-Tron pre-order!:banghead::facepalm:
 
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#763
FilterFunk said:
I'm still kicking myself for not getting in on the Tru-Tron pre-order!:banghead::facepalm:
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There are Tru-Trons going for ridiculously unfunky prices on the likes of Reverb. Whether anyone actually buys them for that is another question. Yes they are fantastic filters, and you can get more extreme sounds out of the Tru-Tron, but I don't think sonically compared to the Micro-Tron you are missing out on much. I really rate the Micro-Tron, you can tell it's good as every-time Mu-Tron has a new batch in they sell out in just a few days, and then you still have opportunistic people putting overpriced Micro-Tron's on eBay and Reverb too
 
#764
Bo0tsy said:
There are Tru-Trons going for ridiculously unfunky prices on the likes of Reverb. Whether anyone actually buys them for that is another question. Yes they are fantastic filters, and you can get more extreme sounds out of the Tru-Tron, but I don't think sonically compared to the Micro-Tron you are missing out on much. I really rate the Micro-Tron, you can tell it's good as every-time Mu-Tron has a new batch in they sell out in just a few days, and then you still have opportunistic people putting overpriced Micro-Tron's on eBay and Reverb too
Click to expand...
Sad, but true...
 
#765
Other things that people miss on filters. I used to always play back pickup (jazz bass) only, with my tone dimed and would sometimes hard boost the highs on the amp.... Then I would set the filter to be somewhat hard to open. When the notes engaged it would be pretty wild sounding. I got my Mu III overhauled by L-Sound, and I wish I hadn't have had the true bypass done. I liked it a little more before.
 
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#766
dylanjohnson said:
Other things that people miss on filters. I used to always play back pickup (jazz bass) only, with my tone dimed and would sometimes hard boost the highs on the amp.... Then I would set the filter to be somewhat hard to open. When the notes engaged it would be pretty wild sounding. I got my Mu III overhauled by L-Sound, and I wish I hadn't have had the true bypass done. I liked it a little more before.
Click to expand...
That's why I love envelope filters so much. They are like another instrument as there's so many ways to play through a filter and achieve very different results.
 
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#767
dylanjohnson said:
I got my Mu III overhauled by L-Sound, and I wish I hadn't have had the true bypass done. I liked it a little more before.
Click to expand...
What did you like less about it when it came back from LSound? Mine are unmodded ,but the one I bought serviced from Soundgas in the UK, needs a bit less gain in the up-sweep otherwise and it gets very space-lasery and then needs a little more gain for the down-sweep to really hit the sweet spot.
 
#768
Bo0tsy said:
What did you like less about it when it came back from LSound? Mine are unmodded ,but the one I bought serviced from Soundgas in the UK, needs a bit less gain in the up-sweep otherwise and it gets very space-lasery and then needs a little more gain for the down-sweep to really hit the sweet spot.
Click to expand...

It's been a couple of years since I've used it. I remember having more difficulty with the gain staging to get it to my preferred sound/touch.


It would be interesting for those in the group to post some of your favorite examples of players using Mutrons. It might be some cool food for thought for creative use of filters. I'll start! If it doesn't seem appropriate for the group, let me know and I'll edit this out.

To me this sounds like Larry laid down a clean track and thumped the line with the Mu on a seperate track.

 
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#769
dylanjohnson said:
It's been a couple of years since I've used it. I remember having more difficulty with the gain staging to get it to my preferred sound/touch.


It would be interesting for those in the group to post some of your favorite examples of players using Mutrons. It might be some cool food for thought for creative use of filters. I'll start! If it doesn't seem appropriate for the group, let me know and I'll edit this out.

To me this sounds like Larry laid down a clean track and thumped the line with the Mu on a seperate track.

Click to expand...

That is a great GCS track.
One of my favourite lesser known Parliament songs with Bootsy on a Mu-Tron is this one...
 
