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

Hello Hessel,

 

A good pressure pad should give you full sound after 1/4 turn only of the adjustment screw.  You then add the extra pressure and we now use 1/2 a turn.  If your pressure pad comes in r e a l l y slowly, say a full turn or two full turns to get the sound prior to the final adjustment, you could be hearing physical drag.  I will send out the correct pressure pad shape.  This is a guide only as it all depends on each head which do vary slightly.  We suspect a lot of pressure pads are slow at coming in and the end result is an over adjusted pinchroller and that classic heavy feel mellotron keyboard.   Incidentally, a good roller should come up to full speed between 1/4 and 1/2 turn before the final pressure of 1 full turn.  ALWAYS ADJUST YOUR PAD FIRST AS THE ROLLER HAS TO FIGHT THAT DRAG.  You have been warned. 

 

These instructions do not apply to matt black backed tapes which are a frigging nightmare.   House bricks or lead off the church roof can help in these circumstances.

 

Best,

 

Martin