Yes, there is a pitch bend knob on the machine which works surprisingly
well. Most M1 Chamberlins (if not all) will have the pitch bend knob but
they're not all equally precise. Regarding live use - they never toured with
it. They only used it once and it basically sat for 15 years. For touring,
Joe had two of those Korg synths that had the patch cords (I can't remember
the numbers). He would do the string sounds on those, or they use real
cellists/violinists which is what they were really after.
That was why they initially purchased the Chamberlin. They wanted real
strings in the background and someone recommended using a tape replay
instrument to them. It's also why they had their own string section tapes
done. They wanted more to have the sound of real strings and not something
that sounded like a stock Mellotron or Chamberlin.
Chris
----- Original Message -----
From: "charel196" <charel196@...>
To: <Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 31, 2004 3:38 PM
Subject: [Mellotronists] Re: Gino Vannelli NIGHTWALKER
> Hi Chris
> thanks for that!An answer to a long time quest for me...I always
> suspected Chamberlin because it sounded "too real" for a tron.I
> thought I recognized the cellos too.(Like Pinder used on "Isn't Life
> Strange").There's even some pitch bending on "Santa Rosa".Did this
> unit have a pitch knob installed? I thought that wasn't standard on
> Chamberlins.
> Did they ever tour with it? Charles
>
>
>
> --- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Dale" <chris.dale@p...>
> wrote:
> > strolling in late...sorry Rick!
> >
> >
> > Yes, it is a Chamberlin, one of the very last ones made. In the
> final days
> > of the Chamberlin company, Harry and Richard were making and
> selling them
> > from their garage once again. Gino and Joe bought the Chamberlin
> directly
> > out of the garage after placing an advance order. This one was made
> in 1980
> > or early 81 and was only used on the Nightwalker album. After that
> it was
> > retired to a corner of the studio and never used again.
> >
> > Joe played all the string parts with the standard cello and violin
> sounds.
> > They also had a series of custom string section tapes made for it
> as well,
> > and though these sound wonderful (and quite different) I don't
> remember
> > hearing them on the album. Joe doesn't recall where he used them
> either. The
> > most beautiful sounds on it are a series of harp sounds which were
> never
> > sold as part of the Chamberlin library. I wonder if Harry was doing
> > everything he could at that point to keep the company going.
> >
> > I think the song most played on radio from the album is "Living
> Inside
> > Myself". Good use of the instrument "up front" for once too.
> >
> >
> > Chris
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Rick Blechta" <rick@r...>
> > To: "Mellotronist's List" <Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 7:05 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Gino Vannelli NIGHTWALKER
> >
> >
> > > We're sure to hear from Chris Dale on this. It's a Chamberlin and
> he
> > > owns it (having bought it from Joe Vanelli). And now, ladies and
> > > gentleman, Mister Chrrrrrriisss Dale... (cue the guy from Windsor)
> > >
> > > Rick
> > >
> > > PS Markus, I think that was a pretty definitive statement on the
> fake
> > > mellotron. Thanks. And keep us informed, please.
> > >
> > > On Friday, January 30, 2004, at 06:28 PM, charel196 wrote:
> > >
> > > > Just pulled this one out last night and there's some great...I
> would
> > > > guess...Chamberlin strings all over it(not sure who played
> it).No
> > > > mention in the credits but it sure sounds like either a
> Chamberlin or
> > > > a tron.
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > > To visit your group on the web, go to:
> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mellotronists/
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > Mellotronists-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> > >
> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> > > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mellotronists/
>
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>
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>
>
>