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M400S on e-Bay

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by Mark Pring

Wouldn't want that tape set.

--- On Tue, 3/3/09, Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 7:24 PM


Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by Mike Dickson

Me neither. And how are trombones reminiscent of Genesis and brass of
the Beatles?

Mind you, he could have added that the Vibes were a 'King Crimson'
sound, as this early example of Fripping about demonstrates:

http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/private/kc19701218-0101-Islands.mp3

Mike

Mark Pring wrote:
>
> Wouldn't want that tape set.
>
> --- On *Tue, 3/3/09, Mike Dickson /<mike.dickson@gmail.com>/* wrote:
>
> From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com>
> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 7:24 PM
>
> http://cgi.ebay co.uk/ws/ eBayISAPI. dll?ViewItem&
> item=11035888606 9&ssPageName= ADME:B:SS: GB:1123
> <http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110358886069&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123>
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
> <http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson>
> Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ <http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/>
>
>
>

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by tronbros@aol.com

In a message dated 03/03/2009 06:39:19 GMT Standard Time, markpringnz@yahoo.com writes:
Wouldn't want that tape set.
You can't set an M400 up to optimum performance with old tapes, it just doesn't work so get rid of them. If you try tuning a car with ancient plugs it won't work either.
M
Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics.com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol.com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by Mike Dickson

Some people might say that tuning a Mellotron has the same result.

tronbros@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 03/03/2009 06:39:19 GMT Standard Time,
> markpringnz@yahoo.com writes:
>
> Wouldn't want that tape set.
>
> You can't set an M400 up to optimum performance with old tapes, it
> just doesn't work so get rid of them. If you try tuning a car with
> ancient plugs it won't work either.
>
> M
>
> *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 <mailto:pjc56@earthlink>
>
>

--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/

RE: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by Mark Wallis

There's a CMC10 in there too. Bet that's fun. The price doesn't seem too outrageous though.

By the way..Would any of our British chums like to swap an M400 in need of TLC for a slightly tatty split '62 Hammond C3?

I'm feeling the need for 2 M400s and have too many organs- so I'm thinking the previously unthinkable..

Besides, 2 M400s together are a much more giggable proposition than any 2-manual Mellotron and I can't afford a Mk5.

Love and Scones,


MSW xx
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
From: mike.dickson@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 3 Mar 2009 08:26:20 +0000
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

Some people might say that tuning a Mellotron has the same result.

tronbros@aol. com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 03/03/2009 06:39:19 GMT Standard Time,
> markpringnz@ yahoo.com writes:
>
> Wouldn't want that tape set.
>
> You can't set an M400 up to optimum performance with old tapes, it
> just doesn't work so get rid of them. If you try tuning a car with
> ancient plugs it won't work either.
>
> M
>
> *Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
> www.mellotronics. com <http://www.mellotro nics.com/>*
> US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol. com <http://JMoore6397@ aol.com/>
> US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink <mailto:pjc56@ earthlink>
>
>

--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/



Windows Live Messenger just got better. Find out more!

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by NormLeete@aol.com

In a message dated 03/03/2009 08:11:24 GMT Standard Time, tronbros@aol.com writes:
You can't set an M400 up to optimum performance with old tapes, it just doesn't work so get rid of them. If you try tuning a car with ancient plugs it won't work either.
Same with guitars, first step of a set up - new strings...
Norm

Re: M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by Bernie

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Mark Wallis
<markstuartwallis@...> wrote:
>
>
> There's a CMC10 in there too. Bet that's fun. The price doesn't seem
too outrageous though.
> By the way..Would any of our British chums like to swap an M400 in
need of TLC for a slightly tatty split '62 Hammond C3?I'm feeling the
need for 2 M400s and have too many organs- so I'm thinking the
previously unthinkable..Besides, 2 M400s together are a much more
giggable proposition than any 2-manual Mellotron and I can't afford a
Mk5.Love and Scones,MSW xx

I thought that by #1527, SMS-2's were standard.

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by Mark Pring

Meaning I wouldn't find those sounds very useful. Not sure how old the tapes in my mellotron are, except they are not the original set, probably at least 15 years old but I really like the way they sound. I am happy with the new tapes, they are a lot more realistic and sound quite different, I love the M300a strings but I prefer the flute and choir sounds on the old set except for the horrible hum on the F above middle C on the old set. I have also learned to love the Mark II 3 violins so I still use the old tapes quite a lot.

Mark

--- On Tue, 3/3/09, tronbros@aol.com <tronbros@aol.com> wrote:
From: tronbros@aol.com <tronbros@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 9:10 PM

In a message dated 03/03/2009 06:39:19 GMT Standard Time, markpringnz@ yahoo.com writes:
Wouldn't want that tape set.
You can't set an M400 up to optimum performance with old tapes, it just doesn't work so get rid of them. If you try tuning a car with ancient plugs it won't work either.
M
Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics. com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol. com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink

Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by Mark Pring

Alas no. #1565 has a CM10 I think at that stage of production it was a bit of a lottery. I guess Martin or John would know why some models had the old card.

