The Mellotron Group

Admit it Gary, you don't like John.
 
Today I received a shiny new capstan from Streetly for 525. I just finished 
 setting the keys, pads, rollers and azimuths. It sounds amazing. I may put 
up a  little video for a short time on you tube. The cabinet paint should 
be done by  the end of the week and then I can put it all back together. It 
should go home a  week from Saturday. Gary, I'd love to fix one up for you 
one of these  days.
 
As for the M5000, it's a Mellotronist's machine, not meant necessarily for  
touring, although I can't imagine it would be too much worse than toting a 
B-3  or C-3. It's meant to be played. I don't see Tony moving his from place 
to  place, nor do I see Bernie doing so. If I had one, I'd do with it what 
I do with  the M4000. Play it. Show it off to those who would know what 
they're looking at.  Show it off to anyone who comes into the room where it's 
located whether they  know what it is or not. Brag to everyone I know or meet 
in the music  business that I have one. Drool on it. Wipe off the drool. 
Tinker with  it.
 
Frank
 
 
In a message dated 1/3/2011 6:03:13 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
gabru@comsec.net writes:

 
 
 
 
John, 
You missed my  point completely.  It was only that it ~had~ to be side by 
side due to  the physical layout of the machine.  My point was also that   
to me it  would be more practical to have 2 400s logistically.  An acoustic 
piano  is a lot to haul around but it ~has~ to be that way unless a 
synth/sample   
solution is  used.  Same for a MKII …sure it would be nice to have an 
original but to  set out today to produce something like that would be 
impractical at   
best and a  tiny market for sure.  I have wanted a 400 sin ce I was a kid 
and I am  still intrigued by Mellotrons in general.  I played and recorded 
with  them  
back in the  70s when it was the only thing of its kind and I loved it.  
That’s why I  am here.  But although I have an extensive keyboard set up I 
still can  not  
justify the  price of a current model for the few sounds I like and would 
use.  Others  would and do justify the cost and that’s great for them.  
Please don’t  make  
me out to be  some sort of anti Mellotron guy …I’m not.  I have found it 
more difficult  to get Hammond and Piano samples that I like than 
violin/cello/flute   
samples that  sound like authentic Mellotron.  Most of the Tron recordings  
have  so much reverb, distortion , or other processing added that it is 
sometimes  far removed  
from the  actual sound of the instrument.  Someday….if the economy ever 
returns I  would very much like to pick up a 400 and have it restored by Frank. 
 I  have  
been amazed  at the craftsmanship he puts in to those old machines.  I 
would not take  it out for live gigs but would treat it like my vintage guitars …
.with respect   
and  care. 
Cheers, 
Gary 
 
 
 
From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com  
[mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of john  barrick
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 2:32 PM
To:  newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup]  Re: just throwing this out there too

 
 
 
OK - so Gary's made his point that he doesn't want an M5000 (nor, from what 
 I can tell, a MK II).  To be honest, I"m not sure if he wants an M400 or  
M4000 either (just a vibe I'm picking up).  I, on the other hand will be  
ecstatic the day I can place my M5000 order.  From a position of  ergonomics, 
playing an M5000 (or MK II) can't be any more difficult than  playing a 
piano, and I've yet to hear anyone complain about that. 
 
On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 3:43 PM, Pomeroy RH Ranch 
<_punchbowl4@earthlink.net_ (mailto:punchbowl4@earthlink.net) >  wrote: 
 
 
 
 
well.....stop!

On 1/3/2011 1:16 PM, _fdoddy@aol.com_ (mailto:fdoddy@aol.com)  wrote:  
 
...and I'm still kicking  myself!

fritz 
 

 

 

 

 
 
-----Original Message-----
From:  Gary Brumm _<gabru@comsec.net>_ (mailto:gabru@comsec.net) 
 
To: newmellotrongroup _<newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>_ 
(mailto:newmellotro%20%20ngroup@yahoogroups.com) 
 
Sent: Mon, Jan 3, 2011 3:52  pm
Subject: RE: [newmellotrongroup] Re: just throwing this out there  too
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
…and I am still kicking myself for  not investing in Google at the start…
..and selling at the peak!  J
 
&nbs p;

 
 
 
 
 
From: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
(mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)  [_mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
(mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com?) ] On Behalf Of  Tony
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 12:44 PM
To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
(mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
Subject: Re:  [newmellotrongroup] Re: just throwing this out there  too

 
< /div>  
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
And I'm still kicking myself for not  buying ex Moraz's Mark V.

 
 
Tony



 
 
 
----- Original Message -----  

 
 
From: _David  Jacques_ (mip://05e0bc08/mailt  o:djacques@csulb.edu)  

 
 
To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
(mailto:newmellotrong%20%20roup@yahoogroups.com)   

 
 
Sent: Monday, January 03, 2011 3:40  PM

 
 
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: just  throwing this out there too

 
 


 


 
 
 
Indeed.... There is no way it would  make financial sense to duplicate a 
Mark II. I would probably buy a  vintage Mark II... but only as a collectors 
item as part of my own  keyboard collection. I use samples for live 
performance.   
 
 



 
 
 
I am still kicking myself for not  bidding on the last Mark II up for 
auction. I would have paid a lot more  than it went for.
 


 
 



 
 

 
 
 
 
On Jan 3, 2011, at 12:17 PM, Gary  Brumm wrote:

 


 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
Why not just 2 400s or 4000s or  MKIVs in a L config for better playability…
.not to mention  portability. 

 
Anyone with the money can get a  sampler and anyon e with the money can get 
a 4000 or 5000.  The  overwhelming
 
 
majority opt for the sampler even  if they have the budget for the tape 
machine.  If the mechanical  limitations hadn’t forced the side
 
by side configuration I am sure  they would have stacked the keyboards.  I 
doubt the market would be  much of anything for
 
a side by side Mellotron  today….especially at $10K-$15K. 

 
 
 
 
 
From: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
(mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)  [_mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
(mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) ] On  Behalf Of _lsf5275@aol.com_ 
(mailto:lsf5275@aol.com) 
Sent: Monday, January 03,  2011 11:33 AM
To: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
(mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
Subject: Re:  [newmellotrongroup] Re: just throwing this out there  too



 
 
 
 
 
 
Well, Mark I and II Mellotrons were  that way, and it would be a lot 
simpler to duplicate that layout in a real  2 manual Mellotron than to build them 
over-under. Plus, in the M5000 if  Streetly get around to duplicating that 
big fat-ass bench then we'll  really be in business. Looks like a Mark II for 
that retro feeling. Plays  as well or better than a Mark II. Has 10 times 
the reliability of a Mark  II. What's not to like... as long as you have the 
bucks to afford one.  Anyone can get a sampler... anyone. Not everyone can 
have an M4000 or  M5000.


 
 
I can configure the samples in my  Triton P roX to duplicate a Mark II. 
Haven't yet, but I intend to right  after I finish doing everything else on 
earth I can think of... (and no, I  am not intending to expand stuff I 
can/need/want to do to outer space). I  wish I could have a M5000, but I feel 
fortunate to have the 4000. In this  economy, I don't think I could take delivery 
on one if I had to do so  today.

 
 
 
 
In a message dated 1/3/2011 1:18:02  P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
_gabru@comsec.net_ (mailto:gabru@comsec.net)  writes:


 
 
 
Obviously the original ~had~ t o  be built that way (mechanical logistics) 
but why you would want to  connect 2 manuals

 
side by side in ~modern~ times is  beyond me…..