Mellotronists

Hello!

Just a quick post to introduce myself.
My name is Robert and I am a mellotron junkie.
I'm also known as sdzbx7yr or
Roddenberry in many other groups.

I have a prog-related website at
www.progmontreal.com and I am also one
of the organizers of the Montreal prog fest
(www.fmpm.net).

The reason I joined is that I have always been
fascinated by the mellotron, its sound and its
mechanics, and it is my dream/goal/fantasy to
one day acquire one of these cantankerous old
keyboards.

Then again, i'd like to own a Mustang '67 but
it's way out of my league, as an original mellotron
would i'm afraid.

So i'll be looking into any insight by the members
of this forum to either refurbish a dreadfully
messed-up old 'tron, or find a way to acquire the
parts to build one from scratch. I am very handy
with electronics and mechanics.

Anyway, glad to be here and I hope to share
the wisdom of the members of this prestigious group.

Thanks

Robert
info@...

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, "sdzbx7yr" <robertda@...> wrote:

> So i'll be looking into any insight by the members
> of this forum to either refurbish a dreadfully
> messed-up old 'tron, or find a way to acquire the
> parts to build one from scratch. I am very handy
> with electronics and mechanics.

For a good local contact, you might try to reach Pierre Veilleux
(Quebec). Norm Leete's website is a good source of info re:
maintenance and rebuilding.
http://members.aol.com/tronpage/

P.S. I didn't know that Norm had posted M4000 pictures! BEAUTIFUL
machine! Nice control panel.

I want one...I want one...I want one!

NormLeete@... wrote:

In a message dated 09/08/2007 14:22:46 GMT Standard Time, ecclesreinson@... writes:

P.S. I didn't know that Norm had posted M4000 pictures! BEAUTIFUL
machine! Nice control panel.

Well I had a small part to play in it's development...

(hats off to the Streetly team for the rest of it)

You mean...you chose the colour?

-- 
Mike Dickson - M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/tron

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the insight, and i'll probably see you
at the Wakeman show!

Robert

On 10-Aug-07, at 3:38 PM, <chris.dale@...>
<chris.dale@...> wrote:

> Hi Robert:
>
>
>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>> I guess you'll be going to
>> the Wakeman show next week in your neighborhood?
>
> I plan to, and I might even be bringing that Double Mellotron for the
> performance. There was talk of it a while back, but I haven't heard
> anything
> lately so maybe - maybe not.
>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>> Whatever the condition, i'll probably be able to
>> bring it back to life... I've refurbished things
>> you wouldn't imagine!
>
> Well I'm currently restoring a Birotron prototype (the Mellotron 8
> track
> player Wakeman funded).
> If I get into real trouble, perhaps I'll need your advice or insight!
>>
>>>
>> I was told by somebody once that about 50% of a mellotron
>> is actually composed of readily available parts, from
>> bearings and transformers, to transistors and springs, so
>> I guess I can start with any old rusty carcass and build-up
>> around it?
>
> That is true, but sometimes they have a be a particular size or type.
> Physics plays a big part of how well the machine operates.
>>
>> Any model you recommend me to start looking for?
>> I guess the M400 might be the easiest to start with?
>>
>> It looks like the most recognizable model, and
>> I think the one that Anna Holmgren used at NearFest
>> for the Anglagard show. I was there and much to my
>> delight, saw three mellotrons onstage (one of which
>> was quite out-of-tune, and tuning AM stations!!!)
>
> 3 Mellotrons on stage at once! That's wonderful!!! I still have to
> attend a
> NearFest. I was supposed to see Caravan and Nektar in Toronto a few
> years
> back but it was cancelled. I was heartbroken!!
>
> Yes - the easiest and most recognizable model is the M400. It's
> also the
> lightest and most reliable if it has to be shifted around. I have
> two of
> those as well and they always play wonderfully as I maintain them.
>
> It's also easier to find parts for so what you're talking about isn't
> outside the realm of possibility. Who knows - neglected Mellotrons
> have been
> found in barns before - you never know!
>
>
> Chris
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>
>> I've visited the www.mellotron.com website and it gave
>> me some good insight into where to start...
>>>
>>>
>>> Cheers and Welcome!
>>
>> Many thanks!
>>>
>>>
>>> Chris Dale
>>
>> Robert
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: sdzbx7yr
>>> To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
>>> Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:59 AM
>>> Subject: [Mellotronists] 'tron newbie: Robert in Montreal
>>>
>>> Hello!
>>>
>>> Just a quick post to introduce myself.
>>> My name is Robert and I am a mellotron junkie.
>>> I'm also known as sdzbx7yr or
>>> Roddenberry in many other groups.
>>>
>>> I have a prog-related website at
>>> www.progmontreal.com and I am also one
>>> of the organizers of the Montreal prog fest
>>> (www.fmpm.net).
>>>
>>> The reason I joined is that I have always been
>>> fascinated by the mellotron, its sound and its
>>> mechanics, and it is my dream/goal/fantasy to
>>> one day acquire one of these cantankerous old
>>> keyboards.
>>>
>>> Then again, i'd like to own a Mustang '67 but
>>> it's way out of my league, as an original mellotron
>>> would i'm afraid.
>>>
>>> So i'll be looking into any insight by the members
>>> of this forum to either refurbish a dreadfully
>>> messed-up old 'tron, or find a way to acquire the
>>> parts to build one from scratch. I am very handy
>>> with electronics and mechanics.
>>>
>>> Anyway, glad to be here and I hope to share
>>> the wisdom of the members of this prestigious group.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Robert
>>> info@...
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
>> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>> Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.11.2/933 - Release Date:
>> 8/2/07
> 2:22 PM
>>
>>
>

