The Mutron Club : only quacks allowed...

[dylanjohnson]

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.

The Ibanez I speak of is my main envelope filter. I'm using a vintage Fender jazz or a p bass. When I lower the volume on my bass and set it to quack right the output is really low and I have to crank my amp gain. I'll figure it out. It mainly only is an issue for live playing. Unfortunately, that's all I do!

 

[Bo0tsy]

Anyone ever come across one of these before? (currently on Reverb).

Shin-Ei (PAX) Mutebox enveloppe filter (MU-TRON clone)

It's a Shin-Ei Pax Mute-Box. Any ideas if it is an official Mu-Tron III clone? The layout seems very similar.

 

[Mosfed]

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?

This is why by design the gain is always in line. Same thing on the Moog Mf-101. Their only way to get around the issue is with a loop pedal and a boost acting like a master volume.

I just prefer to keep the Mutron III not true bypass. The always on gain is super delish.

 

[Planespotter]

Hello friends! So I finally retired my 90s QTron+ due to its huge enclosure, 24v power requirement and rude volume boost. I took the plunge and ordered a used MU-FX Micro-Tron III, and saw that there is now a Mu-Tron branded Micro-Tron IV that looks very similar. Are there any non-cosmetic differences between the two?

 

[Grahams Groove]

Hello friends! So I finally retired my 90s QTron+ due to its huge enclosure, 24v power requirement and rude volume boost. I took the plunge and ordered a used MU-FX Micro-Tron III, and saw that there is now a Mu-Tron branded Micro-Tron IV that looks very similar. Are there any non-cosmetic differences between the two?

Just options to buy some of their Link Removed to 'expand the palette of sounds' you get. Basically a circuit you have to switch out internally to alter the attack/decay times. There are three including the standard that comes in the Microtron III & IV. I think they changed to a classic 1/4" expression input as well, which is handy if you want to do manual sweeps without a custom cable. I'm usually a sucker for upgrades, but I use mine as an auto-filter and didn't make the jump to the 4 based on the OptoMod stuff. I'm super happy with the sound I get out of the Microtron III, and don't want to spend the time/money upgrading the pedal, ordering new mod circuits, and going down the rabbit hole A/B/C'ing them. YMMV.

 

[Planespotter]

Just options to buy some of their Link Removed to 'expand the palette of sounds' you get. Basically a circuit you have to switch out internally to alter the attack/decay times. There are three including the standard that comes in the Microtron III & IV. I think they changed to a classic 1/4" expression input as well, which is handy if you want to do manual sweeps without a custom cable. I'm usually a sucker for upgrades, but I use mine as an auto-filter and didn't make the jump to the 4 based on the OptoMod stuff. I'm super happy with the sound I get out of the Microtron III, and don't want to spend the time/money upgrading the pedal, ordering new mod circuits, and going down the rabbit hole A/B/C'ing them. YMMV.

Awesome! Thanks for the response!

 

[Bo0tsy]

Awesome! Thanks for the response!

Think you'll be very happy with the Micro-Tron III. It sounds a bit warmer than the Q-Tron IMHO and a bit less peaky. Easy to dial in too.

 

[ExaltBass]

I just got this back from repairs at Lingenberg Sound. I bought it new in 75 and haven’t been able to use it since the late 70s. It had some serious modifications done back then (Stereo, or parallel mono for one), and it was also modified to work on a mic stand for quick adjustments on stage.

Now it is mono, but with separate level controls and a balance. Seems redundant until using it. I’ll need to play around with it a bunch, but it sounds even better than I remember.

 

[Bo0tsy]

I just got this back from repairs at Lingenberg Sound. I bought it new in 75 and haven’t been able to use it since the late 70s. It had some serious modifications done back then (Stereo, or parallel mono for one), and it was also modified to work on a mic stand for quick adjustments on stage.

Now it is mono, but with separate level controls and a balance. Seems redundant until using it. I’ll need to play around with it a bunch, but it sounds even better than I remember.

View attachment 3764739

Awesome. I like the modifications. A level control especially makes a lot of sense. Those old Mu-Tron's sound so good

 

[Bo0tsy]

Finally got myself a Mu-FX Phasor 2x to complete the Mu-FX collection. Sounds wonderful on bass, very clean, much more flexible than my Sovtek Small Stone.

 

[cosmicevan]

View attachment 3774951 View attachment 3774950 Finally got myself a Mu-FX Phasor 2x to complete the Mu-FX collection. Sounds wonderful on bass, very clean, much more flexible than my Sovtek Small Stone.

Impressive collection

 

[FilterFunk]

A nice chat with Mu-Tron man Mike Beigel:
Video: Mu-Tron—The Sound of the '70s | A Conversation With Pedal Pioneer Mike Beigel

 

[dylanjohnson]

I was looking at the Mu-Tron site and found the owner's manual for the original Mu III. I have one and found the manual online years ago, but I don't remember it being this detailed. It even suggests the Bootsy thing (one in up position and another in down, possibly in stereo from the instrument and going to two different amps).
https://mu-tron.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Owners-Manual-Complete.pdf

 

[Mosfed]

I was looking at the Mu-Tron site and found the owner's manual for the original Mu III. I have one and found the manual online years ago, but I don't remember it being this detailed. It even suggests the Bootsy thing (one in up position and another in down, possibly in stereo from the instrument and going to two different amps).
https://mu-tron.com//wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Owners-Manual-Complete.pdf

very cool

 

[Mosfed]

I just ordered the new Boostron II. Pretty darn excited about it.

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

View attachment 3774951 View attachment 3774950 Finally got myself a Mu-FX Phasor 2x to complete the Mu-FX collection. Sounds wonderful on bass, very clean, much more flexible than my Sovtek Small Stone.

You still have that Washburn Bootsy Collins Spacebass? I still want / need one of these.

 

[Bo0tsy]

You still have that Washburn Bootsy Collins Spacebass? I still want / need one of these.

Yep, I've still got the Washburn Spacebass, and a purple Warwick one too. I'm always on the look out for the Traben Bootsy Star too but they never come up for sale in Europe. You still have the Stambaugh Spacebass? I remember that being a stunning looking bass.

 

[Funkinthetrunk]

Yep, I've still got the Washburn Spacebass, and a purple Warwick one too. I'm always on the look out for the Traben Bootsy Star too but they never come up for sale in Europe. You still have the Stambaugh Spacebass? I remember that being a stunning looking bass.

Yes, Stambaugh is still here with me. Still need a Washburn though.

 

[Mosfed]

You guys are true pros!

 

[cusar5]

Heads up, there are plenty of Scratch & Dent pedals in stock on the Mu-Tron site. I've been wanting to try a Phasor III for a long time, so I couldn't resist snagging one.