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Average Price: $750
High-end/Boutique
$70
$251+
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High-end
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Description
Immerse yourself in the rich legacy of the Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter, a legendary pedal that has been the secret sauce in the tone recipe of renowned artists since 1972. Renowned not just for its vintage charm, this analog envelope filter pedal excels in delivering a diverse palette of tones. Whether you're chasing the funky twang of Bootsy Collins or the melodic resonance of Jerry Garcia, the Mu-Tron III lets you shape your sound with its low-pass, bandpass, and high-pass filter responses. Tailored to adapt to a range of instruments, this is more than just a pedal, it's your creative companion on the journey to sonic nirvana.
Key Features:
- Analog envelope filter pedal
- Low-pass, bandpass, and high-pass filter responses
- Versatile and adaptable to a variety of instruments
- Iconic tone shaping tool used by legendary musicians since 1972
- Produces a broad spectrum of tones.
Product specs
| Brand | Mu-Tron |
| Model | Mutron III |
| Finish | White |
| Year | 1970s |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Filter and Wah Pedals |
FAQs
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What type of sound can I expect from the Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter?
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The Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter is known for producing dynamic, auto-wah effects that respond to your playing intensity. It delivers a funky, quacky sound popular in genres like funk and rock.
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Is the Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter suitable for bass guitar?
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Yes, the Mu-Tron Musitronics III works well with bass guitars, providing rich, responsive filtering that enhances low-end frequencies without losing clarity.
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How does the Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter differ from a standard wah pedal?
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Unlike a standard wah pedal, which is manually controlled by a foot pedal, the Mu-Tron III automatically responds to the dynamics of your playing, creating a more organic and expressive envelope effect.
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Does the Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter require a specific power supply?
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The original Mu-Tron Musitronics III typically requires an 18V power supply, so ensure you have the correct adapter to avoid any power issues.
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Can the Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter be used with other effects pedals?
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Yes, the Mu-Tron Musitronics III can be effectively combined with other effects pedals, such as distortion or modulation, to create unique and complex soundscapes.
Videos
BassTheWorld.com
MUSITRONICS MUTRON III
MUSITRONICS MUTRON III
BassTheWorld.com
Bassicsgear Musitronics Mu-Tron III Envelope Filter Demo
Justin Goodman
Vintage Mustronics Mu Tron III Funky Demo from 2012
Soultron
George Duke - Mu-tron demonstration record 1975.
Adrian Täckman
Musitronics Mu-Tron III Envelope Filter (1972) Showcase Spotlight
The SoCal Riff Ranch
Reviews
PROS
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Warm, wet, and delicious sound
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Authentic Jerry Garcia tones for Deadhead guitarists
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Reliable and functional with maintenance
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Superior to other envelope effect pedals in maintaining volume with a band
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Unique funk and Jerry Garcia sound unattainable by other pedals
CONS
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Requires maintenance and potentially repairs due to age
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May arrive damaged due to vintage status
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Needs modification for dual voltage power supply
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter.
Comparisons
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EHX Q-Tron, designed by the same engineer, offers a big box version with extensive features and a Nano version similar to the original Mu-Tron III.
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The Qtron+ from EHX has a distinct chewy, rounded sound, closely related to the Mu-Tron but with its own unique characteristics.
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3leaf Chromatron is highly regarded as a top-tier Mu-Tron style filter, but scarcity and high prices make it difficult to obtain.
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The FARM pedals custom envelope filter is praised for its close replication of vintage Mu-Tron III tones, making it a standout alternative to the Micro-Tron IV.
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The Lovetone Meatball provides greater flexibility, but for guitar or keys, the Mu-Tron III delivers comparable sound quality in a simpler format.
Source
User experience
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Source Audio Spectrum receives praise for its ultra-tweakable nature, allowing users to adjust signal reception and trigger sensitivity independently.
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Owners report that the Micro-Tron IV demands a high output signal for optimal performance, often requiring high output pickups or a boost pedal for consistent quack.
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The Micro-Tron IV is recognized for its convenient 9V operation and smaller footprint, making it suitable for space-constrained pedalboards while maintaining usability.
