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Compare Chamberlins and Mellotrons

Compare Chamberlins and Mellotrons

2011-04-27 by Wendy

After Bernie's post I was thinking maybe we could talk about differences in the machines- probably done before but alot of new folks posting. Frank's book gave general overviews but I still have questions. The earliest mellotrons MKI MKII , and M300's had high impedence tape heads- I'm assuming the Musicmasters did too. The M400 and Chamberlin M1 switched to low....I wonder why. 
   The M1 has eight track tape heads and uses 1/2 inch tape. With eight sounds that gives each track 1/16" of the tape. The M400 has three tracks on a 3/8 inch tape= 1/8inch per track. Normally that would be considered better, right? The tape heads of the M1 are stereo, the M400 are mono. I have heard that the quality of the heads in the M1 are better. They do sound different when played side by side- the M1 seems brighter. I don't know how much that has to do with the preamps. 
    The return system on the M1 is completely different. Using a seperate motor and "capstan" weird little rings engage when you stop playing a note and pull the tape back. I am slightly mechanically inclined, can adjust these but have no idea how they work! This feature allows the chamberlin to be considerably smaller than the M400- not having to house all the springs.
    Maintainence! In order to clean the tape heads on an M1 you will need to take off the keys one by one and then remove the pinch roller and pad assembly of each note. You then can carefully lift the tape away from the head and clean it. Whew! If any of the more experienced users on this list have figured out how to demagnetize an M1 please let me know. I think that Richard Chamberlin must have made alot of house calls back in the 70's!
MkII owners -how do you clean and demag the heads?  The genius of the M400 design becomes so clear...4 thumb screws and the keyboard comes off. 4 thumb screws and the tape rack comes out! Hurray!
   You have 8 sounds in the M1 altogether and six possible stereo combinations- really nice. You are going to really need to love those sounds for a long time because changing them will not be easy. I DO love the 8 in my machine and will for all time but am glad I have an m400 for other sounds.

King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-02 by Robert

Has anybody on this list received an advance copy of the new album ? What are your thoughts and / or opinions ?

Thanks,

Robert


http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/
Show quoted textHide quoted text

Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-02 by Bruce Daily

Hi-
  Opinion.  The sample video of "A Scarcity of Miracles" (noted that it was an "edit") gave me the initial impression of un-Crimson-like production smoothness.  Okay, it is a King Crimson "Projekct", so it kind of removes itself from KC.  Nice variable ambience.  The music dosen't fly anywhere unique.  Fripp's guitar is buried.  No excuse for the sax sounding too much like Kenny G.  So, it is hard to listen to it twice.  There it is, no apologies.
 
   -Bruce D.


--- On Sun, 5/1/11, Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com> wrote:
Show quoted textHide quoted text
From: Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, May 1, 2011, 9:27 PM


  







Has anybody on this list received an advance copy of the new album ?  What are your thoughts and / or opinions ?

Thanks,

Robert


http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/

RE: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-02 by Gary Brumm

Hi Bruce,

As a huge KC fan since the early days I couldn’t agree more with your review. It is spot on. I hope the rest of the album

is better than this. It seems to be without direction and uninspired. Very strange mix as well.

Gary

From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Daily
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 9:00 AM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

Hi-

Opinion. The sample video of "A Scarcity of Miracles" (noted that it was an "edit") gave me the initial impression of un-Crimson-like production smoothness. Okay, it is a King Crimson "Projekct", so it kind of removes itself from KC. Nice variable ambience. The music dosen't fly anywhere unique. Fripp's guitar is buried. No excuse for the sax sounding too much like Kenny G. So, it is hard to listen to it twice. There it is, no apologies.

-Bruce D.



--- On Sun, 5/1/11, Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, May 1, 2011, 9:27 PM

Has anybody on this list received an advance copy of the new album ? What are your thoughts and / or opinions ?

Thanks,

Robert


http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/

Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-02 by tronbros

Looking forward to it!

