Mellotronists

I talked to the guy who was selling #319. (I live close to San Antonio, 
so I figured that this was my chance to get a tron at a good price; 
that is, without shipping charges, etc. - and to actually inspect it 
before I bought it.) In a phone conversation, the tron owner stated 
that he had that tron on the road with him for many years, but that he 
"would not turn it on"  so I could inspect it because he was afraid 
that the motor might not work (after 15 years of storage.) He further 
stated the tron was working properly when he put it in storage, but 
that he knew that the tapes, rollers, etc, needed to be replaced. Ask 
yourself these questions: "Do I really believe that this tron was 
working properly when it was stored, given that the "business end" of 
this machine was in need of repair?" - "...and what about that 
motor?!!" Just do the math: rollers, tapes, motor, tubes, and other 
misc. parts = BIG BUCKS... but here is the money question: "When it is 
possible to buy a new one for just over 5 grand, why take the chance on 
a "pig in a poke?""

Thanks,
Galen Niles

PS - no sour grapes... just reality.

Greetings,

Pictures of #319 were posted to this group in June 2004 as "SA 
MELLOTRON".  They are the same ones that appeared on eBay.

Could a scam artist use those pictures to create a fake sale on eBay?

Regards,
Jim

>Ask yourself these questions: "Do I really believe that this tron was
>working properly when it was stored, given that the "business end" of
>this machine was in need of repair?" - "...and what about that
>motor?!!" Just do the math: rollers, tapes, motor, tubes, and other
>misc. parts = BIG BUCKS... but here is the money question: "When it is
>possible to buy a new one for just over 5 grand, why take the chance on
>a "pig in a poke?""

Nope, not sour grapes, but, yep, reality - take it from someone who picked 
up such an item knowing it would take some work and wound up replacing the 
motor in addition to the usual stuff.  Nowadays with the US$ exchange rate 
it can add up quickly.

But even with the extra dosh thrown in for the motor, it was still 
cost-effective (relatively speaking), considering I can do much of the work 
myself.  But I don't have a spiffy new machine with a warranty, of course, 
and it plays like an old Mellotron.

Basically these things ARE fixable if you have enough good stuff 
there.  Many times it's replacing the CMC-10 and a few rollers.  If you 
wind up with an EMI or a badly-treated unit, it could get a bit more 
costly.  If it's a Mark II...well, I wouldn't tackle one myself.  I'd bring 
it to Vermont.  :-)

...kl...
M400 #805 - decidedly not spiffy
M400 #1037 - decidedly mousy