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Tape guide

Tape guide

2007-12-02 by Hessel Herder

Hi guys,

Any of you ever had this on a tron: mechanical whine when playing a key?The pinchroller of the key is rolling perfectly,and the tape makes no contact with the tape guides,as far as I can tell.This mechanical artifact comes thru on the audio output for some reason.Any ideas?

Cheers,H

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Tape guide

2007-12-03 by Rick Blechta


On Dec 2, 2007, at 4:16 PM, Hessel Herder wrote:

Any of you ever had this on a tron: mechanical whine when playing a key?The pinchroller of the key is rolling perfectly,and the tape makes no contact with the tape guides,as far as I can tell.This mechanical artifact comes thru on the audio output for some reason.Any ideas?


I've heard Martin whine when a play various notes on the mellotron, but then, I've also heard Martin whine when I'm not within a 10-foot cattle prod of a mellotron. I think he just whines and there's nothing to be done about it.

Rick

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Tape guide

2007-12-03 by john barrick

If it comes across on all three tracks, then it may be the playback head
or its wiring. If only one track, then its probably the tape. Is it
actually mechanical in nature? Can you hear it if your amplifier is
turned down or off?
john barrick
1407


Hessel Herder wrote:
>
> Hi guys,
>
> Any of you ever had this on a tron: mechanical whine when playing a
> key?The pinchroller of the key is rolling perfectly,and the tape makes
> no contact with the tape guides,as far as I can tell.This mechanical
> artifact comes thru on the audio output for some reason.Any ideas?
>
> Cheers,H
>
> .
>
>

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Tape guide

2007-12-03 by lsf5275@aol.com

In a message dated 12/2/2007 7:44:39 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, astroboy@cinci.rr.com writes:
If it comes across on all three tracks, then it may be the playback head
or its wiring. If only one track, then its probably the tape. Is it
actually mechanical in nature? Can you hear it if your amplifier is
turned down or off?
john barrick
1407
I have tons of new (old) original stock matched tape heads. They have never been used.
 
Frank II



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Re: [newmellotrongroup] Tape guide

2007-12-03 by Jack Younger

Have you demagnetized the headblock lately?
-Jack


--- Hessel Herder <hessel@soundscape.nl> wrote:

> Hi guys,
>
> Any of you ever had this on a tron: mechanical whine
> when playing a key?The pinchroller of the key is
> rolling perfectly,and the tape makes no contact with
> the tape guides,as far as I can tell.This mechanical
> artifact comes thru on the audio output for some
> reason.Any ideas?
>
> Cheers,H
>
>
>



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Re: [newmellotrongroup] Tape guide

2007-12-03 by tronbros@aol.com

Hello Hessel,
 
A good pressure pad should give you full sound after 1/4 turn only of the adjustment screw.  You then add the extra pressure and we now use 1/2 a turn.  If your pressure pad comes in r e a l l y slowly, say a full turn or two full turns to get the sound prior to the final adjustment, you could be hearing physical drag.  I will send out the correct pressure pad shape.  This is a guide only as it all depends on each head which do vary slightly.  We suspect a lot of pressure pads are slow at coming in and the end result is an over adjusted pinchroller and that classic heavy feel mellotron keyboard.   Incidentally, a good roller should come up to full speed between 1/4 and 1/2 turn before the final pressure of 1 full turn.  ALWAYS ADJUST YOUR PAD FIRST AS THE ROLLER HAS TO FIGHT THAT DRAG.  You have been warned. 
 
These instructions do not apply to matt black backed tapes which are a frigging nightmare.   House bricks or lead off the church roof can help in these circumstances.
 
Best,
 
Martin
 
Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic

www.mellotronics.com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol.com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink.net

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Tape guide

2007-12-03 by NormLeete@aol.com

In a message dated 03/12/2007 00:35:28 GMT Standard Time, rick@rickblechta.com writes:
Any of you ever had this on a tron: mechanical whine when playing a key?The pinchroller of the key is rolling perfectly,and the tape makes no contact with the tape guides,as far as I can tell.This mechanical artifact comes thru on the audio output for some reason.Any ideas?
My old EMI used to squeak on one note. This was caused by the pad arm being bent incorrectly or by a gorilla adjusting it.
 
