The Mellotron Group

Serial number is 1541. It looks to have had some parts from Sound Sales at  
some point. It has a PML 1 and an SMS 3.
 
 
In a message dated 3/1/2011 12:25:18 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
pocotron@yahoo.com writes:



What a project!  You can do it, Frank!  All  the chassis parts look ok, but 
BOY it was abused!  I see it  has a decent motor controller, and the red 
switch cap is intact.  I  look forward to seeing your new cabinet.  Will it be 
classic in  dimensions, or something new?  What is the serial number of 
this  unit?
 
   -Bruce D.


--- On Mon, 2/28/11, lsf5275@aol.com  <lsf5275@aol.com> wrote:



From:  lsf5275@aol.com <lsf5275@aol.com>
Subject: Re:  [newmellotrongroup] Re: Freddy Fender Mellotron
To:  newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, February 28, 2011,  1:46 PM


Cello, Strings, Flute. I'm guessing M400 Strings but he doesn't  know and I 
haven't heard either frame because it don't work. I've  already started 
tearing it apart. Since I don't have another 400  around at this time, I'll 
have to wait a bit to hear the tapes.
 
I'm going to build it a new cabinet. The plan for now is to build  it out 
of all MDF or a combination of MDF and Baltic Birch  plywood.
 
 
Frank
 
 
In a message dated 2/28/2011 3:29:14 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
tspit74@comcast.net writes:



Cool  Frank. Just out of curiosity, what tape set did this Leo character  
have loaded into his tron?
----- Original Message -----
From:  lsf5275@aol.com
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent:  Monday, February 28, 2011 1:53:09 PM
Subject: Re:  [newmellotrongroup] Re: Freddy Fender Mellotron

From right here on the list. A few week ago Matt Meixner popped  up with 
one to sell. I drove out to Milwaukee the weekend before  last and picked it 
up. Matt also has a Mark VI with four tape  frames.
 
I can't verify for dead certain this is that machine unless Leo  can find 
his purchase receipt or until I can complete the link to  Matt. I have to 
verify one more transaction. The odds are likely  that this is it, but I'm 
working to be sure. Otherwise, I'll have to  say is "might" be the one.
 
 
 
In a message dated 2/28/2011 12:30:57 P.M. Eastern Standard  Time, 
gabru@comsec.net writes:

 

 
Nice find Frank.  How  did you acquire it?

Gary




 
 
 
From:  newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com  
[mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of  lsf5275@aol.com
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 9:22  AM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject:  [new mellotrongroup] Re: Freddy Fender  Mellotron



 
It appears that I have acquired  the actual Mellotron that was used on the 
1974 recording session in  which Freddy Fender re-recorded Wasted Days and 
Wasted Nights, which  went on to be a big hit. It was owned and played by a 
man named Leo  O'neil, who was actually a horn player. I tracked Leo down and 
he gave  me some history. He says he also played it live quite a bit and 
told  me the one night Patrick Moraz was in the audience at one of Leo's  
gigs. It was after a Moody Blues show and Patrick came out and caught  his show. 
Afterward, Leo says that Patrick came up to him and  complimented him on 
his playing style and on the sound he was getting  out of it.

 


 
Leo attributes his skill on the  Mellotron to the fact that as a horn 
player he was used to playing  fewer notes and to holding them for brief periods. 
He said his  playing style was, "to use only one or two fingers down low 
and the  one finger an octave or more above, and to move around on the 
keyboard  so as not to run the tape out."

 


 
So there you have  it.

 


 
I only have to trace one more  link and I'll know for sure that this is 
that  machine.

 


 
It's a real mess, but it will  get better.