Thanks Mark. That's $780 today. Since I'm only able to sell one kidney, I'm gonna have to think long and hard about what my choice for a 3rd voice should be. Only get one chance to get it right.
I'm sure it's worth it though. I was up past midnight spacing out playing "Hairless Heart" from The Lamb, on the 3 violins with my Pro-One on top. What a sound!
Dan #857
--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, markpringnz@... wrote:
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> 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)
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> 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.
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> 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.
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> 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!
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> 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.
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> Good Luck
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> Mark
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> 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.
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> --- On Wed, 7/1/09, DaSwans <tspit74@...> wrote:
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> From: DaSwans <tspit74@...>
> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] New tape frame and tapes from Streetly...
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Wednesday,
> July 1, 2009, 6:41 AM
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> 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.
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> 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?
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> 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).
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