Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Mellotronists

 

David Jacques wrote:

So I adjusted my keyboard via the Mellotron adjustmentinstructions and
now one of my keys is sticking. What's the best way to relieve this
problem?
 

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Hello David and Gang,  No problem. We've all seen this
either by choice orchance.  Start-over. Back-out on both
screws until the tapedoesn't move.  Turn the rear screw
(pinch-roller) slowlyClockwise with key depressed,until
you see movement oftape.

This is my method,aslight variation from the std. procedure,
but seems to work.Once you see tape moving,start to turn
the front screw (pad-arm)slowly clockwise,until you hear
a sound. It'll soundlike a tortured cat ( sorry,ASCPA)
at first.  Ithen turn the rear screw again 2 turns
further clockwise,and the front screw again further clockwise,
until the sound isstable. If you go too far,the tape will
not move or key willstick again.

The final goal is tohave the tape moving steady over the
full 8-seconds,andat the same time,uniform sound quality.
If pinch-roller istoo weak,the tape will begin to stall near
the end of its travel.If the pad-arms are too strong,will
stall the tape. I've seen many a tape with wear-marks where
it meets the capstan,becauseof some poorly adj. screws.
Even  my friendLarry "Synergy" Fast's M400/725 Tron.

I must also fess-uphere too. In 1975,being full of  daring,
I readj. the screwson my new M400. Result? Wrapped three
tapes around the capstan.Happened to many of us.

Again, this is my ownprocedure. When I set-up the keys
of Mark-One "Julia,"I only required 1-turn CW on the
rollers,and 3/4 turnCW on the pads. Combination of the
Streetly tapes,andfully moveable guide-rollers on the
MK1/2/SFX models.

Comments are invited.Wearing my flak-jacket just in case.
-- Jerry Korb --