The Musitronics Mu-Tron C-200 Volume-Wah is a vintage volume-wah pedal that puts a volume sweep and a wah filter in a single rocker unit. Musitronics describes it as a pedal whose "volume and wah functions can be used indepently or in combination," so a player can use it as a volume pedal, as a wah, or as both at once1. It dates from the 1970s, the era of the original Musitronics C-200 product sheet1.
Volume and wah, together or separately
The C-200's two functions are switched independently by foot switches. Musitronics' original product sheet describes the arrangement1:
- The Vol foot switch enables control of a silent to full-volume volume sweep, operated through the foot pedal1.
- With Vol and Wah foot switches both enabled, both functions are simultaneously controlled through the foot pedal, so one rocker movement sweeps volume and wah together1.
That makes it a forerunner of the combined wah/volume format still seen today in pedals like the Morley Power Wah Volume and the Hotone Vowpress, and it sits alongside other combined units such as the Sonicake VolWah and the JOYO WAH-I Classic Wah/Volume. Players who only need the volume half of the format can look at dedicated volume pedals such as the Ernie Ball Mono Volume Pedal or the Boss FV-500H.
Power and impedance
Unlike modern pedals that run from a DC supply, the C-200 is an AC-powered unit. Musitronics lists its AC power requirements as 115V AC, 60Hz1. An independent technical discussion of the circuit on the Guitar FX Layouts blog notes the same arrangement: "we're talking about the mutron c-200 volume/wah, which has an onboard transformer with a power cord coming out of it"2.
The C-200's 115V AC, 60Hz requirement means it plugs into wall power through its own cord rather than a battery or a pedalboard supply. It is a vintage unit designed for US mains power12.
Musitronics specifies the input impedance as 390k ohms, unbalanced, and the output impedance as 600 ohms, unbalanced1.
Documentation and dimensions
Musitronics Mu-Tron, which maintains the vintage Musitronics line, links an original owner's manual from the C-200's product page, along with the original 1970s product sheet and a demo video, Clay Summers' Vol-Wah Demo1.
The unit's published dimensions and weight:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 11½" |
| Width | 3¾" |
| Height | 3" (in closed position) |
| Weight | 4 pounds |
Videos
Pprovo1
Clay Summers
basscajon
Questions
Can the Mu-Tron C-200 use volume and wah at the same time?
Yes. According to Musitronics, the C-200's volume and wah functions can be used independently or in combination. With both the Vol and Wah foot switches enabled, both functions are simultaneously controlled through the foot pedal, so one rocker movement sweeps the volume and the wah together.
What power does the Mu-Tron C-200 use?
The C-200 runs on AC power rather than a battery or standard pedal supply. Musitronics lists its AC power requirements as 115V AC at 60Hz, and the unit has an onboard transformer with a power cord coming out of it.
What is the input impedance of the Mu-Tron C-200?
Musitronics lists the C-200's input impedance as 390k ohms, unbalanced. The output impedance is 600 ohms, unbalanced.
Is there an original owner's manual for the Mu-Tron C-200?
Yes. Musitronics Mu-Tron links an original owner's manual from the C-200 Volume-Wah page on its website, alongside the original 1970s product sheet.
How big is the Mu-Tron C-200?
Musitronics lists the C-200 at 11 and a half inches long, 3 and three quarter inches wide and 3 inches high in the closed position, with a weight of 4 pounds.
Sources (2)
- Mu-Tron C-200 Volume-Wah, Musitronics Mu-Tron (mu-tron.com)
- Guitar FX Layouts: Iron Butterfly Fuzz Wah, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2017-07-21
