Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: Mellotronists

 

tron@... wrote:

> Concerning the tape widths: Somebody posted thatMA’s tapes were
> slightly wider than standard in Gordon’s test. That is not correct.MA
> has been supplying 100’s of M400 tape sets that we have cut ourselves
> since the early 90’s, so naturally we know what width will fit the400.
> The MkVI has very exactly cut guides, so naturally it needs tapesthat
> are  precision-cut to 3/8 inch.

Can I offer contrary opinion here? DK sent me a set of tapes about four
years ago whose width varied wildly across the length of the tape and
through which on track A I could hear mostly A but partly B, on B I
could hear some B with a smattering of C and on C I could hear mostly
nothing at all. Several of the tapes stuck in the guides and many of
them appeared to have been manually trimmed. In David's defence hegave
me the tapes for nothing but to tell me and everyone here that
'naturally we know what width will fit the 400' is simply not borneout
by experience. I still have the tape reels here and can supply scansto
the group on request if I am to be disbelieved.

FWIW, when we spoke I found David to be a very likeable and personable
chap. It seems that his greatest wish was to have a sit down and achat
over a beer with John Bradley.

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/

---

Greetings All,

I once had a set of DK M400 tapes in a used frame
purchased in the late 1990s. They travelled thru the combs just fine,
but my major objection was the  excess adjustments needed on the
pads/rollers .  I too experienced uneven sound from note-to-note.

In DK's defence as well, that tape stock (matte black)
is not used anymore.   I also heard rumours that a majorMellotron
owner/collector in Montreal ripped-out useless MK-II rhythm/fill
tapes (matte black tape) in frustration,  because of uneven tapewidths.
Imminent disaster if attempting cycling  at 30 IPS.

My M300 #037 was fitted with DK bespoke sounds when I purchased
it in 1997.  To maintain originality, I re-installed original"B" series tapes
in the unit.

These days, both Streetly and  Markus supply blended tapes
and tape stock with characteristics of those used umpteen years ago.
Each camp has built and supplied its own frames for old/new models.
Nothing the matter with that, bottom-line is that the "customers must
be kept satisfied."  (misquote from Simon & Garfunkel).

"Competition breeds improvement." (quote Henry Ford c. 1915)

Cheers, -- JK --