It looks like the most recognizable model, and
>> I think the one that Anna Holmgren used at NearFest
>> for the Anglagard show. I was there and much to my
>> delight, saw three mellotrons onstage (one of which
>> was quite out-of-tune, and tuning AM stations!!!)
>

Actually, I was the one who brought those three Mellotrons to NEARfest. And only one Mellotron was flat and that was only during the first song. The one that decided to become an AM radio was one of the two played by Thomas Johnson. It faced the drummer, Mattias Olsson. He is on this list and I'm sure remembers everything. Thomas, Anna and I fooled around with those three Mellotrons back stage from Friday afternoon until Sunday night and none of them acted up at all. It wasn't until we were staging them that the AM radio thing occurred. We finally got rid of it but at the cost of some volume. Oddly enough, after that show, it never happened again.

I still have the Mellotron that Anna played. It is #1562 and can be seen in the photos section of my myspace page. www.myspace.com/trondoc . She told me, as did Thomas, that it was the nicest one that either of them had ever played.

This Mellotron will be going up for sale on ebay within the next week. It is in superb condition, has been meticulously and still has the original paint job.

Frank

Hi Frank,

On 11-Aug-07, at 2:02 PM, LSF5275@... wrote:

(snip)
>
> I still have the Mellotron that Anna played. It is #1562 and can be
> seen in the photos section of my myspace page. www.myspace.com/
> trondoc . She told me, as did Thomas, that it was the nicest one
> that either of them had ever played.

No doubt, they were absolutely glorious on that stage!
>
> This Mellotron will be going up for sale on ebay within the next
> week. It is in superb condition, has been meticulously and still
> has the original paint job.

Thanks Frank for the info. I can imagine that such a machine will go
for a hefty price. I would be quite happy to find a deal I couldn't
resist, but sadly, my means are modest and a top-notch 'tron is way
way out of my league. One of my goals would be to find a "boiler room
junker" mellotron and refurbish it from the ground up. But I guess
there aren't many "boiler room junker" mellotron left in the world
right now! :-(

Have a great weekend!

Robert

>
> Frank
>
>
>
> Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.

Hi Frank,

On 11-Aug-07, at 6:39 PM, LSF5275@... wrote:

> These days, finding a machine like that is getting tougher. I have
> restored twenty machines. Jerry Korb has probably done at least
> that many, maybe more. Streetly has done tons of them. It's a lot
> of fun but it is tedious work if you want it perfect. Once I have
> rebuilt the machine adjusting it can take 20 hours. But once it is
> restored and set up properly, routine maintenance is all that is
> required. I overhaul my own machine once a year in the spring
> because I lease it out and it gets on stage and recorded quite a
> bit. All of the machines I have redone sound better than they did
> when they were first made, because I have the time to make each one
> perfect.

I am quite familiar with your Lazarus project my friend. I watched
with anticipation the picture library and realized that such a task
not only is possible, but for me, mechanics and electronics geek that
I am, i'ts going to be a true joy! I am an absolute perfectionist
when it comes to that kind of stuff, and i'd be willing to spend
countless hours working on each and every part with much attention.
I've refurbished anything from antique radios to vacuum cleaners all
the way to a Pontiac Fiero GT '86 nearly back to showroom condition
(brake system on that thing is a monster!).

Consider that your Lazarus refusbishing project is one of the things
that moved me into investigating the possibility of having one of
these beasts one day. So you are responsible for my future financial
demise... LOL! ;-D

Anyway, i've started gathering plans and schematics left and right,
and I won't start gathering parts and stuff until I have a perfect
idea of what i'll be doing.

Thanks

Robert (hopefully a future 'tron owner)
>
> Regards,
>
> Frank