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Tron on Ebay...

Re: [Mellotronists] Tron on Ebay...

2007-03-06 by The Franz Family

I don't think so, but it has a bid!
Jeff
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----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 9:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Tron on Ebay...

Yeah!
But does it have Mike Pinder's signature... .?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 9:57 PM
Subject: [Mellotronists] Tron on Ebay...

Re: Tron on Ebay...

2007-03-06 by john barrick

Picture 9 of 12 in the listing shows why one note doesn't play. The
pad arm is missing (it looks like the high E). Are missing pad arms
easy to replace? And to David Jacques - sorry for the emails on this
- it's this damned REPLY/REPLY ALL bit on this list that I have
trouble getting the hang of...
john b



--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "The Franz Family" <franzs@...>
wrote:
>
> I don't think so, but it has a bid!
>
> Jeff
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jim & Janet Strauss
> To: Mellotron List ; David Jacques
> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 9:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Tron on Ebay...
>
>
>
> Yeah!
>
> But does it have Mike Pinder's signature....?
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Jacques
> To: Mellotron List
> Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 9:57 PM
> Subject: [Mellotronists] Tron on Ebay...
>
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem
>
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150098676295&fromMakeTra
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> ck=true> &item=150098676295&fromMakeTrack=true
>

Re: Tron on Ebay...

2007-03-06 by john barrick

DUh! Sorry that's probably the low F# as the keyboard is upside down.
I get there eventually....

john b

Show quoted textHide quoted text
--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "john barrick" <astroboy@...> wrote:
>
> Picture 9 of 12 in the listing shows why one note doesn't play. The
> pad arm is missing (it looks like the high E).

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Tron on Ebay...

2007-03-07 by john barrick

Duhhhh, G#.....eventually (extra stupid today). Anyway, the tron in
question is at Echo Park, a recording studio in Bloomington, Indiana and
has serial number 1221. Apparently been used on some John Mellencamp
recordings...
john b



john barrick wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> DUh! Sorry that's probably the low F# as the keyboard is upside down.
> I get there eventually....
>
> john b
>
>
>
>

Re: Tron on Ebay...

2007-03-10 by charel196

from one of the pics it looks like an SMS board in there (the big heat sinks) someone
should tell the guy (I don't have an ebay account)





Show quoted textHide quoted text
--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, john barrick <astroboy@...> wrote:
>
> Duhhhh, G#.....eventually (extra stupid today). Anyway, the tron in
> question is at Echo Park, a recording studio in Bloomington, Indiana and
> has serial number 1221. Apparently been used on some John Mellencamp
> recordings...
> john b
>
>
>
> john barrick wrote:
> > DUh! Sorry that's probably the low F# as the keyboard is upside down.
> > I get there eventually....
> >
> > john b
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Tron on Ebay...

2007-03-10 by john barrick

charel196 wrote:
> from one of the pics it looks like an SMS board in there (the big heat sinks) someone
> should tell the guy (I don't have an ebay account)
>
I told him last night - going to go see it tomorrow.
john b

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Tron on Ebay... report on 1221

2007-03-13 by john barrick

So, my ebay skills have apparently slipped. I bid on this with about 30
seconds left to go (crazy money, too - or at least I thought so) and
had it in the bag until someone that was crazier knocked me out at about
10 seconds - and the real bitch is when you come in second on ebay, that
means you lost your Tron by $50.

I inspected the machine on Saturday and even though it was my first time
to touch a Mellotron, I was both in love and underwhelmed at the same
time. Underwhelmed because of the condition the machine was in - the
seller told me he'd had it for 12 years and had done no maintenance on
it - and it showed. Now I know what you guys mean when you say
wobblies. Every note on the keyboard was slipping, though I'm pretty
sure this was easily fixable with the pinch roller/pressure pad keyboard
adjustment - and even though it had an SMS3 card installed (thanks for
the ID on that, Martin), it still seemed that I could hear the pitch
drop when I held down 4 or 5 keys (maybe it was just all the tapes
conspiring to slip at once). There were also some odd popping and
(faint) zinging sounds at the lower end of the keyboard that seemed to
correspond with the tapes returning to their start position - there also
seemed to be some friction issue with the tape guides in the frame or in
the springs, as not all the tapes would go all the way back to their
start position.

