Mellotronists

> From: "Mark Wallis" <markstuartwallis@...>
   > Sender: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
   > 
   > The number of trons on the planet is quite low, not everybody who
   > would really like one can afford one..
   >
   > Every time an M400 comes up on Ebay at least 10 people try to buy
   > it. So 9 are disappointed.

So it's down to price then; you just want one cheap.  Gee, that's just
being greedy.  :-)

I'm well aware that the number of 'trons on the planet is quite low,
but that doesn't change the fact that the demand is also very low.  If
the demand increases, than MA and Streetly can ramp up production and
enjoy the profits.  And that would be great.  But if the demand isn't
enough to cover production costs plus profit for the guys doing the
work, then the demand really is not there.

   > I was celebrating the availability of Tronsounds to the Tronless,
   > because the music comes first, apparently. Denying them access to
   > the astral chords is what I was describing as a form of
   > fascism. 

I'm not denying anybody anything.  Mellotron samples have been
available for over 25 years, just as samples of all other instruments
have been available, and I'm not going to be telling anybody what to
use.  Neither am I interested in putting sampler companies out of
business.  I don't actually blame the sampler companies, they're just
riding the market.

If anybody, I'd blame the musicians.  The ones who refuse to pay more
for a better instrument, the ones who refuse to lift an instrument
that weighs more than a few pounds, and the ones who won't buy it
unless it has 10,000 patches and plays by computer.  And I'd blame the
music industry which is much more eager to promote goofy turntable
spinners than keyboard players.

   > The Electro-mechanical Rhodes is once again in production. The
   > Clavinet seems a likely contender for reanimation, given it's
   > comparative simplicity.

The new Rhodes is not available for puchase yet, so I wouldn't say
it's fully "in production".  I'm hopeful, of course, that it will be a
great instrument and a great success.  I agree that the simplicity of
the Clavinet affords a lot of potential, but I see nothing to indicate
actual production.

  -- Don

-- 
Don Tillman
Palo Alto, California
don@...
http://www.till.com