Mellotronists

Does any on the list own or know anything about a Chamberlin 600?  I have an M1 now but I have my eyes on a 600.

Thanks,
Tom Herbers

The seller of this machine contacted me and offered it for $2,800.00. I  said 
no. His next offer was $1,500.00. I already have one... no again.
 
Frank

I don't think I can tell the difference between a Mellotron and a
Chamberlin but I think I would like to educate myself.

What would be a good a/b test ?



Was that Shit or Snit btw


gino

With my aural ability, I should probably keep quiet
but I would suggest comparing the string sounds on the
Mitchell Froom produced Richard Thompson CDs (
especially Grey Walls on Rumour and Sigh, I hope they
are not mandolins, it is definitely a chamberlin) and
the M300 strings on Barclay James Harvest Live.

Mark
--- gino wong <wonggster@...> wrote:

> I don't think I can tell the difference between a
> Mellotron and a
> Chamberlin but I think I would like to educate
> myself.
> 
> What would be a good a/b test ?
> 
> 
> 
> Was that Shit or Snit btw
> 
> 
> gino
> 

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A/B comparison is a problem.  I can think of 2 stark
album examples of Chamberlin use; "7th Sojourn" by the
Moodies, and "Tidal" by Fiona Apple.  Not much
layering on either one, due to the clarity of the
instrument.  A very dry Chamby is played over the
final credits of "Boogie Nights".  Also, download some
of the Chamby/Tron samples from Dave Kean's listening
room, and one can do quick comparisons.  Pretty dry, &
some are from different sources.  Same source on the 3
Violins though, so it can easily be compared.
    -Bruce D.
    M400 #1221

--- Mark Pring <markpringnz@...> wrote:

> With my aural ability, I should probably keep quiet
> but I would suggest comparing the string sounds on
> the
> Mitchell Froom produced Richard Thompson CDs (
> especially Grey Walls on Rumour and Sigh, I hope
> they
> are not mandolins, it is definitely a chamberlin)
> and
> the M300 strings on Barclay James Harvest Live.
> 
> Mark
> --- gino wong <wonggster@...> wrote:
> 
> > I don't think I can tell the difference between a
> > Mellotron and a
> > Chamberlin but I think I would like to educate
> > myself.
> > 
> > What would be a good a/b test ?
> > 
> > 
> > 


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Thanks very much, with regards to samples although the
tron samples available aren't great I do there
weakness is that they sound more like the original
instrument than the a tron does, the mellotron feel is
missing presumably due to the missing imperfections
introduced by an electromechanical system. I think
this really noticeable on choir samples.

Mark
--- Chris Dale <chris.dale@...> wrote:

> Bruce is right about A/B comparison. 
> 
> I guess the other option is to listen to an album
> full of Mellotron and then an album full of
> Chamberlin right after.
> 
> One way of telling is that many of the Chamberlin
> sounds have heavier vibrato where as Mellotron
> sounds don't (e.g. cellos, flutes)
> 
> If you're familiar with Mellotron choir then listen
> to Neil Merryweather's "Space Rangers" (if you have
> / can find it) and listen to how the Chamby voices
> (choir) compares.
> 
> The close of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" has the
> Chamby male voices in haunted house mode.
> 
> Others for chamby strings / flutes - "Into
> Temptation" from Temple Of Low Men LP. "She Goes On"
> - Saxes / Horns - from "Woodface" LP both from
> Crowded House 
> 
> For Chamby cellos - Warzawa from David Bowie's "Low"
> 
> It's also all over 70's top 40 dentist office
> classics:
> 
> Have You Never Been Mellow  (Olivia Newton John)
> (Chamby Flutes)
> How Sweet It Is to.....(James Taylor) (Chamby Cellos
> (mixed low)/Strings)
> Afternoon Delight (Starland Vocal Band)
> (Strings)...could also be tron though (where was it
> recorded?)
> Right Time Of The Night (Jennifer Warnes) (Chamby
> Cellos/Strings)
> 
> For barking dogs - that irritating Jingle Bell dog
> song is also Chamby. (Not looking forward to hearing
> that for the 1000 billionth time this Christmas)
> 
> More can be found on Andy's planet mellotron site of
> course.
> 
> The Chamberlin sounds a little closer to the actual
> taped instrument than the tron (it doesn't have the
> "tronny" colour, it lends it's own inflection) so
> sometimes it blends in to be almost unnoticable
> unless it's up in the mix or played distinctively
> like an organ.
> This is especially true of the saxophones.  
> But that is it's strength or weakness compared to
> the Mellotron depending on your point of view. To me
> they are two very different instruments.
> 
> Also - to my ears - samples of the Chamberlin lack
> the fullness or richness of the original instrument.
> That's also true of the Mellotron samples I've heard
> as well, but with the Chamby it's even more
> noticeable (worse). Like the life and lushness has
> been sucked out somehow. Almost like the difference
> between AM and FM. Again...this is just my personal
> experience. I'm sure there are some half decent
> samples out there (there must be). 
> 
> In the U.S., during the 70's -  many times when it
> says "strings arranged by (keyboard player's name")
> can mean that it was Chamberlin. This presumably was
> to avoid squabbles with the Musician's Union. 
> 
> 
> Okay class dismissed - where is the "Professor" when
> you need him?!! :)
> 
> 
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Bruce Daily 
>   To: Mark Pring ; mellotronists@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 4:48 PM
>   Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] Chamberlin
> 
> 
>   A/B comparison is a problem. I can think of 2
> stark
>   album examples of Chamberlin use; "7th Sojourn" by
> the
>   Moodies, and "Tidal" by Fiona Apple. Not much
>   layering on either one, due to the clarity of the
>   instrument. A very dry Chamby is played over the
>   final credits of "Boogie Nights". Also, download
> some
>   of the Chamby/Tron samples from Dave Kean's
> listening
>   room, and one can do quick comparisons. Pretty
> dry, &
>   some are from different sources. Same source on
> the 3
>   Violins though, so it can easily be compared.
>   -Bruce D.
>   M400 #1221
> 
>   --- Mark Pring <markpringnz@...> wrote:
> 
>   > With my aural ability, I should probably keep
> quiet
>   > but I would suggest comparing the string sounds
> on
>   > the
>   > Mitchell Froom produced Richard Thompson CDs (
>   > especially Grey Walls on Rumour and Sigh, I hope
>   > they
>   > are not mandolins, it is definitely a
> chamberlin)
>   > and
>   > the M300 strings on Barclay James Harvest Live.
>   > 
>   > Mark
>   > --- gino wong <wonggster@...> wrote:
>   > 
>   > > I don't think I can tell the difference
> between a
>   > > Mellotron and a
>   > > Chamberlin but I think I would like to educate
>   > > myself.
>   > > 
>   > > What would be a good a/b test ?
>   > > 
>   > > 
>   > > 
> 
>   __________________________________________________
>   Do You Yahoo!?
>   Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam
> protection around 
>   http://mail.yahoo.com 
> 
> 
>    
> 
> 
>
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Hey-
  About the "Jingle Bells" dogs....
If one were to layer the "Cat" 'tron voice in the
background (as harmony, counterpoint, or the like),
maybe the tune would be improved.  Kind of a yin-yang
thing...couldn't hurt...  :-)