Squeak was removed during the Streetly rebuild along with a whole load of other problems.
 
I wonder what happened to that machine...
 
Norm

RE: [newmellotrongroup] Tape guide

2007-12-03 by Hessel Herder

I've still got the new Streetly frame in.However your adjustment tips are interesting as #920 would never give sound with just a 1/4 or 1/2 turn.Is this an age thing or man-made?

I've flushed the machines blackbacked tapes after I received the Streetly set

Ta

-----Oorspronkelijk bericht -----
Van: tronbros@aol.com
Aan: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Verzonden: 3-12-07 9:00
Onderwerp: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Tape guide

Hello Hessel,

A good pressure pad should give you full sound after 1/4 turn only of the
adjustment screw. You then add the extra pressure and we now use 1/2 a turn.
If your pressure pad comes in r e a l l y slowly, say a full turn or two full
turns to get the sound prior to the final adjustment, you could be hearing
physical drag. I will send out the correct pressure pad shape. This is a
guide only as it all depends on each head which do vary slightly. We suspect a
lot of pressure pads are slow at coming in and the end result is an over
adjusted pinchroller and that classic heavy feel mellotron keyboard.
Incidentally, a good roller should come up to full speed between 1/4 and 1/2 turn
before the final pressure of 1 full turn. ALWAYS ADJUST YOUR PAD FIRST AS THE
ROLLER HAS TO FIGHT THAT DRAG. You have been warned.

These instructions do not apply to matt black backed tapes which are a
frigging nightmare. House bricks or lead off the church roof can help in these
circumstances.

Best,

Martin

Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic


_www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/)
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore_ JMoore6397@aol.com_ (http://JMoore6397@aol.com/)
US Sales West: Paul Cox_ pjc56@earthlink.net_ (http://pjc56@earthlink.net/)

RE: [newmellotrongroup] Tape guide

2007-12-03 by Hessel Herder

Yeah,but thing is,when the amp is turned down it's also there

I'll soldier on : )



-----Oorspronkelijk bericht -----
Van: "Jack Younger" <e4103s@yahoo.com>
Aan: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Verzonden: 3-12-07 5:17
Onderwerp: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Tape guide

Have you demagnetized the headblock lately?
-Jack


--- Hessel Herder <hessel@soundscape.nl> wrote:

> Hi guys,
>
> Any of you ever had this on a tron: mechanical whine
> when playing a key?The pinchroller of the key is
> rolling perfectly,and the tape makes no contact with
> the tape guides,as far as I can tell.This mechanical
> artifact comes thru on the audio output for some
> reason.Any ideas?
>
> Cheers,H
>
>
>



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Re: Tape guide

2007-12-03 by Tony Swettenham

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, NormLeete@... wrote:
>
>
> In a message dated 03/12/2007 00:35:28 GMT Standard Time,
> rick@... writes:
>
>
> Any of you ever had this on a tron: mechanical whine when playing a
key?The
> pinchroller of the key is rolling perfectly,and the tape makes no
contact
> with the tape guides,as far as I can tell.This mechanical artifact
comes thru
> on the audio output for some reason.Any ideas?
>
>
>
> My old EMI used to squeak on one note. This was caused by the pad
arm being
> bent incorrectly or by a gorilla adjusting it.
>
> Squeak was removed during the Streetly rebuild along with a whole
load of
> other problems.
>

Mine had a couple of notes which made squeaking and scraping noises at
the start of the note, caused for some reason by said tapes dragging
on the stainless steel rod in front of the guide comb just before the
heads. After attempting to clean and polish that and still getting the
same problem, my (temporary and not recommended!) way around it was to
stick a long piece of material to the steel rod to reduce the friction
of the tape against the rod, which cured the squeak/drag/scraping
noise, but I'm sure that in the long run it must cause heavier wear on
the tapes (as well as encouraging oxide to deposit on the material),
so it's most definitely *not* a long-term solution!

When I get my M400 restored by Streetly (saving the pennies for this
now), I'm aiming to have the modification included which replaces the
steel rod with rollers. That'll sort that problem out once and for all.


Tony S