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#774
dylanjohnson said:
Classics! Am I right that Bootsy recorded those albums on a Precision before the star bass was built?
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I'm pretty sure Bootsy had his first Spacebass built by Larry Pless in 1974 in time for the Stretchin' Out album which came out in '76. (it's on the cover of that album but it did get stolen at one point). Parliament's Mothership Connection and Ahh...The Name Is Bootsy, Baby came out in '76 and '77. Whether Bootsy actually recorded those tracks with the Spacebass is another question though. He definitely started off with a Precision bass.
 
#776
Bo0tsy said:
I really like this. It certainly sounds like a Mu-Tron rather than a wah, and if it was recorded in 1972 that's the year the Mu-Tron first came out. I'm going to have to listen to this album in full.
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Apparently there is some conjecture about it, because I've heard that the Mutron wasn't distributed until late 72/early 73. Michael Henderson, who is the bassist on this Miles stuff, played in Stevie Wonder's band before Miles, so he might have had an in with Musitronics. By 74 the whole band was using Bi-Phases, Mutron III's, etc.
 
#777
I have a question for those of you who have a vintage Mutron III. Since I had mine changed to true bypass by L Sound, I struggle to get it to trigger correctly without the effected sound having a major volume drop when engaged vs. the clean signal. At least before the gain affected the clean sound, too, so I could have an equal volume level between the two signals. I know there are other solutions with pedals, or dealing with my amp, but if anything, I'd like a volume boost when the pedal is engaged to make up for the slight loss of low end. Anyone else have this problem?
 
#778
dylanjohnson said:
I have a question for those of you who have a vintage Mutron III. Since I had mine changed to true bypass by L Sound, I struggle to get it to trigger correctly without the effected sound having a major volume drop when engaged vs. the clean signal. At least before the gain affected the clean sound, too, so I could have an equal volume level between the two signals. I know there are other solutions with pedals, or dealing with my amp, but if anything, I'd like a volume boost when the pedal is engaged to make up for the slight loss of low end. Anyone else have this problem?
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Both of mine boost the volume when I engage the effect. What setting do you have the gain when you engage it? I normally have mine around 4-4.5.(The gain on a vintage Mu-Tron should also control the volume). The other thing to check is how are you powering your Mu-Tron? If it's 9v batteries, try replacing them (the vintage units eat batteries and at different rates!). If you are using a power supply this could be the issue. Try batteries if you can instead and if that works you know the power supply is the problem. Hope this helps.
 
#779
Bo0tsy said:
Both of mine boost the volume when I engage the effect. What setting do you have the gain when you engage it? I normally have mine around 4-4.5.(The gain on a vintage Mu-Tron should also control the volume). The other thing to check is how are you powering your Mu-Tron? If it's 9v batteries, try replacing them (the vintage units eat batteries and at different rates!). If you are using a power supply this could be the issue. Try batteries if you can instead and if that works you know the power supply is the problem. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

I'm using Lingenberg's PS-1 remake to power it. I had the same issue with batteries. I keep it around 3/4 on the gain to keep it from dropping in volume. I can only get it to open right with a super light touch there or else the envelope opens up completely, and it sounds like it isn't even on. It might have more to do with the input volume from my bass or I need to retrain myself to lighten my touch! I guess there is no adjustment for input gain in the old pedal.

I usually use an old Ibanez 303b that likes a good whomp on the strings to open up. Makes it great for slap.
 
#780
dylanjohnson said:
I'm using Lingenberg's PS-1 remake to power it. I had the same issue with batteries. I keep it around 3/4 on the gain to keep it from dropping in volume. I can only get it to open right with a super light touch there or else the envelope opens up completely, and it sounds like it isn't even on. It might have more to do with the input volume from my bass or I need to retrain myself to lighten my touch! I guess there is no adjustment for input gain in the old pedal.

I usually use an old Ibanez 303b that likes a good whomp on the strings to open up. Makes it great for slap.
Click to expand...
That does seem strange. It sounds like maybe your signal into the Mu-Tron is too hot? I have a high output active Warwick Corvette$$ and I don't have this issue. Mu-Tron's usually sound best when they are dialled in so that you have to dig in a little harder to get that dirty quack. Definitely worth trying rolling back a little on your volume control on your Ibanez and gradually adjusting up the gain on the Mu-Tron so you get that perculating bubble when you play notes a little harder.
 

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