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Mellotronists

Mellotronists

2007-11-30 by Donald Tillman

Folks,

The Mellotronists mailing list is here for folks who want to share in
good discussions about this wonderful instrument. And the discussions
can be amazingly fruitful -- helping people buy and sell 'Trons,
sharing maintenance advice and proposing improvements and directions
for future development of the instrument. Open and free discussion is
encouraged.

I created in the Mellotronists list in 1996 because no such forum
existed and becaseu it was a way I could contribute to the instrument.
Eventually I moved it to Yahoo Groups because I thought they did a
pretty good job of handling this sort of mailing list, with features
like archives and making the list easy to find.

Unfortunately, over the history of this list, a number of participants
have been very rude. I've mostly ignored it, usually because I didn't
have time to deal with it or sort it out. But the problem has been
growing, and that's just not good. The rudeness often takes the form
of personal attacks on people who have an important point to make, or
who have an opinion that might be different.

You should know that I have very little time to spend on this. I've
got a day job, a family, a house, and about 200 really important
projects that I'm working on, any of which matter to me far more than
this list. And at the same time, I don't want to be associated with a
bunch of bickering flamers. That means that if this list continues in
that direction I'm inclined to just drop the whole thing, and for
exactly those reasons -- I don't have time for it and I don't want to
be associated with it.

"There's only one rule that I know of, babies; God damn it,
you've got to be kind." -- Kurt Vonnegut

Because this is a change in policy (as much policy as there is here),
and because his post was the straw that broke the camel's back, but a
straw nonetheless, I've just resubscribed Mike Dickson. But from now
on, I will just drop people who engage in personal attacks or
excessive rudeness. If you have a problem with that, well, then you
should probably leave.

The list is currently at 478 members, though I'm sure some fraction of
those email addreses are no longer valid.

And with that out of the way, let's get back to what we do best.

-- Don

--
Don Tillman
Palo Alto, California
don@...
http://www.till.com

Re: Mellotronists

2007-11-30 by ceccles_ca

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, Donald Tillman <don@...> wrote:

> The list is currently at 478 members, though I'm sure some fraction
of those email addreses are no longer valid.

Don:
The new list has 77 members. We are expecting another 10 to 20
members of this old list to join us. Over the past year, I have seen
posts on this list from about 100 individuals.

Unsubscribe (Mellotronists):
Mellotronists-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com


New Group home page:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newmellotrongroup

New Group email address:
newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com

Subscribe:
newmellotrongroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If you get lonely over here Don, you are welcome to join us.
We are a bit rude tho!

Clay
(The Don of a new age)

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

2007-11-30 by Donald Tillman

> From: "ceccles_ca" <ecclesreinson@...>
> Sender: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
>
> The new list has 77 members.

Clay,

I'm happy that there's an alternative Mellotron list. I won't be
joining, but best of luck with it.

> Unsubscribe (Mellotronists):
> Mellotronists-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Are you asking me to remove you from the Mellotronists list? Or are
you asking everyone else to leave, but not yourself? That sounds a
little twisted.

I think people can decide on their own to join either, neither or both
groups.

-- Don

--
Don Tillman
Palo Alto, California
don@...
http://www.till.com

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

2007-11-30 by lsf5275@aol.com

In a message dated 11/30/2007 11:32:34 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, don@... writes:
Are you asking me to remove you from the Mellotronists list? Or are
you asking everyone else to leave, but not yourself? That sounds a
little twisted.

I think people can decide on their own to join either, neither or both
groups.

-- Don
 
I disagree with everything that occurred leading up to where we all are on this. However, I disagree most vehemently with you tossing Mike off the list. Even worse is, that despite immediate and numerous responses by the list members for you to reconsider, you did not.
 
Until yesterday.
 
I doubt Mike Dickson will be heard from ever again on this list. I believe the most active participants on this list are gone.
 
Who's left? Anyone?
 
Don, you yourself stated that you are far to busy to closely monitor this list. If that is true, then whatever goes on here that is negative shouldn't matter to you. If someone says something that offended you, move on. That's what the rest of us do.
 
I don't believe that much will occur here anymore.
 
So long.
 
Frank Stickle
 
M400s #382
 
 



Check out AOL Money & Finance's list of the hottest products and top money wasters of 2007.