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Building the Mu-Tron III clone enhances understanding of playing dynamics, significantly boosting creativity and offering a hands-on learning experience in envelope filter usage.
Source
Features and functionality
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The Microtron IV has been criticized for potential reliability issues and poor customer service, with some customers experiencing communication difficulties.
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The Analogman Envelope Filter includes a reverse phase switch and is noted for being easy to dial in with settings at noon, offering versatile and approachable use.
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The use of waterslide decals with a laser printer ensures durable graphics for the pedal while maintaining color accuracy and sharpness.
Source
Use cases and applications
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Pairing the Earthquaker Spatial Delivery with Lizard Queen creates a punchy tone reminiscent of "Shakedown Street."
Source
Mods and upgrades
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 16 Ratings
314
Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadewloop
I have tried every other envelope type effect, its one of my favorites, and while the WMD Fatman comes close there is no other pedal that gives up the funk (Or the Jerry if that's your thing) better than the Mutron III You can hear the difference mainly when the whole band is playing- you don't get the same level drop most envelope followers have. A Classic and unbeatable really...
Artist usage
Add artist
At 1:53 in this rig rundown the Mutron is displayed.
"Oh, and the Mu-Tron effects, which I just by chance, picked up this one and I also had an octave pedal as well of theirs. But this one has got that auto-wah sound, but it's..I'll show you that. It gets heavily featured on "Black Hole Sun", which is on the "Fingerprints" record. It's just got this really nice auto-wah kind of... It will open up depending on how you play a note. So it's really interesting." - Frampton about Mu-Tron III.
"What are some of your favorite vintage pedals? The Mu-Tron stuff, for sure. Mu-Tron phasers and the envelope filter."
In this YouTube video, at 4:40 the Mu-Tron III can be seen and Trey Anastasio mentions it at 4:43, stating he got it starting Summer 2021 tour.
...and this Mu-Tron, which I just got this tour, which is really cool because I had another Mu-Tron, but that's the original Mu-Tron that Jerry Garcia used.
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In this image of Ira's pedalboard, we can see a Musitronics Mu-Tron III.
In this photo, which shows Wilkenfeld's pedalboard on 2010 Umbria Jazz festival, one of the pedals that can be seen is the Mu-Tron III envelope filter.
In this interview, Paul says, "My gig pedals include a 70s Mutron, 70s Bass Balls, EH Micro Synth, Boss Octave, Bass Flanger, MXR Driver and Auto Q."
This detailed gear diagram of Tim Mahoney's 311 stage setup includes a Musitronic Mu-Tron III Envelope Filter.
"My pedal board has a crybaby wah, Electro-Harmonix micro synthesizer, mu-tron III envelope filter, mxr phase 90 pedal, digitech whammy pedal, mxr blue box, and a boss digital delay stomp box."
In a 1975 photo shared by Serge Rovox on Pinterest, George Duke is shown using the Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter, highlighting its role in shaping his distinctive sound.
His pedalboard contains a Big Muff, a Mutron III, a Phase 100, and a Boomerang volume/wah pedal.
Album Usage
The Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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Similar
Add recommendation13 alternative and related items for Mu-Tron Musitronics III Envelope Filter, curated by the Equipboard community.
$116.00 - $189.00
The Keeley Neutrino is an optocoupler based envelope filter, inspired by the classic Mu-Tron III design.
According to VFE;
The MINI MU is derived from the classic Mutron III envelope filter (aka autowah), and has all the same great fat and funky filter sweeps inside a much smaller box. A few extras have been added, namely an active clean gain stage and an "in between" position on the range switch. With the included charge pump, the MINI MU runs on +/-9V like the original without needing a special power supply or two batteries.
$279.00
The latest Mu-Tron envelope filter, that better mimics vintage units than the previous Micro-Tron III.
A smaller, more tweakable version of the Mu-Tron III, with an additional down sweep mode.
A smaller, reissue version of the Mu-Tron III, created by the new Mu-Tron company. Now replaced by the Micro-Tron IV.
A hybrid digital/analog envelope filter inspired by the Mu-Tron III.
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