Archive of the former Yahoo!Groups mailing list: The Mellotron Group

The pic was actually taken the day after.

Id love to play a modular atNearfest...But Ill probably not bring mine.

I have a stranded Orchestron in New York I could bring if you could fix it for the gig ?

And you are welcome anytime to come hang out and noodle.

I havent spoken to Markus about not being active but this list is quite tilted towards the Streetly customers. I know there are people on the list who have bought and ordered stuff from him. But every time he is mentioned or his products

people generally only take the time to say bad things or immediately praise Streetly in a way that seems kind of ridiculous. I believe there can be two companies working in tha same field.  

I would never say anything bad about Streetly or their products. I have no doubts that they are doing great things but I am the kind of person that unless I have tried it myself I wont say anything. This also means that I wont be spreading second hand opinions or impressions just to create or fuel negative rumours or hype.

Markus is doing very well with his Mark VI and VII and selling tapeframes using the entire tape library of Chamberlin and Mellotron sounds. This new digital version of a Mellotron sounds to me like a great idea (wall wart or not) and a

practical solution for working musicians.

After carrying two 400s, an optigan, Two drumkits, Fender bass piano, Celeste, Wurlitzer electric piano, a Modular system and a case of classical percussion yesterday my back is agreeing with his idea as well.

The Mellotron “community” is a great one but as you all know the future probably isnt with us. Probably 70 - 80% of Mellotron owners take it out to play the intro of Strawberry Fields Forever or Bungalow Bill at the party and then use it

occasionaly for recording or for a bit of fun at home. A bit like a vintage car. A bit like Harry Chamberlins original Idea.

I hold classes and seminars at my studio a couple a times a year. I show them and talk about the development of synthesizers and the story of the Mellotron starting with the chamberlin rhythmate. I have a hard time seeing any of those kids

rushing out to buy a Mellotron or hunt down a Rhythmate but they might download some sounds off the net. The kids of today arent really that interested in the furniture/formica part.

Having a unit with pretty much all of the usable sounds in a small lightweight package with a real Mellotron keyboard for a fairly low price seems like a good solution for touring musicians and session people who want the real sound of the

Mellotron. Something tells me that this might also lead to more people using odder and weirder sounds than just the strings, choirs, flutes, brass.

I know I wont be selling my hardware anytime soon and I probably wont be using samples as long as I own them but when I am touring and flying a lot with Gösta Berlings saga, Vera Vinter or Akaba I know I wont be bringing any of my machines.

Best regards,

Mattias

Also another interesting fact is that everyone seems to think that their Mellotron sounds exactly like everyone elses...I have two Mellotrons side by side in the studio and they dont sound the same when shifting tapes around. Is there such a thing as a Mellotron Standard...?





Den 2011-01-22 14.35, skrev "lsf5275@aol.com" <lsf5275@aol.com>:

 
 
   

Mattias,
 
My comment about Markus not saying anything is along the lines of, "...it takes two hands to clap." I don't believe he feels it's worth the time.
 
By the way, very cool band setup. Will you be bringing the Modular to NEARfest? Can I play with it? Where's the audience?
 
Frank
 
In a message dated 1/22/2011 5:27:00 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Mattias.olsson5@comhem.se writes:

  
 

Of couse not.

Its better this way.  

...and noone on this list is probably interested in such a machine  anyway.

Btw when was the last time anyone on the list toured with their  Mellotrons ?

// Mattias

Added a pic from Thursday nights show.  Playing live to Fritz Langs Metropolis..

Den 2011-01-22 08.35, skrev  "MAinPsych@aol.com" <MAinPsych@aol.com>:

 
 
   

In a  message dated 1/21/2011 3:31:03 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, lsf5275@aol.com  writes:

Well alright then!
 
 
 
But I  must admit that I haven't heard a peep from the mouth of Mr.   Resch... at least not on this or the other group  list.

It's just as well.  Do we really want another  major flame war?