What a project! You can do it, Frank! All the chassis parts look ok, but BOY it was abused! I see it has a decent motor controller, and the red switch cap is intact. I look forward to seeing your new cabinet. Will it be classic in dimensions, or something new? What is the serial number of this unit? -Bruce D. --- On Mon, 2/28/11, lsf5275@aol.com <lsf5275@aol.com> wrote:
From: lsf5275@aol.com <lsf5275@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Freddy Fender Mellotron
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, February 28, 2011, 1:46 PM
Cello, Strings, Flute. I'm guessing M400 Strings but he doesn't know and I haven't heard either frame because it don't work. I've already started tearing it apart. Since I don't have another 400 around at this time, I'll have to wait a bit to hear the tapes. I'm going to build it a new cabinet. The plan for now is to build it out of all MDF or a combination of MDF and Baltic Birch plywood. Frank In a message dated 2/28/2011 3:29:14 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, tspit74@comcast.net writes:
Cool Frank. Just out of curiosity, what tape set did this Leo character have loaded into his tron? ----- Original Message ----- From: lsf5275@aol.com To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 1:53:09 PM Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Freddy Fender Mellotron From right here on the list. A few week ago Matt Meixner popped up with one to sell. I drove out to Milwaukee the weekend before last and picked it up. Matt also has a Mark VI with four tape frames. I can't verify for dead certain this is that machine unless Leo can find his purchase receipt or until I can complete the link to Matt. I have to verify one more transaction. The odds are likely that this is it, but I'm working to be sure. Otherwise, I'll have to say is "might" be the one. In a message dated 2/28/2011 12:30:57 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, gabru@comsec.net writes: Nice find Frank. How did you acquire it?
Gary
From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lsf5275@aol.com
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 9:22 AM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [new mellotrongroup] Re: Freddy Fender Mellotron It appears that I have acquired the actual Mellotron that was used on the 1974 recording session in which Freddy Fender re-recorded Wasted Days and Wasted Nights, which went on to be a big hit. It was owned and played by a man named Leo O'neil, who was actually a horn player. I tracked Leo down and he gave me some history. He says he also played it live quite a bit and told me the one night Patrick Moraz was in the audience at one of Leo's gigs. It was after a Moody Blues show and Patrick came out and caught his show. Afterward, Leo says that Patrick came up to him and complimented him on his playing style and on the sound he was getting out of it. Leo attributes his skill on the Mellotron to the fact that as a horn player he was used to playing fewer notes and to holding them for brief periods. He said his playing style was, "to use only one or two fingers down low and the one finger an octave or more above, and to move around on the keyboard so as not to run the tape out." I only have to trace one more link and I'll know for sure that this is that machine. It's a real mess, but it will get better.
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