Grateful Dead Music Forum

Anyone tried one of these? How did it go?

Not trying to compare to a Mutron - BUT - worthy?

Bill and I are enjoying our cheap Donner Dynamic Wahs. Honestly, it’s not quite a Mu-Tron but it replaced the Micro-Tron IV on my board because I find the latter finicky and the former forgiving, and copying Jerry exactly isn’t critical for me. Just me - YMMV.

The Donner is indeed a surprisingly good envelope in a mini format. Currently available on Amazon for $32!

Bill, tgo

wleeds wrote: ↑Mon May 05, 2025 6:39 am Anyone tried one of these? How did it go?

Not trying to compare to a Mutron - BUT - worthy?

I have one. It works OK but I never got the Jerry vowelly tone that I wanted out of it. I should pull it out and try it again, but I have a Microtron IV and a Mutron inspired build from a forum member that are my two go to envelope filters.

I bought one out of curiosity a couple of years ago (it was like $40 new and I was in envelope filter-search hell so I figured why not?). It sounded…ok, but it’s not built terribly well- the control knobs (on mine at least) were made out of this weird, soft rubber.

Anyways, it didn’t find a spot on the board. Went back into the box and sat for a while until I did some pedal selling recently and parted with it. It sold surprisingly fast.

I always preach my love for the Analogman whenever I get a chance to talk about envelope filters. It’s the one that I’ve stuck with after a long and tiring search. More $ than the Mooer or Donner than Jon and Bill
mention, but I love the friggin thing.

Sean

Sorry to shift the topic a bit. Did Jerry use humbuckers or did he coil split when using the Mu-Tron and what pickup position did he use most often? There's info on what he used for the Colorsound... the bridge for Playin', etc. Haven't really seen anything on the Mu-Tron and was just wondering.

I tend to think he would have used the middle pickup most often for the Mutron since A) that’s where he spent most of his time anyway and B) it’s a pretty ideal spot for Mutron so parts aren’t too boomy and the spikes aren’t too bright…he certainly started out with single coils on the Bean…after that may have been mood / venue dependent.

Regarding the Colorsound wah, did he use the bridge a lot with that? Noticed in the GD Movie he was on the middle pickup for at least part of the jam…if he was on the bridge would the tone knob have been way down like almost on 0? Would love to hear more on that front!

Slewfoot2000 wrote: ↑Sat May 10, 2025 1:59 pm I tend to think he would have used the middle pickup most often for the Mutron since A) that’s where he spent most of his time anyway and B) it’s a pretty ideal spot for Mutron so parts aren’t too boomy and the spikes aren’t too bright…he certainly started out with single coils on the Bean…after that may have been mood / venue dependent.

Regarding the Colorsound wah, did he use the bridge a lot with that? Noticed in the GD Movie he was on the middle pickup for at least part of the jam…if he was on the bridge would the tone knob have been way down like almost on 0? Would love to hear more on that front!

I believe he started with the MuTron when he was still playing his TB1000a (humbuckers).

Tacosauce wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 11:05 pm

Slewfoot2000 wrote: ↑Sat May 10, 2025 1:59 pm I tend to think he would have used the middle pickup most often for the Mutron since A) that’s where he spent most of his time anyway and B) it’s a pretty ideal spot for Mutron so parts aren’t too boomy and the spikes aren’t too bright…he certainly started out with single coils on the Bean…after that may have been mood / venue dependent.

Regarding the Colorsound wah, did he use the bridge a lot with that? Noticed in the GD Movie he was on the middle pickup for at least part of the jam…if he was on the bridge would the tone knob have been way down like almost on 0? Would love to hear more on that front!

I believe he started with the MuTron when he was still playing his TB1000a (humbuckers).

His first show with the TB-500 single coils was 8-2-76…I forgot if he used the Mutron before then or it was later that year that he got it.

Slewfoot2000 wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 11:11 am

Tacosauce wrote: ↑Sun May 18, 2025 11:05 pm

Slewfoot2000 wrote: ↑Sat May 10, 2025 1:59 pm I tend to think he would have used the middle pickup most often for the Mutron since A) that’s where he spent most of his time anyway and B) it’s a pretty ideal spot for Mutron so parts aren’t too boomy and the spikes aren’t too bright…he certainly started out with single coils on the Bean…after that may have been mood / venue dependent.

Regarding the Colorsound wah, did he use the bridge a lot with that? Noticed in the GD Movie he was on the middle pickup for at least part of the jam…if he was on the bridge would the tone knob have been way down like almost on 0? Would love to hear more on that front!

I believe he started with the MuTron when he was still playing his TB1000a (humbuckers).

His first show with the TB-500 single coils was 8-2-76…I forgot if he used the Mutron before then or it was later that year that he got it.

I’d assume that since they were playing catfish John and Dancin’ by summer ‘76 (during the TB1000a period) that he had the MuTron on board then. That tone definitely doesn’t sound like a wah pedal.

In any case, I feel like I get a thicker tone when I use my envelope filter with humbuckers. If anything, it’s easier to dial in a useable tone for me with humbuckers + envelope filter.

Sean

'76 Dancin' is very different than '77 Dancin'.

Don't hear any effects in '76.

ace

mkaufman wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 5:12 pm '76 Dancin' is very different than '77 Dancin'.

Don't hear any effects in '76.

ace

I believe you’re right. I always thought he added the MuTron summer ‘76 but the only thing I can find that offers any details is the Waldo rig breakdown where he shows the NYE ‘76 rig. And the Blair Jackson book mentions the MuTron being busted out in spring ‘77.

I’m willing to bet there were other effects being tried out leading up to that NYE gig though.