I'm slowly acquiring the know how to coax something like that back into life. At the least, I could halt the deterioration and make it play safe while I save up for the full overhaul.
Where have you seen them over the years? Are they all stored away in our major metro areas? I remember us talking briefly about the one you saw in Stockton or Lodi or somewhere in that area.
I've hit up pretty much every place I can think of in Fresno and Visalia, and a few in the outlying towns. Even found out about Venturi's House of Music in Madera. They have somewhere between 4 and 5 dozen accordions in there, and an ancient Hammond spinet in the window. The guy running it has never even heard of a Mellotron before I walked in.
I'm slightly amused at the moment with the vast difference in Mellotron hunting and Hammond hunting. One of Dinuba's barbers (part time musician) has a C-3 in his church in Orosi, but doesn't want to dick with moving it around. Another Dinuba musician had a B-3 but sold it a decade or so ago. There's one in Hanford that's been for sale for several years on craigslist because they guy won't come down from some abhorrent price like $7K or something. There's an A-100 in Fresno's SW side. There's another B-3 in Bakersfield.
Not a Melly in sight. They all seem to be in LA or the Bay. :(
-Sean
--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Gary Brumm <gabru@...> wrote:
>
> Sean,
>
> They are out here....in California. I have seen many (over the years) and unless they have been junked or sold out of state you will find one deteriorating in the back room of a studio somewhere. SIR probably has some in deep storage. I have seen eBay listings
> in California for them. The problem is that if you aren't equipped with the knowledge or funds to restore it you will just have a
> pile of junk. If you can go to the NAMM Show in January there will probably be one of the new ones on display to play.
> Frank can take a pile of junk and make it like (better than) new but it's a lot of work and expensive......as quality and craftsmanship
> tend to be. Good luck in your search........ :)
>
> g
>
>
> From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Sean
> Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 12:49 PM
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Tron hunting, for dummies, or at least, me
>
>
>
> Of course I'd like to pick up a used 'tron.
>
> Now that we're all done laughing! :)
>
> Those of you that have been successful, how'd you do it? I've been scouring thrift stores, consignment stores, music shops, talking to music shop owners, organists, and posting on facebook walls for these music shops.
>
> I'm hoping, like a fool probably, that California is a big place and there may be one or two unaccounted for 'trons in the state, probably in bad condition. Hopefully in the possession of someone who doesn't value it much and will let it go for a bargain.
>
> Of course, I may just be high as a kite or something.
>
> Thanks
>
> -Sean
>