--- On Wed, 3/4/09, Bernie <kornowicz@cox.net> wrote:
From: Bernie <kornowicz@cox.net>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 2:00 AM

--- In newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com, Mark Wallis
<markstuartwallis@ ...> wrote:
>
>
> There's a CMC10 in there too. Bet that's fun. The price doesn't seem
too outrageous though.
> By the way..Would any of our British chums like to swap an M400 in
need of TLC for a slightly tatty split '62 Hammond C3?I'm feeling the
need for 2 M400s and have too many organs- so I'm thinking the
previously unthinkable. .Besides, 2 M400s together are a much more
giggable proposition than any 2-manual Mellotron and I can't afford a
Mk5.Love and Scones,MSW xx

I thought that by #1527, SMS-2's were standard.


Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by Mark Pring

One of the emi trons, looks very clean but way too expensive.

--- On Wed, 3/4/09, Bernie <kornowicz@cox.net> wrote:
From: Bernie <kornowicz@cox.net>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 1:58 AM

--- In newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com, Mike Dickson
<mike.dickson@ ...> wrote:
>
> http://cgi.ebay. co.uk/ws/ eBayISAPI. dll?
ViewItem&item= 110358886069& ssPageName= ADME:B:SS: GB:1123
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
> Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/
>

...and then there's this one: http://tinyurl. com/c84r69


Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-03 by john barrick

...if the EMI problems haven't been already taken care of.

Mark Pring wrote:
>
> One of the emi trons, looks very clean but way too expensive.
>
>
>
>

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-04 by jeffrey coulter


i really dig the vibes tapes.
actually used them quite recently and they really served the intended purpose.
i prefer them over the samples in my samplers most of the time.
[and i have a pretty big sample library to choose from]

...jeff

--- On Tue, 3/3/09, Mark Pring <markpringnz@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Mark Pring <markpringnz@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 4:58 PM

Meaning I wouldn't find those sounds very useful. Not sure how old the tapes in my mellotron are, except they are not the original set, probably at least 15 years old but I really like the way they sound. I am happy with the new tapes, they are a lot more realistic and sound quite different, I love the M300a strings but I prefer the flute and choir sounds on the old set except for the horrible hum on the F above middle C on the old set. I have also learned to love the Mark II 3 violins so I still use the old tapes quite a lot.

Mark

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-04 by Bruce Daily

Hi all-
Mark, I tend to agree with you. The tape set that came with my 'tron is marked "BBS" on each key, and is really worn, so it its quite possibly an original set. It has Flute, 3 Violins, 'Cello, and blends very well (the 3 Violins are probably the M400 version). One of the things that made these vintage tapes endearing and engaging could be the old multi-generational tape-to-tape method of mastering, which introduced all manner of aural anomalies, but, IMHO, gave these original tapes their unique qualities.
The old tape set is also a bit of a pain, as it has a lot of static properties when being changed. None of my other racks exibit this problem.
Don't get me wrong, I love the new tapes. The digital transfer keeps them very clean, detailed, and real, especially for the vintage sounds. But there is just something about that original tape set....
-Bruce Daily
#1221

--- On Tue, 3/3/09, Mark Pring <markpringnz@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Mark Pring <markpringnz@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 2:58 PM

Meaning I wouldn't find those sounds very useful. Not sure how old the tapes in my mellotron are, except they are not the original set, probably at least 15 years old but I really like the way they sound. I am happy with the new tapes, they are a lot more realistic and sound quite different, I love the M300a strings but I prefer the flute and choir sounds on the old set except for the horrible hum on the F above middle C on the old set. I have also learned to love the Mark II 3 violins so I still use the old tapes quite a lot.

Mark

--- On Tue, 3/3/09, tronbros@aol. com <tronbros@aol. com> wrote:
From: tronbros@aol. com <tronbros@aol. com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 9:10 PM

In a message dated 03/03/2009 06:39:19 GMT Standard Time, markpringnz@ yahoo.com writes:
Wouldn't want that tape set.
You can't set an M400 up to optimum performance with old tapes, it just doesn't work so get rid of them. If you try tuning a car with ancient plugs it won't work either.
M
Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics. com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol. com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink


Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-04 by tronbros@aol.com

In a message dated 04/03/2009 05:58:04 GMT Standard Time, pocotron@yahoo.com writes:
The tape set that came with my 'tron is marked "BBS" on each key, and is really worn, so it its quite possibly an original set.
If the 'BBS' marking is in bold felt tip squashed capitals then they are probably London produced tapes which were always out of azimuth! You can check this for certain as they have a drop out zone between tracks whereas Streetly tapes blended at a constant volume, as do ours now. The wrong azimuth gave them a nasal quality that some love.
Best,
M
Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics.com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol.com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-04 by Bruce Daily