Re: Mellotronists

2007-11-30 by leetronhead

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote:
>
>
> In a message dated 11/30/2007 11:32:34 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> don@... writes:
>
> Are you asking me to remove you from the Mellotronists list? Or are
> you asking everyone else to leave, but not yourself? That sounds a
> little twisted.
>
> I think people can decide on their own to join either, neither or
both
> groups.
>
> -- Don
>
>
>
>
> I disagree with everything that occurred leading up to where we all
are on
> this. However, I disagree most vehemently with you tossing Mike off
the list.
> Even worse is, that despite immediate and numerous responses by the
list
> members for you to reconsider, you did not.
>
> Until yesterday.
>
> I doubt Mike Dickson will be heard from ever again on this list. I
believe
> the most active participants on this list are gone.
>
> Who's left? Anyone?
>
> Don, you yourself stated that you are far to busy to closely
monitor this
> list. If that is true, then whatever goes on here that is negative
shouldn't
> matter to you. If someone says something that offended you, move
on. That's what
> the rest of us do.
>
> I don't believe that much will occur here anymore.
>
> So long.
>
> Frank Stickle
>
> M400s #382
>
> AMEN!!!
Aloha forever
Lee and M400 #541
>
>
>
> **************************************Check out AOL's list of
2007's hottest
> products.
> (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?
NCID=aoltop00030000000001)
>

Re: Mellotronists

2007-11-30 by ceccles_ca

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, Donald Tillman <don@...> wrote:
>
> > From: "ceccles_ca" <ecclesreinson@...>
> > Sender: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
> >
> > The new list has 77 members.
>
> Clay,
>
> I'm happy that there's an alternative Mellotron list. I won't be
> joining, but best of luck with it.
>
> > Unsubscribe (Mellotronists):
> > Mellotronists-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> Are you asking me to remove you from the Mellotronists list? Or are
> you asking everyone else to leave, but not yourself? That sounds a
> little twisted.
>
> I think people can decide on their own to join either, neither or both
> groups.
>
> -- Don

I wasn't asking anything. I was presenting the options to people.

Being on both lists just confuses me, but a lot of things do that.

Clay

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

2007-11-30 by mark kasian

Well, as soon as you guys settle into your new home
and stop chiding this one for existing at all, I'll be
posting here more than ever.

Mark
--- lsf5275@... wrote:

>
> In a message dated 11/30/2007 11:32:34 A.M. Eastern
> Standard Time,
> don@... writes:
>
> Are you asking me to remove you from the
> Mellotronists list? Or are
> you asking everyone else to leave, but not
> yourself? That sounds a
> little twisted.
>
> I think people can decide on their own to join
> either, neither or both
> groups.
>
> -- Don
>
>
>
>
> I disagree with everything that occurred leading up
> to where we all are on
> this. However, I disagree most vehemently with you
> tossing Mike off the list.
> Even worse is, that despite immediate and numerous
> responses by the list
> members for you to reconsider, you did not.
>
> Until yesterday.
>
> I doubt Mike Dickson will be heard from ever again
> on this list. I believe
> the most active participants on this list are gone.
>
> Who's left? Anyone?
>
> Don, you yourself stated that you are far to busy to
> closely monitor this
> list. If that is true, then whatever goes on here
> that is negative shouldn't
> matter to you. If someone says something that
> offended you, move on. That's what
> the rest of us do.
>
> I don't believe that much will occur here anymore.
>
> So long.
>
> Frank Stickle
>
> M400s #382
>
>
>
>
>
> **************************************Check out
> AOL's list of 2007's hottest
> products.
>
(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001)
>



____________________________________________________________________________________
Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you
with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/sports;_ylt=At9_qDKvtAbMuh1G1SQtBI7ntAcJ

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

2007-12-01 by Paul Tillotson

  I agree, aren't you guys gone already?
 
    Paul T. M 400 #12226
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 3:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

Well, as soon as you guys settle into your new home
and stop chiding this one for existing at all, I'll be
posting here more than ever.

Mark
--- lsf5275@aol. com wrote:

>
> In a message dated 11/30/2007 11:32:34 A.M. Eastern
> Standard Time,
> don@... writes:
>
> Are you asking me to remove you from the
> Mellotronists list? Or are
> you asking everyone else to leave, but not
> yourself? That sounds a
> little twisted.
>
> I think people can decide on their own to join
> either, neither or both
> groups.
>
> -- Don
>
>
>
>
> I disagree with everything that occurred leading up
> to where we all are on
> this. However, I disagree most vehemently with you
> tossing Mike off the list.
> Even worse is, that despite immediate and numerous
> responses by the list
> members for you to reconsider, you did not.
>
> Until yesterday.
>
> I doubt Mike Dickson will be heard from ever again
> on this list. I believe
> the most active participants on this list are gone.
>
> Who's left? Anyone?
>
> Don, you yourself stated that you are far to busy to
> closely monitor this
> list. If that is true, then whatever goes on here
> that is negative shouldn't
> matter to you. If someone says something that
> offended you, move on. That's what
> the rest of us do.
>
> I don't believe that much will occur here anymore.
>
> So long.
>
> Frank Stickle
>
> M400s #382
>
>
>
>
>
> ************ ********* ********* ********Check out
> AOL's list of 2007's hottest
> products.
>
(http://money. aol.com/special/ hot-products- 2007?NCID= aoltop0003000000 0001)
>