I was in love with it because despite all the problems, when the notes
would play, the magic sound was there, especially in the shimmer of the
Three Violins. Even though the SMS3 was present, there were no other
signs of the Sound Sales bodge. The take up box had the brackets on the
bottom and the wood shims on the sides, no misplaced pinch rollers, the
pad arms seemed to be unbent, and there was no sticker on the power
supply. I knew I could fix it up and give it a good home, and I owe that
to all of you that freely share information on this list and elsewhere.
Because of that information, Martin's patient replies to what must be
elementary questions, and Ken Leonard's documentation of Perfessor
Korb's work in the Moneypits, I was able to walk into the studio, and
disassemble the machine in such a manner (yes, and put it back together,
too) that the guys that worked there thought I was some kind of
Mellotron expert (though I guess it really reflects on their own lack of
knowledge). One fellow even asked me how I knew so much about them. I
didn't want to lie, but there was no way in hell I was going to admit to
learning everything off the internets, so my reply was "I, uh, well I
know some guys that are experts on these".

I had my heart set on this machine, really thought I had it, but now I'm
left thinking that there's got to be a better way than ebay to get one
of these.

john barrick

Re: Tron on Ebay... report on 1221

2007-03-13 by geee_bizzle

amen! im getting real sick of ebay, straight up

bazz

Show quoted textHide quoted text
--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, john barrick <astroboy@...> wrote:
>
> So, my ebay skills have apparently slipped. I bid on this with
about 30
> seconds left to go (crazy money, too - or at least I thought so) and
> had it in the bag until someone that was crazier knocked me out at
about
> 10 seconds - and the real bitch is when you come in second on ebay,
that
> means you lost your Tron by $50.
>
> I inspected the machine on Saturday and even though it was my first
time
> to touch a Mellotron, I was both in love and underwhelmed at the same
> time. Underwhelmed because of the condition the machine was in - the
> seller told me he'd had it for 12 years and had done no maintenance on
> it - and it showed. Now I know what you guys mean when you say
> wobblies. Every note on the keyboard was slipping, though I'm pretty
> sure this was easily fixable with the pinch roller/pressure pad
keyboard
> adjustment - and even though it had an SMS3 card installed (thanks for
> the ID on that, Martin), it still seemed that I could hear the pitch
> drop when I held down 4 or 5 keys (maybe it was just all the tapes
> conspiring to slip at once). There were also some odd popping and
> (faint) zinging sounds at the lower end of the keyboard that seemed to
> correspond with the tapes returning to their start position - there
also
> seemed to be some friction issue with the tape guides in the frame
or in
> the springs, as not all the tapes would go all the way back to their
> start position.
>
> I was in love with it because despite all the problems, when the notes
> would play, the magic sound was there, especially in the shimmer of the
> Three Violins. Even though the SMS3 was present, there were no other
> signs of the Sound Sales bodge. The take up box had the brackets on
the
> bottom and the wood shims on the sides, no misplaced pinch rollers, the
> pad arms seemed to be unbent, and there was no sticker on the power
> supply. I knew I could fix it up and give it a good home, and I owe
that
> to all of you that freely share information on this list and
elsewhere.
> Because of that information, Martin's patient replies to what must be
> elementary questions, and Ken Leonard's documentation of Perfessor
> Korb's work in the Moneypits, I was able to walk into the studio, and
> disassemble the machine in such a manner (yes, and put it back
together,
> too) that the guys that worked there thought I was some kind of
> Mellotron expert (though I guess it really reflects on their own
lack of
> knowledge). One fellow even asked me how I knew so much about them. I
> didn't want to lie, but there was no way in hell I was going to
admit to
> learning everything off the internets, so my reply was "I, uh, well I
> know some guys that are experts on these".
>
> I had my heart set on this machine, really thought I had it, but now
I'm
> left thinking that there's got to be a better way than ebay to get one
> of these.
>
> john barrick
>

Re: Tron on Ebay... report on 1221

2007-03-13 by Bernie

Don't give up John. There's one for everyone on this list. But from
your description of the eBay Tron, repairs could have brought the
final cost up to that of a new one.

