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Fw: [Mellotronists] 'Trons on eBay (in general)

Fw: [Mellotronists] 'Trons on eBay (in general)

2005-06-25 by jonesalley

Curiously enough, the late '70s-era monster Korg polyphonics, the PS-3100 
and PS-3200 are also prone to spoofing.  I've seen three come through the 
last few years and every single one had one or two duplicates, one of which 
even used the same photos another one did with photoshopped logos ghosted 
onto them!


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John Hofmeyer" <j_hofmeyer@...>
To: "mellotrongirl" <mellotrongirl@...>; 
<Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
Show quoted textHide quoted text
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 3:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] 'Trons on eBay (in general)


> Having watched all of the Mellotrons come up for sale, and
> coveting everyone of them, it seems that for ever bonifide,
> legitimate instrument that goes on eBay, a duplicate listing
> is posted weeks later.
>
> I doubt that mellotrons are the only item subject to such
> blaspheme, however, I doubt any other item on eBay inspires
> as much loyalty.
>
> I never did follow up on the Bay Area mellotron.  I did speak
> with the owner over the phone, and I'm very confident that it
> was a legit sale.
>
> The heap o' tron (not to be confused with the Uriah Heap
> 'tron) slipped away from my bidding range in the last minute
> of the auction.  That instrument went for over $1500 - which
> is more than I paid for my Jeep (...though less than I paid
> for either of my drumkits...)
>
> It seems the mellotrons are kind of like Cabbage Patch kids
> (to make a very bad, mid-80s American-pop-culture reference)
> Each one has its own unique story and, eventually, you end up
> with the one that was intended for you.
>
> ...ok, enough of the new age crap....
>
> I deserved that damn Uriah Heap 'tron.  Hell - I have a
> picture with Lee Kerslake to prove the magnitude of my
> fan-dome.  A tape rack with David Byron's feeble attempts at
> mimicking Ian Gillan would have been very interesting.
>
> ok, I'll shut up now.  quite a rant, esp. after finishing a
> gig and having my fill of American swill (budweiser)...
>
> -jh
>
>
>
>
> --- mellotrongirl <mellotrongirl@...> wrote:
>
>> Interesting no one hit on recent Mellotron units presented
>> on eBay
>> these days (yet then again, there's the damaged unit that
>> did
>> apparently sell, so hopefully we'll be updated by
>> refurbishing stories
>> from time to time in the near future...or it will be
>> presented as
>> either a planter or an end table on eBay down the road). It
>> seems the
>> last satisfied customer outside of official sales sources
>> was a
>> craigslist offering in the Bay Area a few months ago.
>>
>> I think the Uriah Heap (sic) unit was the one the scared us
>> off from
>> internet purchases "How Can You Be Two Places @ Once When
>> You're Not
>> Any where At All" - Firesign Theater, 1970 Where the heck
>> was that
>> thing anyway? Bermuda? Minnesota? St. Louis? Is there some
>> cloning of
>> 'trons going on in this country in light of the Bush
>> administration?
>>
>> Everything since then came across as a bit pricey, and
>> everything
>> before  suffered an early cancellation (read: backdoor
>> sale).
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: Fw: [Mellotronists] 'Trons on eBay (in general)

2005-06-25 by NormLeete@aol.com

In a message dated 25/06/2005 09:59:11 GMT Daylight Time,  jonesalley@... 
writes:

Curiously enough, the late '70s-era monster Korg polyphonics, the  PS-3100 
and PS-3200 are also prone to spoofing.


.. and ARP2600's, or anything that is hard to get hold of but sought  after...
 
Norm
 
PS: I've also had a fair number of instruments come to me for repair from  
owners who thought they had got a bargain - but didn't. But to be fair some  
sellers are genuine.

Re: Fw: [Mellotronists] 'Trons on eBay (in general)

2005-07-06 by lsf5275@aol.com

I recently purchased my 2nd Tron from a fellow list member who happened to  
live only 15 minutes away. He posted on this list that he wanted to sell it. I  
have been waiting several years to find a 2nd one. 
 
Before I went to his house to see it he emailed me a photo. Cabinet in  
excellent shape. I went to his home and was given all the time I needed to  examine 
it. It hadn't been played in many years, but all the right parts were  there 
and did not appear to have pin puked in, had beer or other liquids spilled  in 
it, and surprise, no dead animals! The price seemed very reasonable  
($2,000.00) and I took it home.
 
To get it into playing condition ended up requiring a bit of work. The  pinch 
rollers were fine, but all of the felts on the pressure pads and key  springs 
had to be replaced, the power supply was dead and had to be resurrected  by 
our own Jerry Korb (thanks Jerry). It needed a replacement motor (I had a  
spare) a new pitch pot (had one) and, ultimately a replaced SMS board (had one). 
 
I went through the whole machine and cleaned, squared and polished  
everything. Now I have a Mellotron that sings loud and clear (actually, I have  two 
that do). No wobblies, no instability and no hum. Total investment well  under 3K.
 
Thanks to Jerry, Martin and Markus for advice and assistance. What a  
wonderful group we have!
 
My advice... If you want to buy a Tron, be patient, do your homework and  ask 
for help from folks on this list. I have rebuilt a bunch of these things and  
I learn new things every day. There is a wealth of information at our 
disposal  and a willingness to help, and chances are, if the Tron you want is not 
close to  home, there is someone on this list who might be able to check it out 
for  you.
 
Frank (1562 and 430)

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