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you
with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile. yahoo.com/ sports;_ylt= At9_qDKvtAbMuh1G 1SQtBI7ntAcJ

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

2007-12-01 by Chris Dale

Well on another note:
 
Not feeling well (have an ear/lung infection / my hamster died) but I've just returned from a long trip visiting Dave Biro, Richard Chamberlin, Joe Vannelli / learned much that has never been mentioned. Sometimes we don't know what we don't know.
 
Anyway when things settle down again, and I'm feeling better, and if anyone cares, I'll be happy to share with everyone.
 
 
Chris
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 9:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

  I agree, aren't you guys gone already?
 
    Paul T. M 400 #12226
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 3:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

Well, as soon as you guys settle into your new home
and stop chiding this one for existing at all, I'll be
posting here more than ever.

Mark
--- lsf5275@aol. com wrote:

>
> In a message dated 11/30/2007 11:32:34 A.M. Eastern
> Standard Time,
> don@... writes:
>
> Are you asking me to remove you from the
> Mellotronists list? Or are
> you asking everyone else to leave, but not
> yourself? That sounds a
> little twisted.
>
> I think people can decide on their own to join
> either, neither or both
> groups.
>
> -- Don
>
>
>
>
> I disagree with everything that occurred leading up
> to where we all are on
> this. However, I disagree most vehemently with you
> tossing Mike off the list.
> Even worse is, that despite immediate and numerous
> responses by the list
> members for you to reconsider, you did not.
>
> Until yesterday.
>
> I doubt Mike Dickson will be heard from ever again
> on this list. I believe
> the most active participants on this list are gone.
>
> Who's left? Anyone?
>
> Don, you yourself stated that you are far to busy to
> closely monitor this
> list. If that is true, then whatever goes on here
> that is negative shouldn't
> matter to you. If someone says something that
> offended you, move on. That's what
> the rest of us do.
>
> I don't believe that much will occur here anymore.
>
> So long.
>
> Frank Stickle
>
> M400s #382
>
>
>
>
>
> ************ ********* ********* ********Check out
> AOL's list of 2007's hottest
> products.
>
(http://money. aol.com/special/ hot-products- 2007?NCID= aoltop0003000000 0001)
>

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you
with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile. yahoo.com/ sports;_ylt= At9_qDKvtAbMuh1G 1SQtBI7ntAcJ

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.10/1160 - Release Date: 29/11/2007 8:32 PM

RE: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

2007-12-01 by Pomeroy Ranch

Chris – I hadn’t talked with Richard for a long – but when I left him a phone message recently, he hadn’t called back – how is he doing?

 

Vance

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Chris Dale
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 6:33 PM
To: lsf5275@...; don@...; ecclesreinson@...; mark kasian; Paul Tillotson
Cc: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

 

Well on another note:

 

Not feeling well (have an ear/lung infection / my hamster died) but I've just returned from a long trip visiting Dave Biro, Richard Chamberlin, Joe Vannelli / learned much that has never been mentioned. Sometimes we don't know what we don't know.

 

Anyway when things settle down again, and I'm feeling better, and if anyone cares, I'll be happy to share with everyone.

 

 

Chris

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 9:02 PM

Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

 

  I agree, aren't you guys gone already?

 

    Paul T. M 400 #12226

----- Original Message -----

From: mark kasian

Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 3:23 PM

Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

 

Well, as soon as you guys settle into your new home
and stop chiding this one for existing at all, I'll be
posting here more than ever.

Mark
--- lsf5275@aol. com wrote:

>
> In a message dated 11/30/2007 11:32:34 A.M. Eastern
> Standard Time,
> don@... writes:
>
> Are you asking me to remove you from the
> Mellotronists list? Or are
> you asking everyone else to leave, but not
> yourself? That sounds a
> little twisted.
>
> I think people can decide on their own to join
> either, neither or both
> groups.
>
> -- Don
>
>
>
>
> I disagree with everything that occurred leading up
> to where we all are on
> this. However, I disagree most vehemently with you
> tossing Mike off the list.
> Even worse is, that despite immediate and numerous
> responses by the list
> members for you to reconsider, you did not.
>
> Until yesterday.
>
> I doubt Mike Dickson will be heard from ever again
> on this list. I believe
> the most active participants on this list are gone.
>
> Who's left? Anyone?
>
> Don, you yourself stated that you are far to busy to
> closely monitor this
> list. If that is true, then whatever goes on here
> that is negative shouldn't
> matter to you. If someone says something that
> offended you, move on. That's what
> the rest of us do.
>
> I don't believe that much will occur here anymore.
>
> So long.
>
> Frank Stickle
>
> M400s #382
>
>
>
>
>
> ************ ********* ********* ********Check out
> AOL's list of 2007's hottest
> products.
>
(http://money. aol.com/special/ hot-products- 2007?NCID= aoltop0003000000 0001)
>

