The Mellotron Group

I've got a Mellotron for sale. If anyone's interested, Id be happy to provide details...

Where are you at (city). serail# and how much you want.

Here's the info:

Don't miss the 3 photos at the bottom of the message from Skip.

Thanks for pointing them out. Wether you're interested in buying or not, I'd be grateful to get your opinions... Skip


-----Original Message-----

The fact that the two D keys don't play well is probably a minor adjustment and not a big issue. It sounds like you have never installed the new (1986) tape frame. That's a five minute job, so I would test it out. Be ready to tell potential buyers what 3 voices you have on each tape frame. Most buyers will also want to know if it produces a clean output signal and what motor controller card is in it. Try to get close-up pictures of the inside, the tape frames and the cases. Happy selling.

Clay

The bottom line is that I've turned this baby on three times in the last year, and I have the mechanical skills of grapefruit - I would rather sell this to someone who will restore it to it's rightful glory and use/appreciate it more than I am. As to the other issues: both frames are the standard violins/cellos/recorders, the output signal is clean, and if you can tell me where the motor controller card is and how to determine it's model, I'd be happy to pass that on. I'll send close-ups in the next day or so. Thanks very much for the advice... Skip


-----Original Message-----

Motor controller: See photo #19 of 30 here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/newmellotrongroup/photos/album/1317894960/pic/list

Gang,
I just made a new folder, SKIP_TRON, of 19 photos. This weekend, I'm going to list the baby on ebay at a starting price of 3,000.00, plus what I'm guessing will be around 200.00 for shipping (this might be wildly off - I've gotta do some research, and any advice would be gladly taken.) I'm including the particulars below. If anyone has any questions or interest before it goes on the block, give me a call. Thanks, and wish me luck,

Skip Davis
651-336-1264
skipsnips@aol.com

Mellotron 400S, Serial #878. I purchased it around 1986 from Roger Dumas, owner of Roger Dodger Music in Mpls., MN It came with a homemade Anvil case stenciled Mason Profit (their one hit was "Two Hangmen Hangin' from a Tree") that was so wobbly I never used it, and ended up abandoning it somewhere.
It is in working condition, except for the low and high D keys; the high has more wow and flutter than it should, and the low has stiction to the point it won't play the whole length of tape. It has the original paint that has yellowed, with the dings you would expect (I can post pictures, if you like.) I will include a new (in 1986) set of tapes loaded in a frame in an attractive leatherette briefcase that I purchased from the Mellotron Corp. when I bought the keyboard. The salesman told me that they were new recordings of the original masters that were several db hotter than the original set, with a better snr. I had good intentions, but never got around to installing them.
I also have two (what I believe are) mimeographed copies of the owner's manual; they are stapled together and begin on page three with the introduction and end on page 33 with hand drawn schematics of the scope check points, power supply, and attenuator. I will also include the instructions Mellotron sent me for installing the new set of tapes, and some sales brochures for Novatron stuff.