Yeah, I get that but these things have no wider context than they are a bit of fluff on the NAMM floor and a tool for one or more nuts.
gw
On Thu, Jan 26, 2012 at 6:58 PM, John Hammaren
<hammaren@geoconcepts.com> wrote:
Re: “I know that nobody on the list is likely to agree with me but one of the main charms of the mellotron is that it isn't in tune with itself or anything else”
Couldn’t agree more. Half the stuff I listen to old and new has little issues with tuning, obviously with vocals for the most part. I get a kick out of venues like ‘American Idol’ that lambast people for ‘pitchiness’. Gee, anyone see Steven Tyler sing the national anthem the other day. Quite disgraceful, and I’m not even talking about that because it was the anthem, but more for the fact that even the tone deaf players were cringing. The guy has balls if he took money for that. When I saw Clapton and Winwood a few years back, I left the arena quite disappointed. Why? The concert was perfect, right down to the solos that started and stopped beautifully with the MIDI cues. On the other hand, I saw Greg Rollie (aka Santana/Journey) in SF last summer in a small club. It was fucking excellent. One piano, and one blues guitar. That’s what this shit is supposed to be about. Pardon my French. He’s no crooner, but knows his limits, unlike Steven, who appears to be headed for another ‘vacation’ if the singing was any indication. BTW, sometimes I think my Tron is not pitchy enough, so a little flanging and chorus through the Eventide, and I am there. Sorry for the tome(s). I haven’t posted in a while. Cheers.
There seems to a lot of argument as to which type of tuning Bach intended, it may not have been equal temperament as we know it. However I wasn't particularly astounded by the sounds either although it's a nice looking instrument and must have involved a lot of work.
I know that nobody on the list is likely to agree with me but one of the main charms of the mellotron is that it isn't in tune with itself or anything else.
Mark
Okay, I am usually in sync with esoteric stuff like this, but please, someone help me here. I suppose I find myself in the minority or perhaps this is one time where I ‘don’t get it’, but I am not seeing the wow factor here. Maybe it was the laptop speakers, and who doesn’t enjoy a hymn (hmm….), but the demo didn’t exactly knock me out. For those with perfect pitch, I understand that JS Bach’s contribution to temperament may have its downside, but for us mere mortals, I found the sound hollow and about as interesting as Schoenberg. Okay, I can be narrow and certainly set in my ways when it comes to music, but can someone tell me what I missed, or is anyone else perhaps feeling similarly. I am not knocking the instrument – clearly a lot of effort and I can only imagine what this thing would or does cost. I also wish he would have spent more time describing the bells and whistles.
Just my $.02. Of course, of many who have seen my Tron, I’m sure some would be bewildered if they knew the investment I made in something forty years young and the costs and efforts that went along with that.
Best regards to all,
John
Looks ridiculous is hugely cool
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"All music is folk music; I ain't never heard no horse sing a song."
Audio Production, Logistics, Analog Synthesizers, Sound Design
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"All music is folk music; I ain't never heard no horse sing a song."
Louis Armstrong
Gino Wong Birgelo
BSComm, BSEE, CG, CSEC
Audio Production, Logistics, Analog Synthesizers, Sound Design