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you
with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile. yahoo.com/ sports;_ylt= At9_qDKvtAbMuh1G 1SQtBI7ntAcJ

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.10/1160 - Release Date: 29/11/2007 8:32 PM

Re: Mellotronists

2007-12-07 by Mockenrue

I'd like to hear that Biro/Chamberlin/Vannelli report, Chris

Arthur

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists

2007-12-12 by Chris Dale

Hi Arthur / All:
 
 
Well I spent the first part of my trip visiting Dave Biro. I must say he's pretty much moved on from the whole Birotron thing, but he had some meager bits needed to finish my unit that was never completed, so he was very helpful with that considering there was almost nothing to begin with.
 
We also talked about his history with the machine and with Wakeman. The Birotron was originally meant to be just a personal machine for him. It was never meant to be more than that, but after Wakeman saw it, it went in a totally different direction. It's astonishing to realize the amount of effort that went into getting the Birotron project right, using nothing but the finest technicians, high quality parts, only to have the project meander away. A shame really, but it was to be almost an entire micro-industry - several Birotron models were possible, as were future plans for Birotron lessons for kids with a classical music background. Captain and Tennile, John Paul Jones, Gary Wright, John Lennon, Paul/Linda McCartney, Roger Whittaker etc. etc etc. all wanted one - hard to imagine what seemed like such a sure thing being derailed -can you imagine what it must have been like for these people?? 
 
The visit with Richard Chamberlin was also very educational. One of the things I learned is, unlike Mellotrons for which the same techniques can be used to repair several models, Chamberlins are a bit different. There's a little more unexpected adjustment to be done than just pinch rollers/pressure pads. But this helps to make the instrument sound more accurate with certain sounds so it's worth learning (the right way). I've always wondered if there were precise turn adjustments for this like there is for the Mellotron. Turns out there are (I've stumbled onto them), but they can differ from instrument to instrument because they are small variants in the build. Interestingly enough, there was at one point a possiblity of a Chamberlin model for the 80's that included a synth section to extend the length of the sound, but sadly this never happened.  It was a tough time for Richard at one point and he also put the Chamberlin business behind him and has moved on. But he also is happy to hear that there is still interest in his father's legacy. We visited Harry's old house. His wife is still alive, and you could almost sense the history (the recording rooms / Lawrence Welks' visits / Bobby Darin's phone calls etc.) in the air there. It's a beautiful place, in a beautiful neighbourhood, preserved from another time.
 
The visit with Joe Vannelli was also great, and being a fellow Canadian, we spent time catching up with each other, as it had been a few years. He was able to provide me a letter of provenance for the Chamberlin I bought from him, which is something some of you will need when insuring your Mellotron or Chamberlin  (especially when the insurance company doesn't believe these things actually exist). At least up here in Canada it seems to be a sticking point with some insurance companies. 
The Chamberlin was used on Gino Vannelli's Nightwalkwer album. They used the Cello and Violins sound, but they also recorded their own violin sections on Chamberlin tapes and played them from the machine. This was to smooth out some of the heavy vibrato when used alongside the Cello. The violins were recorded by music students. Joe has lived in the U.S.A since the mid 70's and it's interesting that only now has the area he lives in, started to build and develop. It must have been extremely remote and quiet when he first moved.
 
I have to say that all of these guys were nothing but gentlemen in the extreme, and that it was a very warm experience to share my passion for their respective machines and the music created with them. They all understand music from both an engineering and musical point of view so one can't help but learn the best of both worlds from each of them.  
 
I have to say I also recall recognizing that same "something" in the personalities of Dave Kean, Jerry Korb, Martin Smith and John Bradley when I met them as well. It's interesting...not all these people have met, yet they share something that goes beyond influence. 
 
Let's be thankful for our mellotron list(s) and learn from ALL who contribute and appreciate our "elder statesmen" on the lists (and off) while they are all still with us.
 
 
Chris Dale 
 
 
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: Mockenrue
Sent: Friday, December 07, 2007 10:35 AM
Subject: [Mellotronists] Re: Mellotronists


I'd like to hear that Biro/Chamberlin/ Vannelli report, Chris

Arthur

Internal Virus Database is out-of-date.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.10/1160 - Release Date: 29/11/2007 8:32 PM