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silverface
Copper Member
19 Posts |
 Posted - 04/09/2008 : 11:16:24
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Hi everybody,
I am a big fan of the MT-2 pedal. I own about 7 of them. Today I compared my oldest one (built in 1991) to my newest one (built in 2006). Both with the same settings: Level 10 o'clock, high/low both 3 o'clock, middle both 12 o'clock and dist. at 4 o'clock.
The older one sounded remarkably darker. The newer one was fresher and louder. Why is that?
Do the parts alter with the years or did they change the cicuit somehow?
You can download my comparison here:
http://gload.de/download.php?id=8D9EEBB6
It starts with the old one.
Thanks and regards,
silverface.
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 11:55:08
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Hi silverface
Please be aware.
that when I try to access this link, it keeps throwing up,
another large size, pop-up screen, with advertising & picture of Hitler.
Is this for some stage show, or something else?
As I am unable to access it with my German to English translator.
Regards Dr. Bob |
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silverface
Copper Member
19 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 12:18:51
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Oh, so sorry! This is a very strange ad here in Germany - but it only says: "Are you a relative of Hitler (or another historical person)" - but of course you are right, this is very strange and might seem offensive. Please excuse me!
Here's a new link - I think this is an international site:
http://www.wikiupload.com/comment.php?id=27209
Best wishes,
silverface. |
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zentropa
Gold Member
USA
837 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 15:47:41
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silverface:
this is the same phenomenon that i posted on the "pedal burn in" thread when i first joined. guessing the reason is component aging.
i have only had 1 metal zone with the "dark" sound that you have in the sample (out of ~9 metal zones that i've owned) and it's the one that i kept :)
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 15:50:35
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An independent opinion - my wife says the new one definitely sounds "crisper"...
Might be because of the components drifting over time - see other threads about electrolytic capacitors. Might be because the older components are different spec from a different batch/manufacturer (resistors and capacitors are +/- 20% of the stated values, for example).
Might be because the settings aren't "exactly" the same on both pedals - potentiometrs are not all made equal, the only way to check that the settings are identical is to take the back off and measure what the pot resistance is at the setting.
To my ear, the old one is best sound |
Edited by - Laurie on 04/09/2008 15:51:04 |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 19:20:26
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quote:
Originally posted by zentropa
silverface:
this is the same phenomenon that i posted on the "pedal burn in" thread when i first joined. guessing the reason is component aging.
i have only had 1 metal zone with the "dark" sound that you have in the sample (out of ~9 metal zones that i've owned) and it's the one that i kept :)
Electrolytic capacitors can degrade with age, and most components have various tolerances. Usually within 1-5%, so while it may not make much difference if, for example, the 220 ohm resistors actually measure in at 222 ohm, if you had a pedal that had more higher tolerances and others with lower tolerances in the build, that could alter the sound as well...So there is a chance that 2 of the same pedals made in the same day may not sound exactly like one another in a side by side comparison due to these minor fluctuations that may occur with components... |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 04/09/2008 : 20:23:05
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quote:
Originally posted by jack
Electrolytic capacitors can degrade with age, and most components have various tolerances. Usually within 1-5%, so while it may not make much difference if, for example, the 220 ohm resistors actually measure in at 222 ohm, if you had a pedal that had more higher tolerances and others with lower tolerances in the build, that could alter the sound as well...So there is a chance that 2 of the same pedals made in the same day may not sound exactly like one another in a side by side comparison due to these minor fluctuations that may occur with components...
Indeed yes!!
It's interesting that the older pedals are almost always described as sounding "darker" though...
I've been pondering this for some time - the "old" = "dark" equation. Personally, I like the darker sound, so I'd like to be able to do a mod to a newer pedal that would, explicitly, make it sound like an older one. I've been experimenting with this a little - nothing formal, but I've been replacing older electrolytic capacitors with newer metallized polyester ones, swapping op-amps, etc looking for quantitative differences (not subjective ones) that make it darker.
No definitive answers yet, other than the facetious "they don't make em like they used to"
You don't want to sell the older/darker MT-2 do you silverface...?   |
Edited by - Laurie on 04/09/2008 20:25:40 |
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silverface
Copper Member
19 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 09:22:36
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quote:
Originally posted by lauries2
You don't want to sell the older/darker MT-2 do you silverface...?
Hi,
though I like the newer "crisper" sound better, I wouldn't sell the old MT-2 as it was my first one and I very much identify myself with this pedal. Bying it then was like coming out ;-)
The newer pedal, I compared with the old one will get modded with the Monte Allums kit now 
Best wishes,
silverface. |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2008 : 10:46:15
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could be caps starting to 'drift' in the older pedals....i'm no expert but would the fact that the older pedals have lower input headroom have anything to do with it, if you were using an active guitar or a guitar with very strong pickups for example and were overloading the pedal slightly.....?...... |
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Topic |
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Old MT-2 - muffled sound?
