Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Mellotronists
Subject: 4 track and all that............
From: tronbros@...
Date: 2002-07-02
Well,
It was interesting to read Robert L's account of the mysterious 4 track, however we have to make a few observations here. We've worked on this very machine(RL's) extremely recently and below are the notes on some crucial areas made prior to servicing the machine.
Keyboard - terrible shallow action, very heavy. Keys very uneven in height.
Pads - set too far forward. Very slow coming in. Adjust back for good head contact.
Rollers - look like 8 track cartridge rollers. Soft. Slow to come up to speed
Keyframe - bowing. Strengthen with straps at back under roller clamp bar( the bowing meant that any adjustment on pads and rollers was negated by pressing down keys further away)
Capstan - wowing. (you can suspect a bent capstan by a pulsing friction sound as it revolves against the tape storage box felt) The capstan was found to have a very bad deflection when tested with a dial test indicator. It was changed for another.
SMS3 - mounted incorrectly for air circulation around heatsink. No ventilation holes anywhere!!!!! Ugh.
To be honest, this machine, as presented, was one of the worst playing trons we've ever met. However, the mixing and eq facility was going to be impressive once the duff channel was reconnected(wire fatigue due to solid cable and not braded being used). And it was.
There were numerous other misalignments and shortcomings. Now, this is not to damn the machine because it was really only a prototype stage when the axe fell. Four machines was not a lot and the Bowmar guys would have got it right but they needed more time and it ran out too early. Production produces rethinks, almost inevitably. This happened with MKIIs. You can always hear JB say "well I've never seen that before" everytime we restore one of these machines. So RL, we do think it was a great idea but it was far from right and if you really think it out performed all the mellotrons you've owned, then you've owned some shockers.
Best,
Martin and JB's notes
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