Hey everyone,
Long time since I've written, but always like reading the posts here. All this talk of food temptations made me need to make some toast before I wrote! Mmmm...
Anyway, I'm just in the process of recording a number of songs for my new CD that use Mellotron prominently enough for a lot of them... & The Sound NEVER gets old! In fact, if you listen, there's an awful lot in commercials & on records to this day. It might have been at last year's Grammies (?), there was terrific tribute to the Beach Boys, and a keyboardist in that group had a proper M400 onstage. I was thrilled! Then again, some months back, on one of the late-night talk shows, there was a band playing whose female keyboardist sported a 4000D along with other toys. Again, I was so happy to see the NAME well-represented as well as the sound. Mellotron is alive an' kicking! It's just a
sound for the ages, yes?
I lament DEEPLY that my M400 #1485 has for a long time had a burned out motor, & I just haven't been able to get it repaired or replaced, but the day WILL come, & I'll have that puppy back in good order. I replaced the electronics as suggestions & mod kits came along, & it's always played beautifully, since I bought it used, but truly in NEW condition, in 1977. So for my more recent work
(& I cringe & turn a little red when I say it) I've had to resort to the M-Tron Pro for my Mellotron sounds. It is SO true, there's NO feel, & it makes me crazy not having the swell pedal underfoot, but it gets 90% of the job done when it comes to the ambiance of it. That, & it's undeniably convenient - as any of the digitals are - if you want to pick from ALL the sounds ever recorded for Mellotrons, Chamberlins or any other pre-recording-based keyboard. I had the joy of playing the 4000D at NAMM L.A. last year... pretty amazing! But still, that ol' wooden keyboard... the feeling of the capstan turning & anticipating when you're gonna "run out" so you DON'T... all the joys & foibles of The Real Thing, indeed. Nuthin' like it.
Well, what got me writing is your comment, Bernie, about "top access." I too, have long had either a Mini-Moog or a very heavy Memory-Moog synth atop my 400, once I stopped using the 'tron with my live band. (Well, that live band stopped.) It's been in my studio since, used in much TV & film scoring, as well as my own stuff. But since I've had it, I've solved the "getting INTO it" problem by building a VERY simple "inverted" U-shaped wooden frame (of 3/4" x 12" boards), with about an inch or 2 clearance on each side,
& tall enough to fit over the top of the Mellotron as it sits on a small dolly, again, with about an inch of clearance. I believe the dolly's an old Ampeg amp dolly, & it fits perfectly between the feet of the 'tron, lifting them just enough off the floor to make it easy to pull out & push back in. (Why does that just sound SO wrong? Or RIGHT?? HA!) I set the 2 fixed dolly casters for "push-pull" use & it couldn't work better. There are also 2 reinforcing boards across the back of this frame, at the top & about halfway down, so that power & outputs aren't blocked, to prevent the whole thing from wobbling. I stained it a cherry color, similar to the wooden parts on the Memory-Moog; it looks great, & it's a perfect way to make the Mellotron innards as easily accessible as ever. Easy & CHEAP,
too!
Just some thoughts. Sorry for the lengthy message. 'Tron-ward!
Cheers, everyone!
Berington
Berington Van Campen
Van Campen Productions / V.C.MusiCorp Scoring Services
VCMusiCorp1@yahoo.com
The BEATUNES - Beatles Tribute Band
www.TheBeatunes.com
(626) 458-4474 Home/Office
www.myspace.com/berington (Music)
www.facebook.com/berington
Van Campen Productions / V.C.MusiCorp Scoring Services
VCMusiCorp1@yahoo.com
The BEATUNES - Beatles Tribute Band
www.TheBeatunes.com
(626) 458-4474 Home/Office
www.myspace.com/berington (Music)
www.facebook.com/berington