Mu-Tron Octave Divider

[Mark Hammer]

Someone asked me if I could build one.  I have what looks to be a scan of a factory schematic, but it's kind of fuzzy and the values aren't shown too clearly.  Anyone have something a little clearer or more complete?

Looking over it, it had never occurred to me before that there is a Green Ringer built in.  When one presses the "Ringer" switch on the unit, that's actually what you get!

There is a vague outline of a switch that seems to be part of the power supply, which could be the "Stabilize" switch ( http://filters.muziq.be/model/musitronics/octavedivider ) but it is not clear enough in the scan to give many clues as to what it does.

[scratch]

did some 'Googling' while the tools were going through yet another yo-yo cycle ...

The Octave divider seems really difficuly to find, you can buy them it seems ... the only other thing I found, was link to hand drawn one here,

http://www.basslinks.nl/xmb/viewthread.php?tid=5092

Not very clear either ...

[Mark Hammer]

A member was kind enough to send me a drawing.  Looks feasible.

[DavidRavenMoon]

I used to have one of those I used with bass.  They are really nice and track great.

[Mark Hammer]

Worth knocking one's self out over instead of merely muying a Micro-Pog?

[B Tremblay]

Worth knocking one's self out over instead of merely muying a Micro-Pog?

Depends on how much you'd like the bragging rights!

In the Art Thompson stompbox book, I believe Dan Armstrong takes credit for suggesting the Green Ringer be added to the Octave Divider.  Octave down and a GR does sound cool - I've used my Blue Box with one and I think there are even some clips if you search here.

[birt]

that schematic would be nice to see. the effect sounds great in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSiACMzEKRM

[zeta55]

that schematic would be nice to see. the effect sounds great in this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSiACMzEKRM

Agreed, shure would love to see it, if it's possible

/Krister

[SonicVI]

Heres a copy of the factory service manual someone from here gave me a few years ago. It's got parts lists, layout, and a readable schematic. No pcb pattern unfortunately.
Mutron Octave Divider Service Manual

[Mark Hammer]

Heres a copy of the factory service manual someone from here gave me a few years ago. It's got parts lists, layout, and a readable schematic. No pcb pattern unfortunately.
Mutron Octave Divider Service Manual

Oustanding!!  Thanks so much.  Very very useful.

What the hell does the "Stabilize" switch do?

[SonicVI]

What the hell does the "Stabilize" switch do?

I have no idea. I had one of these back in the 90's and I could never tell any difference with the stabilize on or off. I also couldn't really tell much difference with the ringer on so mine might have had problems.   As far as I can remember it was a very good sounding octave divider but I remember at the time not thinking it was significantly better than the EH or Boss Octave dividers, but then many people seem to disagree with that.   I definitely don't think they're worth the $750 theyre going for now.

[marlin]

Nice!
I want one really bad, wish there was a pcb to buy

[zeta55]

Heres a copy of the factory service manual someone from here gave me a few years ago. It's got parts lists, layout, and a readable schematic. No pcb pattern unfortunately.
Mutron Octave Divider Service Manual

Thanks!

/Krister

[Solidhex]

A friend of mine has been wanting me to clone his forever. The schems I was able to find gave me a headache though!

--Brad

[Mark Hammer]

The service manual that SonicVI links to above shows a component view of the boards.  It would appear that:
a) there are many components shown that are much smaller today than they were in 1977 or whenever,
b) the power supply doesn't need to be as complex as shown, and
c) the transformer can easily be an AC wallwart (with regulation in the pedal itself). 

If one used SIP dual op-amps, and toggles instead of rocker switches, this could easily fit in a much smaller case than it did back then.

[MarcoMike]

this sounds like a challenge for some brave diy-ers.... 

[DavidRavenMoon]

What the hell does the "Stabilize" switch do?

Helps with the tracking.

Here's a recording done with one.  It's subtle, but you can hear it on the bass, especially on the last lick played.  It was actually the guitar players, but I used it the whole time until that version of the band broke up.

Other details... it's a '73 Ric 4001 with flatwounds, a Hi-A pickup at the bridge, and a Gibson Sidewinder (mudbucker) at the neck played with a pick.  The signal chain was probably an MXR AC Limiter, the Mutron, then DI.  This was from about 1984.   

The Jetsonz - Beat the Clock

[DavidRavenMoon]

Heres a copy of the factory service manual someone from here gave me a few years ago. It's got parts lists, layout, and a readable schematic. No pcb pattern unfortunately.
Mutron Octave Divider Service Manual

Cool!  Another project I don't have time for!  That and building a Maestro Bass Brassmaster.  Wish I had at least kept my broken Brassmaster's case.

[sverige_cruz]

I had started working on a layout for this after I saw Larry Graham's display on youtube (like I'll ever sound like that!  ). Anyhow, my layout is an attempt at duplicating from the svc manual, and by no means is smaller. I don't want to try to do that. My brain is working hard enough as it is...  At any rate, this is what I've got, for the 1st board (that connects to the 2nd through some pins/headers). I'll have to wire the dc to the chips with floating wires though, as I ran out of space. Maybe this will help someone who's thinking about redoing this one. I'd sure as hell like to get this pedal. Almost bit the bullet and tried to get one on ebay, but alas, it went outta my $$$ range. Back to the layout... I've got the routing ready for the lower board, just have to draw it up. I'm using CADStd to do all this work - seems really straightforward to me, and kinda ol skool. Besides, I don't have time or the will to learn a PCB layout program... Anyhow, enough chat... this is what i got:


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-3/1166256/attempt.gif

PS, how the heck do you make a thumbnail link to the original sized image?

-- Jesus

[lowstar]

if i´m not mistaken, our member hank reynolds 3rd did a layout for that years ago that was almost finished, no ? just the power supply was missing, and 2 or 3 people have actually built it if i understand everything right ??
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=52169.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=35377.0
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=43881.0

cheers,
lowstar