Hi, welcome to the interesting world of mellotron ownership. These things are not cheap, not for nothing is the mellotron symposium in Canada called Moneypit! There can be a wide range of opinion as to what they should sound like, if you are happy with the sound, I wouldn't worry. ( well not too much)
I ordered a new frame and tape set from Martin last year and it was 470 pounds UK. The new frames are a big improvement on the old. You might find, ok you will find that you have to do a lot of work on the pads, springs and rollers to make new tapes play properly as almost certainly the keyboard adjustment will be way out. If you want a perfect tron, the whole thing probably needs to be taken apart and rebuilt! A lot depends on how you want it to sound and how much time, effort and money you want to put into it. Buying one is just the beginning.
Your tapes might not be as old as you think, my machine ( #1565) came with old but surprisingly good tapes but I know that they are not the originals.
If you want to play in a band with it, you probably need to replace the CM10 controller, I haven't on mine yet, as I generally play it solo, on switch on it does take 5-10 minutes for the pitch to settle and it does have a tendency to drift a little off pitch but it is quite stable on playing chords, so I can live with it. I believe that the new controller does put a bit more strain on the motor and new motors are expensive!
The main thing is that it's worth it, after 18 months I still get that "Good God I own a mellotron" feeling whenever I see or play mine.
Good Luck
Mark
PS The azimuth on the tape heads will probably need adjusting, not a job for the faint hearted! Probably better to pay some one who knows how to do it.
--- On Wed, 7/1/09, DaSwans <tspit74@comcast.net> wrote:
From: DaSwans <tspit74@comcast.net>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] New tape frame and tapes from Streetly...
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday,
July 1, 2009, 6:41 AM
Anybody know what these cost? I've had the freakin' thing for 3 days and I'm already trying to figure out more ways to spend money I don't have on an instrument I couldn't afford. I'm sick! But that's why I'm here with all the other sickos.
I must have choir.., must have brass.., must have... must have... um... hmmm... What's a good 3rd voice? Oh, now I know. The new string section! Something tells me a new rack of tapes is more than I spent on the tron. So anyone know for sure?
I'm assuming old frames with old choir tapes don't come up for sale often. I'd always be open to such an option. It's not like I mind the 35 year old tapes I have now (flute, 3 violins, cello).