Mellotronists

Hello,

I'm trying to un-screw an EMI box.  Yeah, I know, but the owner needs it 
done ASAP, and I'm the only one who can look into it right now.

I have squared the frame as best I can and have tried to make sure the tape 
path is straight.  I have been spending quite a bit of time trying to 
adjust the keyboard---it's stubborn.  And there's a nice pitch drop, a-la 
CMC-10, but this has an SMS-5.

1) Does anyone have information about adjusting the SMS-5?  I suspect it's 
not exactly picking up the speed the way it should.  I will check the tach 
head and make sure it's adjusted properly---one thing I didn't do.

2) The EMI has a brass capstan.  I suspect deflection could be causing some 
grief (especially with a bunch of notes), but it seems more like the motor 
controller because it's all notes---yes, there are wobblies caused, but the 
overall pitch drops a tiny bit when you press down 5 or 6 notes or so.

3) I checked and have been diddling with the belt tension.

4) I continue to adjust the keyboard.  "Uncertain" notes (not quite wobbly, 
but you know it's thinking about it) are common.  Playing wide chords 
reveals them, close triads seem not to.

5) The tapes (Kean) are suspect because of the wear and possibly being 
stored in an unfavorable environment, but they're probably good enough to 
work with, as they played OK in #805.  Other tape sets ("brick red" 
Streetly set and my Kean set) do play better in the EMI but show some of 
the above symptoms to a lesser degree.

6) Close triads seem to be OK.  BUT when you start opening up the chords 
and pressing down a few more notes, things start sounding quite out of tune 
or tenuous---some wobblies, some things just plain out of tune.

Sooo...Could be a combination of squaring, rollers, motor controller, 
knackered tapes---hey, isn't that, like, EVERYTHING?  :-)

If there are any EMI M400 experts in the house who can help here, please 
give me a shout.  Martin has been helpful (as usual), but it's the "trial 
and error" instruction in his e-mail that has me stumped.  :-)  Anyone else 
out there familiar with un-screwing an EMI?  (I wouldn't be working on this 
myself, but there's a rush, and I was the only one in the area who could 
help at the moment.)

If you want to cause hearing damage...uhh, I mean if you want to hear the 
damage...and see add'l info:

http://www.kleonard.com/emi/emi.htm

Thanks for any insight.

...kl...

M400 #805 - [feeling used, not talkin']
M400 #1037 - [needs parts, not talkin']
EMI E4 #103S - [just visiting, not behavin'  :-) ]

* Ken Leonard - Web ToC at http://www.kleonard.com
** Into the outdoors? - http://www.GONewEngland.org