Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Mellotronists

previous by date index next by date
previous in topic topic list  

Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: ebay trons

From: Ken Leonard <ken@...>
Date: 2005-01-23

>Ask yourself these questions: "Do I really believe that this tron was
>working properly when it was stored, given that the "business end" of
>this machine was in need of repair?" - "...and what about that
>motor?!!" Just do the math: rollers, tapes, motor, tubes, and other
>misc. parts = BIG BUCKS... but here is the money question: "When it is
>possible to buy a new one for just over 5 grand, why take the chance on
>a "pig in a poke?""

Nope, not sour grapes, but, yep, reality - take it from someone who picked
up such an item knowing it would take some work and wound up replacing the
motor in addition to the usual stuff. Nowadays with the US$ exchange rate
it can add up quickly.

But even with the extra dosh thrown in for the motor, it was still
cost-effective (relatively speaking), considering I can do much of the work
myself. But I don't have a spiffy new machine with a warranty, of course,
and it plays like an old Mellotron.

Basically these things ARE fixable if you have enough good stuff
there. Many times it's replacing the CMC-10 and a few rollers. If you
wind up with an EMI or a badly-treated unit, it could get a bit more
costly. If it's a Mark II...well, I wouldn't tackle one myself. I'd bring
it to Vermont. :-)

...kl...
M400 #805 - decidedly not spiffy
M400 #1037 - decidedly mousy