In a message dated 4/28/2007 11:41:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, mattias.olsson5@... writes:
Like the M4000 ?
Yeah, it's done when it's done. Mattias, you may not have considered this, but just because you don't know what it is or where it is, many of us do. We also know when we are getting ours. We have chosen to honor the wishes of the manufacturer and allow them to unveil the M-4000 to the general public when and as they see fit. You seem to be awfully concerned about it. Why don't you just order one and be done with it.
A cycling Mellotron that works reliably with readily available parts takes time. As we all know, the Mark VI is a fine machine. But aside from a tube preamp and a better motor, it is substantially the same as a M-400. With a cycling Mellotron there is a huge difference in the mechanical dynamics. As you may well recall, Mark IIs were a pain in the ass and cycling reliability was always a problem. I'm sure a machine that duplicated that technology could have been bought to market much more swiftly. However, I think that Streetly is looking for the same thing Markus was when he created the Mark VI; machines that can be sent to an owners hundreds or thousands of miles away that will be reliable and easily maintained by their owners, and with a ready inventory of spare parts. There are two major elements to achieving this goal. Time and money. This project has been bankrolled internally and therefore much is at stake. If I was in their position, I would do exactly what they are doing.
I don't think delivery dates have ever been as important to those of us who support the development of the M-4000 as is the end result. Personally, I have been aware of the development of and reasons for delays on this machine for a long time. Martin is very good at keeping those of us who have purchased one informed. The wait will have been well worth it.
So, I think I speak for all of us when I say, "we're OK."