BTW, nobody went for CMC-10 (?!!)

Bernie


--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, john barrick <astroboy@...>
wrote:
>
> So, my ebay skills have apparently slipped. I bid on this with
about 30
> seconds left to go (crazy money, too - or at least I thought so)
and
> had it in the bag until someone that was crazier knocked me out at
about
> 10 seconds - and the real bitch is when you come in second on
ebay, that
> means you lost your Tron by $50.
>
> I inspected the machine on Saturday and even though it was my
first time
> to touch a Mellotron, I was both in love and underwhelmed at the
same
> time. Underwhelmed because of the condition the machine was in -
the
> seller told me he'd had it for 12 years and had done no
maintenance on
> it - and it showed. Now I know what you guys mean when you say
> wobblies. Every note on the keyboard was slipping, though I'm
pretty
> sure this was easily fixable with the pinch roller/pressure pad
keyboard
> adjustment - and even though it had an SMS3 card installed (thanks
for
> the ID on that, Martin), it still seemed that I could hear the
pitch
> drop when I held down 4 or 5 keys (maybe it was just all the tapes
> conspiring to slip at once). There were also some odd popping and
> (faint) zinging sounds at the lower end of the keyboard that
seemed to
> correspond with the tapes returning to their start position -
there also
> seemed to be some friction issue with the tape guides in the frame
or in
> the springs, as not all the tapes would go all the way back to
their
> start position.
>
> I was in love with it because despite all the problems, when the
notes
> would play, the magic sound was there, especially in the shimmer
of the
> Three Violins. Even though the SMS3 was present, there were no
other
> signs of the Sound Sales bodge. The take up box had the brackets
on the
> bottom and the wood shims on the sides, no misplaced pinch
rollers, the
> pad arms seemed to be unbent, and there was no sticker on the
power
> supply. I knew I could fix it up and give it a good home, and I
owe that
> to all of you that freely share information on this list and
elsewhere.
> Because of that information, Martin's patient replies to what must
be
> elementary questions, and Ken Leonard's documentation of Perfessor
> Korb's work in the Moneypits, I was able to walk into the studio,
and
> disassemble the machine in such a manner (yes, and put it back
together,
> too) that the guys that worked there thought I was some kind of
> Mellotron expert (though I guess it really reflects on their own
lack of
> knowledge). One fellow even asked me how I knew so much about
them. I
> didn't want to lie, but there was no way in hell I was going to
admit to
> learning everything off the internets, so my reply was "I, uh,
well I
> know some guys that are experts on these".
>
> I had my heart set on this machine, really thought I had it, but
now I'm
> left thinking that there's got to be a better way than ebay to get
one
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> of these.
>
> john barrick
>

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Tron on Ebay... report on 1221

2007-03-13 by The Franz Family

John was able to inspect the machine. How do you buy these things from a long distance?
Jeff
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2007 7:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Tron on Ebay... report on 1221

So, my ebay skills have apparently slipped. I bid on this with about 30
seconds left to go (crazy money, too - or at least I thought so) and
had it in the bag until someone that was crazier knocked me out at about
10 seconds - and the real bitch is when you come in second on ebay, that
means you lost your Tron by $50.

I inspected the machine on Saturday and even though it was my first time
to touch a Mellotron, I was both in love and underwhelmed at the same
time. Underwhelmed because of the condition the machine was in - the
seller told me he'd had it for 12 years and had done no maintenance on
it - and it showed. Now I know what you guys mean when you say
wobblies. Every note on the keyboard was slipping, though I'm pretty
sure this was easily fixable with the pinch roller/pressure pad keyboard
adjustment - and even though it had an SMS3 card installed (thanks for
the ID on that, Martin), it still seemed that I could hear the pitch
drop when I held down 4 or 5 keys (maybe it was just all the tapes
conspiring to slip at once). There were also some odd popping and
(faint) zinging sounds at the lower end of the keyboard that seemed to
correspond with the tapes returning to their start position - there also
seemed to be some friction issue with the tape guides in the frame or in
the springs, as not all the tapes would go all the way back to their
start position.