M

mellotronics.co.uk
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On 2 May 2011, at 17:55, Gary Brumm <gabru@comsec.net> wrote:

> Hi Bruce,
> 
>  
> 
> As a huge KC fan since the early days I couldn’t agree more with your review.  It is spot on.  I hope the rest of the album
> 
> is better than this.  It seems to be without direction and uninspired.  Very strange mix as well. 
> 
>  
> 
> Gary
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Daily
> Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 9:00 AM
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> Hi-
> 
>   Opinion.  The sample video of "A Scarcity of Miracles" (noted that it was an "edit") gave me the initial impression of un-Crimson-like production smoothness.  Okay, it is a King Crimson "Projekct", so it kind of removes itself from KC.  Nice variable ambience.  The music dosen't fly anywhere unique.  Fripp's guitar is buried.  No excuse for the sax sounding too much like Kenny G.  So, it is hard to listen to it twice.  There it is, no apologies.
> 
>  
> 
>    -Bruce D.
> 
> 
> 
> --- On Sun, 5/1/11, Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> From: Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com>
> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Sunday, May 1, 2011, 9:27 PM
> 
>  
> 
> Has anybody on this list received an advance copy of the new album ?  What are your thoughts and / or opinions ?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Robert
> 
> 
> http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/
> 
> 
>

Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-02 by tronbros

It has to be better than the musical tedium of REM which has somehow hoodwinked the world.  What I have heard is NOT KC but musical nonetheless.

M

mellotronics.co.uk
Show quoted textHide quoted text
On 2 May 2011, at 23:26, tronbros <tronbros@aol.com> wrote:

> Looking forward to it!
> 
> M
> 
> mellotronics.co.uk
> 
> 
> 
> On 2 May 2011, at 17:55, Gary Brumm <gabru@comsec.net> wrote:
> 
>>  
>> Hi Bruce,
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> As a huge KC fan since the early days I couldn’t agree more with your review.  It is spot on.  I hope the rest of the album
>> 
>> is better than this.  It seems to be without direction and uninspired.  Very strange mix as well. 
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Gary
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Daily
>> Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 9:00 AM
>> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
>> Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Hi-
>> 
>>   Opinion.  The sample video of "A Scarcity of Miracles" (noted that it was an "edit") gave me the initial impression of un-Crimson-like production smoothness.  Okay, it is a King Crimson "Projekct", so it kind of removes itself from KC.  Nice variable ambience.  The music dosen't fly anywhere unique.  Fripp's guitar is buried.  No excuse for the sax sounding too much like Kenny G.  So, it is hard to listen to it twice.  There it is, no apologies.
>> 
>>  
>> 
>>    -Bruce D.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> --- On Sun, 5/1/11, Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> From: Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com>
>> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles
>> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
>> Date: Sunday, May 1, 2011, 9:27 PM
>> 
>>  
>> 
>> Has anybody on this list received an advance copy of the new album ?  What are your thoughts and / or opinions ?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Robert
>> 
>> 
>> http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/
>> 
>> 
> 
>

Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-02 by lsf5275@aol.com

Both hardly seem relevant anymore, with little to say. They have that in  
common.
 
 
 
In a message dated 5/2/2011 6:34:31 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
tronbros@aol.com writes:

 
 
 
It has to be better than the musical tedium of REM which has somehow  
hoodwinked the world.  What I have heard is NOT KC but musical  nonetheless.


M

_mellotronics.co.uk_ (http://mellotronics.co.uk/)   






On 2 May 2011, at 23:26, tronbros <_tronbros@aol.com_ 
(mailto:tronbros@aol.com) > wrote:





 
Looking forward to it!


M

_mellotronics.co.uk_ (http://mellotronics.co.uk/)   






On 2 May 2011, at 17:55, Gary Brumm <_gabru@comsec.net_ 
(mailto:gabru@comsec.net) >  wrote:





 
 
Hi  Bruce, 
As a huge  KC fan since the early days I couldn’t agree more with your 
review.   It is spot on.  I hope the rest of the album  
is better  than this.  It seems to be without direction and uninspired.   
Very strange mix as well.   
Gary
Show quoted textHide quoted text
From: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ 
(mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)   [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bruce  
Daily
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 9:00 AM
To:  (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
_newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
Subject:  Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of  
Miracles

 
 
     
     
 
Hi-
 
Opinion.  The sample video of "A Scarcity of Miracles"  (noted that it was 
an "edit") gave me the initial impression  of un-Crimson-like production 
smoothness.  Okay, it is a  King Crimson "Projekct", so it kind of removes 
itself from  KC.  Nice variable ambience.  The music dosen't fly  anywhere 
unique.  Fripp's guitar is buried.  No  excuse for the sax sounding too much like 
Kenny G.  So,  it is hard to listen to it twice.  There it is, no  
apologies.
 

