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Subject: RE: [Mellotronists] Weird hum

From: Gene Stopp <gene@...>
Date: 2003-02-12

Hey Mattias,

I think it's jealous of yer other instruments and it's trying to come up
with some new sounds. One of my trons revolted like this recently so I
proceeded to lecture all three of them, pointing out how badly that one was
behaving, and threatened it with a screwdriver. This apparently did not sink
in quite enough so I made good with my threat and removed the control panel
assembly, turned it over, unscrewed the lid, removed the 2 circuit boards,
and cleaned their edge connectors with a good pencil eraser lashing followed
by some alcohol swabbing. After reassembly the problem was gone. I have been
around these beasts for long enough that I just use my gut feel and I'm
usually right.

Now yer problem may be diff'rent, so I cain't guarantee that this is it, but
it sure sounds similar. Somethin to try anyway, and it should at least show
him that you mean business. Hope it's not a supply cap or rectifier, that
would mean surgery.

Not the first edge connector problem I've seen... two of the three that I
have had tape speed maxed out when I went to look at them, so they were
obviously broken, so the owners were selling them cheap.

First time, I got it home and took it all apart, to look for failed
components on the speed controller card. No problems found, put it back
together, and it worked! I figured it was a dirty connection on the capstan
motor tachometer tape head signal back to the speed controller. Second tron
I bought, same problem, got it home and zeroed in on the speed controller
edge connector, cleaned it, worked like a champ. The moral of the story is
keep your edge connectors clean and always suspect them if something goes
wrong (either that or stay firm with your trons and show them who's boss by
periodically taking bits of them apart).

Best Regards,

- Gene

M400S #1023
M400S #1213
M400S #1289


-----Original Message-----
From: Mattias Olsson [mailto:mattias.olsson5@...]
Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 2003 1:30 PM
To: mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Mellotronists] Weird hum


Hi !

I hada worrying experience today...Turned on my tron and after 3-4 minutes I
started to get a loud bass hum and then something that resembled
Ringmodulation/distortion....

I am getting a bit worried about the Electricity in my Studio...

Any ideas ?

// Mattias

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