Mellotronists

OK, so lets talk......

Some of you have mellotrons.  All of you love them.  Those that have them 
periodically ask for help to make them work better, either privately or on 
this list.  You complain about buzzes, dull notes, instabilities, etc., etc.  


We exist to help. We do help as many of people will testify.  We offer fixes, 
self help and sometimes assist above the call of duty....but don't brag about 
it. 

At some stage all of you may need help BUT for us to be here to help means 
that ocassionally we need to sell some stuff to pay for replacement stocks, 
new additions, improvements etc etc.  So every so often we offer a deal here, 
a deal there.  And most of the time we hear nothing.  So,(and I've asked this 
before) just what do you want and what is this desperately quiet group of 
people all about?

The tape amnesty was to provide you with ORIGINAL tape that would drive 
exceptionally well at a very reasonable cost. You could choose the sounds you 
wanted and you'd end up with a new set, edited, with cut marks, no measuring, 
etc., etc. at half price.  We have hunted high and low for this stock. 
However this has obviously failed to impress.  That's fine but at some point 
in time you'll ask us to solve your infernal and possibly unique problem. We 
will almost certainly do just that but to what end?  

Perhaps owning a mellotron is just that.  You can say in a loud voice, in 
some restaurant or bar that "I own a Mellotron!".  If that is all this about 
then let's own up, but please say it isn't!

Martin 
<A HREF="http://www.members.aol.com/tronbros/index.htm">Streetly Electronics - all things MELLOTRONIC</A> - click this link..........

US East Coast Agent: Jimmy Moore - JMoore6397@...

> Don't just own a Mellotron - USE IT....
>
> Also don't fall into the trap that they 'always sound rough' like I
> used to, with proper maintenance they can sound awesome.

In fact, the best kind of 'proper maintenance' is to use it, and often.
I was away for two weeks once and came back to find my Tron playing
rougher than a badger's arse. And that's very rough indeed. Within a day
or so of playing it on and off it sorted itself out properly.

BTW, I've found that a fairly good rule of thumb (*) is to try playing a
chord on the solo flute. If it sounds at all screechy or discordant then
you have some *tape issues* to sort out. For some reason, this is a very
unforgiving sound that neatly highlights all your instrument's
shortcomings. Of course, it might also mean that you can't play the
damned thing.

(*) I've just discovered the source of this expression. Back in the good
old days when a man could legally beat his wife 'to the point of
correction', he was not allowed to use a stick that was broader than his
thumb, hence the phrase.

Mike Dickson (tron@...) M400 #996
The Official Cynic of Streetly Electronics
Streetly Sample Library http://www.blackcat.demon.co.uk/tron/