Mellotronists group photo

Yahoo Groups archive

Mellotronists

Index last updated: 2026-04-05 19:44 UTC

Thread

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: The M-Tron...Low and High notes

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: The M-Tron...Low and High notes

2006-04-09 by Jerry Korb

mettalliccasucks wrote:

> > I would like to know how Mike Pinder got all those low notes ...
>
> I get some exceptionally  L O W  notes when the power company "load
> sheds" and drops the 120VAC to 60-80 volts.
>
> Whenever that happens the "bass tron" makes some pretty interesting
> sounds, but being afraid of encountering a dreaded whisp of black
> smoke or burning smell and having to call Martin for parts, I turn it
> off and wait until the ceiling fan is back to spinning at normal speed
> ...     Jim

___________________________________________________________


Greetings Gang,   Mike Pinder's MK-II's were upgraded to DC motor
controls in the late 1960's. Same time as release of  "ISOTLC, Threshold.....,
and To Our Children's........"

First-generation CMC4 motor-control used. Quite possible that the Tronmeister
used the centre-speed control instead of regular pitch knob to achieve those
low notes , way past the normal +/- 20% pitch variation.

Rick Wakeman did the reverse on "Tales From Topo....Oceans."
He cranked-up the CMC-10 to max, and doubled the brass/choirs on portions
of the last last two sides.  Result was a choir section sounding more like
the Three Chipmunks.....

Finally, Good 'Ol Harry incorporated a dimmer control on some Chamberlins
to give 0-100% motor-speed change.  Stable, Harry only knows......

Signed,  --Dave Seville

Re: [Mellotronists] Re: The M-Tron...Low and High notes

2006-04-09 by lsf5275@aol.com

In a message dated 4/8/2006 9:48:34 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
jkorb@... writes:

Greetings Gang,   Mike Pinder's MK-II's were upgraded to DC  motor
controls in the late 1960's. Same time as release of  "ISOTLC,  
Threshold.....,
and To Our Children's........"

First-generation CMC4  motor-control used. Quite possible that the Tronmeister
used the  centre-speed control instead of regular pitch knob to achieve those
low  notes , way past the normal +/- 20% pitch variation.

Rick Wakeman did  the reverse on "Tales From Topo....Oceans."
He cranked-up the CMC-10 to  max, and doubled the brass/choirs on portions
of the last last two  sides.  Result was a choir section sounding more like
the Three  Chipmunks.....

Finally, Good 'Ol Harry incorporated a dimmer control on  some Chamberlins
to give 0-100% motor-speed change.  Stable, Harry  only knows......

Signed,  --Dave  Seville



ALVIN!!!
 
I told you not to hang out on this  list!

Move to quarantaine

This moves the raw source file on disk only. The archive index is not changed automatically, so you still need to run a manual refresh afterward.