Interesting clues, Martin. Mellotron history 101.
The lettering on my set is bold, but not too squashed (my interpretation). The lettering can also be scraped or rubbed off easily (like a wax pencil?). Then again, some felt marker inks stay on the surface too. The adjacent tracks blend very well. The tapes are dark shiny gray on both sides. And, there is a little aluminum tag under the front left drawbar bolt that has "BB" scratched into it.
Another point- My tapes have punch holes evident at some of the cuts(before the back drawbar). Were the punch holes used from the beginning to mark the cut points?

Thanks,
-Bruce Daily

--- On Wed, 3/4/09, tronbros@aol.com <tronbros@aol.com> wrote:
From: tronbros@aol.com <tronbros@aol.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 1:13 AM

In a message dated 04/03/2009 05:58:04 GMT Standard Time, pocotron@yahoo. com writes:
The tape set that came with my 'tron is marked "BBS" on each key, and is really worn, so it its quite possibly an original set.
If the 'BBS' marking is in bold felt tip squashed capitals then they are probably London produced tapes which were always out of azimuth! You can check this for certain as they have a drop out zone between tracks whereas Streetly tapes blended at a constant volume, as do ours now. The wrong azimuth gave them a nasal quality that some love.
Best,
M
Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics. com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol. com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-04 by Thomas C. Doncourt

I loved my original tape sets- they had a muddy quality that i found
somehow comforting. I have come to realize that this was in part because
of the giant ampeg tube amp I was playing them through and because they
had lost some high end because they were worn out. The new tapes, through
a nice tube pre and with the high end knocked off a bit sound at least as
good and they aren't all "jack in the boxed". I often wondered why I could
never get that "Court of the Crimson King" bite- but with the new MKII 3
violins it is there.

>
> In a message dated 04/03/2009 05:58:04 GMT Standard Time,
> pocotron@yahoo.com
> writes:
>
> The tape set that came with my 'tron is marked "BBS" on each key, and is
> really worn, so it its quite possibly an original set.
>
>
> If the 'BBS' marking is in bold felt tip squashed capitals then they are
> probably London produced tapes which were always out of azimuth! You can
> check
> this for certain as they have a drop out zone between tracks whereas
> Streetly
> tapes blended at a constant volume, as do ours now. The wrong azimuth
> gave
> them a nasal quality that some love.
>
> Best,
>
> M
>
> 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_ (mailto:pjc56@earthlink)
>

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-04 by tronbros@aol.com

In a message dated 04/03/2009 17:03:37 GMT Standard Time, pocotron@yahoo.com writes:
Interesting clues, Martin. Mellotron history 101.
The lettering on my set is bold, but not too squashed (my interpretation) . The lettering can also be scraped or rubbed off easily (like a wax pencil?). Then again, some felt marker inks stay on the surface too. The adjacent tracks blend very well. The tapes are dark shiny gray on both sides. And, there is a little aluminum tag under the front left drawbar bolt that has "BB" scratched into it.
Streetly tapes and probably Les Bradley's writing in chinagraph.
Another point- My tapes have punch holes evident at some of the cuts(before the back drawbar). Were the punch holes used from the beginning to mark the cut points?
We still punch hloes to indicate where you cut. There's no measuring with us!
Best,
M
Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics.com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol.com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink

Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-04 by Mike Dickson

My first tape set has the words DICKSON YET AGAIN written on it in
chinagraph pencil. What can this possibly mean?

tronbros@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 04/03/2009 17:03:37 GMT Standard Time,
> pocotron@yahoo.com writes:
>
> Interesting clues, Martin. Mellotron history 101.
> The lettering on my set is bold, but not too squashed (my
> interpretation). The lettering can also be scraped or rubbed off
> easily (like a wax pencil?). Then again, some felt marker inks
> stay on the surface too. The adjacent tracks blend very well.
> The tapes are dark shiny gray on both sides. And, there is a
> little aluminum tag under the front left drawbar bolt that has
> "BB" scratched into it.
>
> Streetly tapes and probably Les Bradley's writing in chinagraph.
>
>
> Another point- My tapes have punch holes evident at some of
> the cuts(before the back drawbar). Were the punch holes used from
> the beginning to mark the cut points?
>
> We still punch hloes to indicate where you cut. There's no measuring
> with us!
>
> Best,
>
> M
>
> *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 <mailto:pjc56@earthlink>
>
>

Re: M400S on e-Bay

2009-03-11 by Bernie

Did anyone here buy this? It sold for half the original price of $8500. Even at $4300, I thing it was too much, considering the cost to bring it completely back to life.

http://tinyurl.com/bmtmcz