 
-Bruce D.
 


---  On Sun, 5/1/11, Robert < (mailto:rmrmax@yahoo.com) _rmrmax@yahoo.com_ 
(mailto:rmrmax@yahoo.com) >  wrote:


From:  Robert < (mailto:rmrmax@yahoo.com) _rmrmax@yahoo.com_ 
(mailto:rmrmax@yahoo.com) >
Subject:  [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of  
Miracles
To:  (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
_newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_ (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) 
Date:  Sunday, May 1, 2011, 9:27 PM 
 
 
     
Has anybody on this list received  an advance copy of the new album ?  What 
are your  thoughts and / or opinions  ?

Thanks,

Robert


 (http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/) 
_http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/_ 
(http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/)

RE: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-02 by Gary Brumm

Where’s Adrian Belew when you need him eh?

….I guess he is Happy to be happy with what he has to be happy with ….. J

Show quoted textHide quoted text

From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lsf5275@aol.com
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 3:50 PM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

Both hardly seem relevant anymore, with little to say. They have that in common.

In a message dated 5/2/2011 6:34:31 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, tronbros@aol.com writes:

It has to be better than the musical tedium of REM which has somehow hoodwinked the world. What I have heard is NOT KC but musical nonetheless.


On 2 May 2011, at 23:26, tronbros <tronbros@aol.com> wrote:

Looking forward to it!


On 2 May 2011, at 17:55, Gary Brumm <gabru@comsec.net> wrote:

Hi Bruce,

As a huge KC fan since the early days I couldn’t agree more with your review. It is spot on. I hope the rest of the album

is better than this. It seems to be without direction and uninspired. Very strange mix as well.

Gary

From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Daily
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 9:00 AM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

Hi-

Opinion. The sample video of "A Scarcity of Miracles" (noted that it was an "edit") gave me the initial impression of un-Crimson-like production smoothness. Okay, it is a King Crimson "Projekct", so it kind of removes itself from KC. Nice variable ambience. The music dosen't fly anywhere unique. Fripp's guitar is buried. No excuse for the sax sounding too much like Kenny G. So, it is hard to listen to it twice. There it is, no apologies.

-Bruce D.



--- On Sun, 5/1/11, Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, May 1, 2011, 9:27 PM

Has anybody on this list received an advance copy of the new album ? What are your thoughts and / or opinions ?

