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vintage mutron III

#141
Hey Groooove,
So glad you're digging it, and I totally understand the bypass mod thoughts, it will really take control over your other pedals too, and not in a good way. But the loooper idea seems like an ideal choice for now.
I already miss it, but I'm so happy it's gone to a happy user. Yeah it really does scream funk with a capital "F". And it should hold up fine to live use, just protect it from other players and liquids. :)
Enjoy!
Dirk
 
#142
Dirk Diggler said:
Hey Groooove,
So glad you're digging it, and I totally understand the bypass mod thoughts, it will really take control over your other pedals too, and not in a good way. But the loooper idea seems like an ideal choice for now.
I already miss it, but I'm so happy it's gone to a happy user. Yeah it really does scream funk with a capital "F". And it should hold up fine to live use, just protect it from other players and liquids. :)
Enjoy!
Dirk
Click to expand...

yeah, it seems sturdy as hell.

im not sure whats going to happen volume-wise if i true bypass it. because of the active gain setup, when its true bypassed the volume of the filter when the gain is set right (as far as the filter opening is concerned) may be way differnt from my basses actual volume. im hoping its no worse than the natural volume spike you'd see when you dont true bypass it.. but it could be even worse, but it also might be better.

if it doesent work out in a true bypass loop, i'll have to get a compressor to use for it. i'll have to scroll back and see what bongo reccomended earlier in this thread..

and one last thing, is anyone sure that bootsy always used a 3-rig setup? on mothership and chocolate city, i'm definately hearing 2 rigs- one pedalboard with a filter, one with a fuzz. i know that interview from '79 says he was using 3 rigs each with a filter, fuzz, and whatever other toys he had.. but it does not sound like a mix of 3 seperate filters to me, it sounds just like one mutron to me.

not that i'm so hung up on sounding just like good ole' boots. but, i dont want people thinking it cant be done (mutron, muff, and LS-2 could probably get VERY close.)
 
#143
I'd like to ask those people that have/had both a vintage Musitronics Mutron III (not the HAZ Lab reissue) and a Lovetone Meatball (not the Dinosaural reissue) which is the best Envelope on bass (among these) for a fat, funky, wet sound, also comparing the actual price of sale on ebay.

I've an original Lovetone Meatball (paid 450$, with original manual and box, all in mint condition) and it's excellent, but I've never tried a Mutron III: so I'm very curious.
 
#144
Tekken said:
I'd like to ask those people that have/had both a vintage Musitronics Mutron III (not the HAZ Lab reissue) and a Lovetone Meatball (not the Dinosaural reissue) which is the best Envelope on bass (among these) for a fat, funky, wet sound, also comparing the actual price of sale on ebay.
Click to expand...

They're different beasts. The Meatball gets some really cool sounds but is super complicated. The Mutron gets one sound, but it's one really good sound.
 
#145
Spencer! said:
They're different beasts. The Meatball gets some really cool sounds but is super complicated. The Mutron gets one sound, but it's one really good sound.
Click to expand...

pretty much sums it up. the meatball if a lot more intence. but, for a standard "up" filter, you will not find anything better than the mutron.

does anyone know what Lsound charges for just true bypass + LED? all i could find on his site was 45 an hour/parts.. i'm thinking i might just get a 1-loop bypass switch from loopmaster.. that way its true bypass, with a status LED, for something like $45 + shipping.. other suggestions welcome..
 
#146
Tekken said:
I'd like to ask those people that have/had both a vintage Musitronics Mutron III (not the HAZ Lab reissue) and a Lovetone Meatball (not the Dinosaural reissue) which is the best Envelope on bass (among these) for a fat, funky, wet sound, also comparing the actual price of sale on ebay.

I've an original Lovetone Meatball (paid 450$, with original manual and box, all in mint condition) and it's excellent, but I've never tried a Mutron III: so I'm very curious.
Click to expand...

they're completely different. mutron has THE tone, and it does that amazing. the meatball has tons of different cool tones and is super versatile. you can't get either to sound like each other, and they different filters. really you'd be best with both of them:)
 
#147
ive got another question..

i took the closest to dead batteries i had laying around to try and get some distorted wacked out sounds from my mutron, but theyre not dead enough to distort yet. so in the meantime im going to just use it with batters.. but im not sure what goes on as far as batteries are concerned with pedals this old. do i need to unplug the input to stop battery drain, or can i leave it plugged in and turn the "power" switch off?
 
