Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Mellotronists

I just joined your group (long overdue) and wanted to say hello.

My name's Rick. I live just outside Chicago and I've been a fan of the mellotron since I was a teenage prog rock fan in the 70s.

Four years ago I bought a Mk. VI from Markus Resch and have been absolutely delighted with it and the incredible sounds ever since. I finally got a home recording set up going and have started recording with it, along with my other keys: Fender Rhodes, Hammond XK-3c, Moog and ARP synths and clavinet.

I'm also looking for some advice with an issue that just surfaced. Recently the 'tron started making what I'll describe as a kind of intermittent, low frequency static or popping sound. It occurs both when I'm playing the tron and when I'm not playing any notes. It obviously stops when I turn the tron off.

I've switched amps, changed cables and unhooked any effects pedals and can confidently say that it's definitely coming from the tron.

I've been trading emails with Markus. He thought it was probably a bad head -the source of the problem seems to be in the headstack. But I tested the heads and the resistance is fine. We're still trying to figure out the problem but it's difficult to do this via email with someone in Sweden. It takes a long time and the communication isn't always clear.

Anyway, just wanted to ask you all if you had any thoughts about how to tackle this? Also, I wanted to see if you knew of anyone in the Chicago area who might have some tech skill with trons.

Sorry to say hello and drop my problem on you. But I am looking forward to trading general info with you over the years. I love all my keys but the tron is really special and it's a bummer that I can't use it now.

Thanks so much for listening.

Rick