Thanks,

Robert


http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/

Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-02 by Thomas C. Doncourt

I saw King Crimson's 40th anniversary concert with Porcupine tree's
drummer as well as Pat Mastellato (sp?) ....They kicked my ass and for a
band that has nothing to say I heard "go home and practice" pretty loud
and clear. I do think that Fripp has to have a "songwriter" on board to do
any of the real classical Crimson work....
Show quoted textHide quoted text
> Both hardly seem relevant anymore, with little to say. They have that in
> common.
>
>
>
> In a message dated 5/2/2011 6:34:31 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> tronbros@aol.com writes:
>
>
>
>
> It has to be better than the musical tedium of REM which has somehow
> hoodwinked the world.  What I have heard is NOT KC but musical
> nonetheless.
>
>
> M
>
> _mellotronics.co.uk_ (http://mellotronics.co.uk/)
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 2 May 2011, at 23:26, tronbros <_tronbros@aol.com_
> (mailto:tronbros@aol.com) > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Looking forward to it!
>
>
> M
>
> _mellotronics.co.uk_ (http://mellotronics.co.uk/)
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 2 May 2011, at 17:55, Gary Brumm <_gabru@comsec.net_
> (mailto:gabru@comsec.net) >  wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi  Bruce,
> As a huge  KC fan since the early days I couldn\u2019t agree more with your
> review.   It is spot on.  I hope the rest of the album
> is better  than this.  It seems to be without direction and uninspired.
> Very strange mix as well.
> Gary
>
>
>
> From: _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bruce
> Daily
> Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 9:00 AM
> To:  (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> Subject:  Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of
> Miracles
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hi-
>
> Opinion.  The sample video of "A Scarcity of Miracles"  (noted that it was
> an "edit") gave me the initial impression  of un-Crimson-like production
> smoothness.  Okay, it is a  King Crimson "Projekct", so it kind of removes
> itself from  KC.  Nice variable ambience.  The music dosen't fly  anywhere
> unique.  Fripp's guitar is buried.  No  excuse for the sax sounding too
> much like
> Kenny G.  So,  it is hard to listen to it twice.  There it is, no
> apologies.
>
>
>
> -Bruce D.
>
>
>
> ---  On Sun, 5/1/11, Robert < (mailto:rmrmax@yahoo.com) _rmrmax@yahoo.com_
> (mailto:rmrmax@yahoo.com) >  wrote:
>
>
> From:  Robert < (mailto:rmrmax@yahoo.com) _rmrmax@yahoo.com_
> (mailto:rmrmax@yahoo.com) >
> Subject:  [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of
> Miracles
> To:  (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> _newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com_
> (mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com)
> Date:  Sunday, May 1, 2011, 9:27 PM
>
>
>
> Has anybody on this list received  an advance copy of the new album ?
> What
> are your  thoughts and / or opinions  ?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Robert
>
>
>  (http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/)
> _http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/_
> (http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Re: King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-03 by feline1973

Count yerself lucky the sax doesn't sound like Kenny from South Park.


--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Daily <pocotron@...> wrote:
  No excuse for the sax sounding too much like Kenny G.  So, it is hard to listen to it twice.  There it is, no apologies.

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-03 by Tony

It would have some redeaming value IF it sounded like Kenny from South Park!
As is it has none to me.
Tony
Show quoted textHide quoted text
----- Original Message -----
From: feline1973
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 8:42 AM
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

Count yerself lucky the sax doesn't sound like Kenny from South Park.

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Bruce Daily wrote:
No excuse for the sax sounding too much like Kenny G. So, it is hard to listen to it twice. There it is, no apologies.

Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

2011-05-04 by fdoddy@aol.com

yeah, REM just churns out the same melodies kinda like Jane's Addiction.  I don't mind music being simple, just be smart about it,please.

fritz
Show quoted textHide quoted text
-----Original Message-----
From: tronbros <tronbros@aol.com>
To: newmellotrongroup <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Mon, May 2, 2011 6:34 pm
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles


  
    
                  

It has to be better than the musical tedium of REM which has somehow hoodwinked the world.  What I have heard is NOT KC but musical nonetheless.


M

mellotronics.co.uk






On 2 May 2011, at 23:26, tronbros <tronbros@aol.com> wrote:




     
                  

Looking forward to it!


M

mellotronics.co.uk






On 2 May 2011, at 17:55, Gary Brumm <gabru@comsec.net> wrote:




     
                  

Hi Bruce,
 
As a huge KC fan since the early days I couldn’t agree more with your review.  It is spot on.  I hope the rest of the album 
is better than this.  It seems to be without direction and uninspired.  Very strange mix as well.  
 
Gary
 
 


From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Daily
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 9:00 AM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles

 
  







Hi-

  Opinion.  The sample video of "A Scarcity of Miracles" (noted that it was an "edit") gave me the initial impression of un-Crimson-like production smoothness.  Okay, it is a King Crimson "Projekct", so it kind of removes itself from KC.  Nice variable ambience.  The music dosen't fly anywhere unique.  Fripp's guitar is buried.  No excuse for the sax sounding too much like Kenny G.  So, it is hard to listen to it twice.  There it is, no apologies.

 

   -Bruce D.



--- On Sun, 5/1/11, Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: Robert <rmrmax@yahoo.com>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] King Crimson ProjeKct - A Scarcity Of Miracles
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, May 1, 2011, 9:27 PM

  



Has anybody on this list received an advance copy of the new album ?  What are your thoughts and / or opinions ?

Thanks,

Robert


http://www.burningshed.com/store/kingcrimson/multiproduct/313/2188/

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