I was in love with it because despite all the problems, when the notes
would play, the magic sound was there, especially in the shimmer of the
Three Violins. Even though the SMS3 was present, there were no other
signs of the Sound Sales bodge. The take up box had the brackets on the
bottom and the wood shims on the sides, no misplaced pinch rollers, the
pad arms seemed to be unbent, and there was no sticker on the power
supply. I knew I could fix it up and give it a good home, and I owe that
to all of you that freely share information on this list and elsewhere.
Because of that information, Martin's patient replies to what must be
elementary questions, and Ken Leonard's documentation of Perfessor
Korb's work in the Moneypits, I was able to walk into the studio, and
disassemble the machine in such a manner (yes, and put it back together,
too) that the guys that worked there thought I was some kind of
Mellotron expert (though I guess it really reflects on their own lack of
knowledge). One fellow even asked me how I knew so much about them. I
didn't want to lie, but there was no way in hell I was going to admit to
learning everything off the internets, so my reply was "I, uh, well I
know some guys that are experts on these".

I had my heart set on this machine, really thought I had it, but now I'm
left thinking that there's got to be a better way than ebay to get one
of these.

john barrick

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Tron on Ebay... report on 1221

2007-03-13 by tronbros@aol.com

In a message dated 13/03/2007 04:26:33 GMT Standard Time, franzs@... writes:
John was able to inspect the machine. How do you buy these things from a long distance?
Jeff
Dear All,
You have to assume that the 'tron on offer is NOT in full working condition and just needs light adjustment. This is NEVER the case. When you buy any mellotron/novatron you must expect to invest in it further to get it to peak performance and this almost certainly involves pinchrollers, pads, headblock service, tapes, service to tape frame, service to audio, probably some type of servo upgrade and almost certainly a new motor. Whether you buy from us, Markus or anyone else is not the issue. It is naive to think an electromechanical device that has hardly been serviced since it was created 35 years ago is going to be anything more than a total dissapointment in the first instance.
To sum up, buy any 'tron you can in the prior knowledge that acquiring one is only the first step. There are many more hurdles before it can be truly called a working mellotron.
Best,
Martin
STREETLY ELECTRONICS - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics.co.uk
www.mellotronics.com
US East Coast Agent - Jimmy Moore jmoore6397@...
US West Coast Agent - Paul Cox pjc56@...

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Tron on Ebay... report on 1221

2007-03-13 by NormLeete@aol.com

In a message dated 13/03/2007 00:31:56 GMT Standard Time, thisisgb@... writes:
amen! im getting real sick of ebay, straight up
Dear All,
So am I. The bit that gets me is that it is described as an auction but it is closer to being a set of small ads in a "local" paper. I hate it when people don't stick to their word...
If I had 30 quid for every duff guitar that gets brought in to the music shop that I help in at the weekend that "was a bargain on ebay" I would be rich. Hang on I do get 30 quid so something's not right here.
Anyway there are quite a few like that.
Norm

Re: Tron on Ebay... report on 1221

2007-03-13 by Paul Jones

Hi All

Seems like Ebay is full of 'bargains' but many of them are either
crap or non-existant.
I can't understand why Ebay permits private listings by people with
no feedback. You can't even warn the buyers they're about to get
ripped off.
But I did report an auction for a mini-moog to Ebay today. Seller had
zero f/b, the photo and some of the text was cloned from a previous
auction, listing was private, and payment terms money order! Alarm
bells, or what!?
I didn't expect any action, so was surprised and chuffed when item
was no longer listed 2 hours later, so maybe I saved somebody from
being ripped off.
No way would I bid on a high value item. It just isn't worth the risk.

Paul



Show quoted textHide quoted text
--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, NormLeete@... wrote:
>
>
> In a message dated 13/03/2007 00:31:56 GMT Standard Time,
thisisgb@...
> writes:
>
> amen! im getting real sick of ebay, straight up
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> So am I. The bit that gets me is that it is described as an auction
but it
> is closer to being a set of small ads in a "local" paper. I hate it
when people
> don't stick to their word...
>
> If I had 30 quid for every duff guitar that gets brought in to the
music
> shop that I help in at the weekend that "was a bargain on ebay" I
would be rich.
> Hang on I do get 30 quid so something's not right here.
>
> Anyway there are quite a few like that.
>
> Norm
>