#148
Hey Groooove,
Well it shouldn't take long to get the batteries to die. :) I never tried it with them that low, I always used the power supply.
But if I recall the wiring on that there is nothing that could throw a switch from either of those jacks, so yes you should be able to turn the switch off and leave it cabled up. :)
Dirk
 
#149
Dirk Diggler said:
Hey Groooove,
Well it shouldn't take long to get the batteries to die. :) I never tried it with them that low, I always used the power supply.
But if I recall the wiring on that there is nothing that could throw a switch from either of those jacks, so yes you should be able to turn the switch off and leave it cabled up. :)
Dirk
Click to expand...

then i suppose that means, if theres no cables in it but the power switch is still on, the batterys are still being drained as well?
 
#151
Has anyone picked up one of these kits to overhaul their Mutron?

Link to ebay listing...

If I manage to win the pedal I'm bidding on, I might need to look into it. I would just want to know that the original sound wouldn't be 'messed with' by installing the new caps.

Also... using two separate 1spot power supplies with a battery clip on each would power it fine, right?
 
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#152
bassbmx said:
Has anyone picked up one of these kits to overhaul their Mutron?

Link to ebay listing...

If I manage to win the pedal I'm bidding on, I might need to look into it. I would just want to know that the original sound wouldn't be 'messed with' by installing the new caps.

Also... using two separate 1spot power supplies with a battery clip on each would power it fine, right?
Click to expand...

I just had that kit installed by the same people who sell it on eBay. I haven't used the pedal much since getting it back so I'm reserving judgement

I don't know whether or not using a second 1spot gives you an isolated power source, but two battery clips from a PP2+ or powering from a non-isolated power source via GigRig virtual batteries works fine.
 
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#153
a little update about the vintage mutron..

i bought mine, used it and loved it, then sort of forgot about it- did not have board space for it + the power supply, and had fear of the bypass.. untill the last two or so weeks when i found a way to fit it on my board, along with my other stuff i need.

then, i decided it was time to true-bypass this thing. i ordered a bypass looper from Hopper (it was just the cheapest one on ebay.. i love it, btw.) and with true bypass, theres hardly any volume spike when you kick on the mutron. because of the active gain, having the filter set the way i like it, the gain is less than unity (of a true-bypassed signal). that less-than-unity, + the volume spike when its on, = unity gain when its on, in a true bypass loop.

now i have no reason not to use this thing. no volume spike, took care of the bypass, made room.

:bassist: more than worth the hype.
 
#154
I noticed the same thing when I put my Mutron in the effects loop of my Shuttle 6.0, thinking a hotter input would let me dial down the Mutron's gain. I then used a limiter as suggested on this thread so that I could bring it out front and not worry about those volume spikes. I have since installed an active preamp in my bass so my signal is hot enough to maintain that special setting but in front of my amp with no need for a limiter. Its heavenly, I love it. Glad to pull the limiter, it darkened the tone in a way I was not to keen on.
 
#156
OrionManMatt said:
(I will probably get flamed for this but) I'm wondering how some of you might rank Line 6's attempt at the III (M9, M13, FM4)?
Click to expand...

they make a mutron clone? i diddnt know that..

the only thing i like as a substitute for the real thing is the korg AX3000B filter section. its definately more digital sounding than the real thing, and also very clean, and the mutron is more than dirty, its filthy. however the filter itself has the same quack characteristic, i like it.
 
#159
My keyboard player used the "Tron" setting on his line 6, definitely not very adjustable and only did up sweeps but it did sound Tronish. I could never use a one trick pony tron emulator as I switch High to Low and adjust the Peak knob often for many juicy tones. If you like the Tron setting on your line 6 then get a real one and you'll love it, the Qtron or Micro Q are good cheaper alternative though I sold mine as soon as I got my freshly restored Mutron III.
 

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