In a message dated 12/6/2007 6:41:02 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, rick@rickblechta. com writes:
I
sometimes get the impression that mellotrons
mechanical nature and all the problems that go with it
are actually part of its charm for a lot of owners.
Sorry, mine never give me any problems once I learned how to make them right. The pitch doesn't drift. Tapes don't waver or get stuck. All notes sound clear. No "wobblies" Nothing.
Mellotrons were designed to be reliable. Why would anyone sell a machine that would not be so? The original owners manual explained how to maintain them. Anyone who paid attention could have averted the kinds of problems that have come to define them over the years. Once the SMS 2 was fitted, the Mellotron really came into its own. I have dragged my Mellotrons to show after show, recording session after recording session with no problems.
My old mighty 1562 has recently been sold to a recording studio in New York. I bought their shitty one from them. 1562 is being recorded for the new My Morning Jacket CD tonight and through the weekend. It is stone reliable and is doing what it was built to do. It is my understanding that Dr. John (Mac Rebenac) is coming to record it as well.
Since I acquired #386 from the buyer of #1562, all the bugs have been worked out of it and it sounds great. Once the cabinet is done, it too will go out and play reliably.
Frank II