Mellotronists

Ken Leonard wrote:

>  Newer tape stock is thinner and has a different
> formulation on the drive side that doesn't drive as well as the old
> stuff.  Our tape providers have experimented with different stock, and I
> have some from a few years back that's not really playable because of the
> formulation (the stock in question is no longer used for obvious reasons).
>
> Pierre V. did an experiment once where he put something on the capstan (or
> was it the pinch rollers?) that gave much more grip, but he snapped a few
> tapes when they got to the end.  :-)  So it's a balancing act.
>
> For the pinch rollers I tend to take off the edges and scuff them with
> emery cloth, clean them, and apply CAIG rubber rejuvenator.  Does it
> work?  Pah!  Some stock still sucks.  That EMI stock is no problem, and
> I've even had mostly good luck with the Ampex 456 sets I have.
>
> Martin turns his pinch rollers into tyres (tires for us American types :-)
> ) by really rounding off the edges.  They look like what' you'd see on a
> motorcycle when done.
>
> But maybe it's not the pinch rollers but some other part of the machine
> that could use adjustment in order to better drive the tapes.  Keep in mind
> that there's constant back tension on the tape due to the return
> spring---that doesn't help.

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Greetings Everyone and Happy 2005,

Been reading intently the recent exchange of information and
comments from all sides.  From my perspective only, I've seen
some great performing tape and some stuff which should be used
as polishing abrasive.

To recap my observations in the last 32 years as Mellotron owner :

1) Nothing wrong with OEM orig. tape stock, provided that it
   wasn't overly used/abused . i.e: temp/humid, mice, mold,etc.
   I've removed orig. tapes from MKII's to M400's and would be
   absolutely comfortable to re-use them again . (35-40 yrs.old) .

2) Only trouble seen with "first-gen" stuff was roughness on one edge
    of Sound Sales stock from 1976, due to cutting-fixture becoming dull.
    Sound quality was/IS still bright, no loss of oxide, etc.

3) Encountered some matte-black tape in the  1990's which
    performed horribly from mechanical perspective. I'm sure the
    intrinsic audio quality of that tape would be fine with optimal transfer.
    But I was unable to achieve that "sweet spot" adjustment on the M400(s)
    fitted with that type.

4) Some different coloured stuff was available for use in misc. models.
    I cannot pass judgment on these types of  tape stock, not owning any.
    This open forum is best place to share observations. When KL and I
    went to Gatherings/Philly  11-Dec, several types of tape were presented
    as representative stock with associated applications issues .

Without repeating myself again below, the one thing I can foresee is
fully rotating  tape-guides as in MKI/MKII/SFX models. The M300
as you all know used fixed fluon tape guides  (except for the first 5-6 units).

An M400 frame fitted with rotating tape guides or "turnbuckles" might interface

better with newer tape stock.  Hey Streetly/Markus, any thoughts to
providing a "beta-site" test of  my idea ??

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>
> Markus/Martin:  Are you looking into the designs of your machines to drive
> the newer tape formulations?  It sounds like there is general satisfaction
> with the way available tape stock is running, so there's no real need for a
> redesign.

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Ditto my paragraph written above. Any ideas for R&D M400 tapeframe
to "beta-site" test ??      I'm serious....Am willing to evaluate objectively
and
professionally  for the sake of  Mellotron's continued longevity .

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>
> >I'm not interested in buying antiquated
> >tapes at 250.00 a set.
>
> The tapes from the 70s do hold up really well, strangely enough.  I've seen
> enough sets of them.  The set that I got in the Mouseotron would have been
> fine except for the mouse goo all over them (and 2 tapes being spliced with
> masking tape).  I bet I could still clean them up and get them to play OK.
>
> I never liked "planned obsolescence", as the Quantegy people have foisted
> on their customers (reportedly) to make more money when they have to rework
> archive tapes.  But it is understandable that tape has a shelf life and
> will eventually go downhill, just like anything else.
>
> ...kl...
> M400 #805 - kl is going downhill
> M400 #1037 - ...and is largely obsolete

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I managed to save the majority of knackered OEM tapes from ELO's M400/706.
Covered with glop,mold and such, they cleaned-up well with 91% IPA.
With nothing to lose, I also managed to iron-out most  wrinkles on the
worst ones.  Bottom-line, they sound 90% of clean/newer set  .

Another example :  Gordon Reid's tapes as fitted into "Julia" (MK-I/124)
in the early 1980's (one station, no cycling) sound/travel perfectly
in older/newer Streetly M400 tapeframes . They're now within the JKMK6 .

Without tapes, our beloved machines are devoid of sound.
Some of us have openly disagreed on this List about many topics.
'Ya think we could collectively work on this all-important tape issue
to the betterment of the Trons?

Cheers,  ....JK...   (not obsolete YET....occasionally moldy/wrinkled)