Mellotronists

just letting you know that threading new tapes into an existing frame 
on a 400 is SOOOOOO easy.Just scotch tape and a demagged screwdriver 
and scissors needed.Scotch tape the new tape to the end of the old one 
and pull it thru(you have to loosen the screws which hold the tape 
ends) til the sound start line on the tape lines up over the 
head.Repeat 35 times.I have done this to my old tron(#328) 3 times 
over 25 years(I no longer own one though) and a good friend of mine 
has one I did also.I became my own mechanic/Mr.Fixit over that time 
span.I put in my own updates and the ones from Sound Salers,then 
Mellotron Archives.I had my tron on the road in bands for 25 
years,with little problems(of course I had an Anvil flight case and 
was always on one end of it when it was moved).You have to treat 
trons like an acoustic guitar,not a Hammond.I live in Ohio and perhaps 
for a price would come out to Kansas to help you with your instrument.
  I can give you my friend's name and number for reference that I know 
what I am doing.He found a 400 for $150.00(!!) in an attic and I 
helped him totally rebuild it...stripped and cleaned all parts,updated 
 Dave Kean motor board,new tapes(actually my last set,also from 
Dave),and he took it to a professional furniture refinisher for new 
paint job.Now he has about a thousand dollars or so into it after all 
is said and done,but it looks like it just rolled out of 
Mellotronics.Piece of cake!             Charles