Mellotronists

Now the hollow festivities are gone.......hello.

I want to wish Nic all the best in restoring his three Birotrons, or even in 
restoring one!  Hell on earth if you ask us.  The most tedious bit was 
relacing the 8 track cartridges.  No, in fact it was all tedious.  Trying to 
get good head contact meant manufacturing new pad assemblies that wouldn't 
break down over the next few years as did the originals.  8 track cartridge 
pads turned to goo, went flat and eventually did bugger all.  We replaced the 
original sounds with 'tron samples as the masters need to be baked before we 
can use them.  Ampex 456 is another collosal pain in the sphincter department 
and once it has been cooked gently, you then have about 48 hours to archive.  
Having said that, once you've heard a Birotron master you'll never criticise 
a mellotron recording ever again.  The sad thing is that we have snippets of 
the original studio recordings and these were very nicely recorded but 
then........god only knows what went on but the 1" loops are just appalling.  
Of course the fatal flaw of the Birotron is there is no azimuth adjustment on 
the playback heads so whatever angle they sit at, that's as good as it will 
ever be.  I think the most dismal aspect of Birotron restoration is that it 
still sounds terrible after weeks of effort.  A deep reverb is the only way 
to listen to the fruit of your labours.  You just cannot take the dry sound 
that eminates seriously.  However, after all is said and done, they were 
remarkably well built, very sturdy and a great way to lose 250,000 pounds 
sterling back in 1975.

Nic, if you want to speak to Peter Robinson then call Packhorse Flightcases 
in Peterborough.  He may ask to borrow 50 quid to mend the shed though.

Moist and quivering at a year of possibilities,

Martin
<A HREF="http://www.members.aol.com/tronbros/index.htm">Streetly Electronics - all things MELLOTRONIC</A> - click this link..........

US East Coast Agent: Jimmy Moore - JMoore6397@...