Mellotronists

On Jan 18, 2005, at 4:37 PM, Jerry Korb wrote:

> An assembled MK-II or MK-II weighs-in at 360 lb.
> Add an additional 50-80 lb. for road-case and you're talking serious
> hernia here !
>
>  Jimmy's SFX/6 might need to be partially disassembled to ease 
> transport
> to the basement. Power-pack weighs about 70 lb, top-lid and back
> panels can be removed,etc.  Will bring the weight down to 225-250 lb.
> A three-person move.
>
>  The less stairs the better. Via  a bulkhead door or similar.
> If the Tron is secured with 2" straps , and planking laid on stairs,
> 2-3 people can help guide it down s-l-o-w-l-y to avoid a crashing-end !
>
>  My tuppence worth,gang.   --JK--

I lugged my SFX all over hell's half acre for a few years and that 
involved going up and down a lot of stairs since many clubs were not at 
street level. Now mind you, when we were doing this, we were in our 
early 20s and had 2 experienced roadies to help. Yes, they are very 
heavy and somewhat unwieldy (I'm referring to trons here, but the same 
could be said for roadies), but if you know the right way to pick heavy 
things up, it's a lot easier. I have taken the SFX up a two-flight 
stairway with one other person, although that was NOT fun. Stairs 
(unless they're very cramped) are better done with 4 people.

A Roll-or-Kari would work just fine and allows 4 people to lift it much 
easier, although I think I'd rather do it without the Kari if I had to 
move it with one other person (see next paragraph). A Roll-or-Kari 
would also work with a flight case (using the flight case wheels, 
though, rather than the ones on the Kari), because the arms on the Kari 
are easier to lift from than the handles on a flight case.

The straps Ken talks about are what piano movers use. I've seen two 
rather short guys using a pair of these straps pick up a concert grand 
piano and carry it with no problem at all. Those things weigh 600 
pounds! Now mind you, both these guys were pros and had forearms like 
Popeye. Lifting straps are a good investment for moving very heavy 
things and they do work.

Jerry's suggestion of removing the power pack is a good one if the move 
is a 1-time thing. (I wouldn't want to take it in and out every time it 
was moved for a gig.)

What's the easiest way to lift one of these suckers up? Crouch down 
slightly, tilt the tron forward with one hand just under the keyboard 
and slip your other hand under the back where it's off the ground. Now 
stand up by flexing your legs, NEVER your back. Slide the hand that's 
under the keyboard down to the bottom (your shoulder against the 
keyboard can help stabilize the tron) and you should be able to hold it 
comfortably. This is all assuming that you're capable of holding around 
200 lbs for several minutes. The secret, though, is tilting to get one 
hand underneath. This is the way movers always pick up heavy items. 
It's way easier to lift, and holding it by the bottom means that your 
legs are much more free to move. When you hold a tron low (one hand 
under the keyboard and one under the backboard [back panel is off for 
this], you'll only make it harder to move around, unless you like 
barking your shins. After you've done this a few times, you'll be 
inclined to laugh at all those whinging sods complaining about moving a 
measly 400!

Now the smartest thing that Jimmy could do is have several husky lads 
on hand to help him move his SFX. This is what I now do, being older 
and wiser. Then he can stand around and bark orders, while enjoying a 
frosty beer or other fine beverage. My darling wife and I were very 
clever, planning ahead for just this sort of thing by having two husky 
lads (both over six feet and very strong). They're quite good at moving 
trons now -- when they can avoid arguing over the best way to do it.

As for lifting the tron into its road case, the tilt and lift makes it 
a snap. I've actually gotten it into the case with just my wife and me 
-- although she is quite strong. (She gave JB two black eyes once when 
he got a bit fresh and threatened to chuck him in the River Blith.)

That's MY ten bob's worth.

Rick