   -Bruce D.


--- Chris Dale <chris.dale@...> wrote:

> Bruce is right about A/B comparison. 
> 
> I guess the other option is to listen to an album
> full of Mellotron and then an album full of
> Chamberlin right after.
> 
> One way of telling is that many of the Chamberlin
> sounds have heavier vibrato where as Mellotron
> sounds don't (e.g. cellos, flutes)
> 
> If you're familiar with Mellotron choir then listen
> to Neil Merryweather's "Space Rangers" (if you have
> / can find it) and listen to how the Chamby voices
> (choir) compares.
> 
> The close of Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me" has the
> Chamby male voices in haunted house mode.
> 
> Others for chamby strings / flutes - "Into
> Temptation" from Temple Of Low Men LP. "She Goes On"
> - Saxes / Horns - from "Woodface" LP both from
> Crowded House 
> 
> For Chamby cellos - Warzawa from David Bowie's "Low"
> 
> It's also all over 70's top 40 dentist office
> classics:
> 
> Have You Never Been Mellow  (Olivia Newton John)
> (Chamby Flutes)
> How Sweet It Is to.....(James Taylor) (Chamby Cellos
> (mixed low)/Strings)
> Afternoon Delight (Starland Vocal Band)
> (Strings)...could also be tron though (where was it
> recorded?)
> Right Time Of The Night (Jennifer Warnes) (Chamby
> Cellos/Strings)
> 
> For barking dogs - that irritating Jingle Bell dog
> song is also Chamby. (Not looking forward to hearing
> that for the 1000 billionth time this Christmas)
> 
> More can be found on Andy's planet mellotron site of
> course.
> 
> The Chamberlin sounds a little closer to the actual
> taped instrument than the tron (it doesn't have the
> "tronny" colour, it lends it's own inflection) so
> sometimes it blends in to be almost unnoticable
> unless it's up in the mix or played distinctively
> like an organ.
> This is especially true of the saxophones.  
> But that is it's strength or weakness compared to
> the Mellotron depending on your point of view. To me
> they are two very different instruments.
> 
> Also - to my ears - samples of the Chamberlin lack
> the fullness or richness of the original instrument.
> That's also true of the Mellotron samples I've heard
> as well, but with the Chamby it's even more
> noticeable (worse). Like the life and lushness has
> been sucked out somehow. Almost like the difference
> between AM and FM. Again...this is just my personal
> experience. I'm sure there are some half decent
> samples out there (there must be). 
> 
> In the U.S., during the 70's -  many times when it
> says "strings arranged by (keyboard player's name")
> can mean that it was Chamberlin. This presumably was
> to avoid squabbles with the Musician's Union. 
> 
> 
> Okay class dismissed - where is the "Professor" when
> you need him?!! :)
> 
> 
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> 
> 


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Couldn't hurt?  They'd fight - horribly.  Then the cats would piss all 
over your house...so who really needs a Chamberlin anyway?
john barrick


Bruce Daily wrote:

> Hey-
>   About the "Jingle Bells" dogs....
> If one were to layer the "Cat" 'tron voice in the
> background (as harmony, counterpoint, or the like),
> maybe the tune would be improved.  Kind of a yin-yang
> thing...couldn't hurt...  :-)
>
>    -Bruce D.
>
>
>
>