The Mellotron Group

_http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-
/120582426104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8_ 
(http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-/120582426
104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8) 
 
An optimist

In a message dated 6/13/2010 11:27:55 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
lsf5275@aol.com writes:

_http://cgi.ebay.http://cghttp://cgihttp://cgi.ebhttp://cgi.ebay.http://cgi.
http://cgi.ebahttp://cgi.e&pt=Keyboards_pt=K&hash=item1c1345cdf8_ 
(http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-/120582426
104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8) 
 
An optimist



 $7K??? Are they fucking  kidding?

Oh Golly, look!! A CMC-10; all original too!

...and the tapes are?

Dan



--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote:

>
> _http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-
> /120582426104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8_ 
> (http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-/120582426
> 104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8) 
>  
> An optimist
>

Auction includes FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the United States. I guess shipping could cost up to $700.  OK, OK The price is still out of line.

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote:

>
> _http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-
> /120582426104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8_ 
> (http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-/120582426
> 104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8) 
>  
> An optimist
>

In a message dated 6/14/2010 7:15:30 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
atm655@verizon.net writes:

You don't have to buy the fucking thing!
Can you blame the guy for wanting to maximize his  price?
 
Tony



 
 
Tony,
With that logic, I should have gotten at least as much for my  restored 
#908.  I think this goes a bit beyond maximization, crossing  over into fantasy 
and wishful thinking (and likely just plain greed).   But who knows -- a 
guy recently wrote me to say he bought an ex-Pappalardi m/c  (just how many of 
these DID he own?) for $5400.  Barnum had it right;  there's one born every 
minute.  BTW, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that  you might be interested 
in...
 
Frank

I think the going rate for a restored and upgraded Mellotron is $5,000.00  
to $5,500.00. Right now, it might be somewhat less. If the machine has a  
significant provenance that makes it more value to someone, so be it. It might 
 fetch more. I don't think setting a high price has anything to do with 
greed. I  think it has more to do with not understanding the market. Right now, 
getting a  good price, or even a fair price on eBay is difficult. It is a 
depressed economy  and there are fewer people with sufficient disposable 
income to pay top  dollar.
 
Fortunately, I don't need eBay sell a Mellotron. 
 
The machine being discussed looks to have a cabinet in decent shape. It  
looks to me like is has been repainted at least once. Anyone who purchases an  
unrestored machine after looking at photos is stepping into the great 
unknown.  There could be dozens of hours of work and a considerable investment 
after the  purchase to make the machine play as it should.
 
There are probably a ton of Tron owners out there who think their  machines 
are just great. They are, to them. Through the years that I have  been 
working on them I always thought that they were just great. They all played  
well once worked on. But over time I have come to redefine when a Mellotron is  
really at its best. I have yet to see one come into my shop that was even  
close.
 
I was just amused by the price and description of the Tron on eBay now. Not 
 upset or disturbed in the least. The market allows what the market allows. 
If  someone pays the asking price it will be because that  Mellotron is 
worth that much to them. So if the seller  gets his or her price, that benefits 
anyone else trying to sell one.
 
I just don't think that there is a snowball's chance in hell that it will  
sell. The market sets the price... the reality becomes self evident.
 
Frank
 
 
In a message dated 6/14/2010 12:28:08 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
MAinPsych@aol.com writes:

 
 
 
 
In a message dated 6/14/2010 7:15:30 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
atm655@verizon.In a messag

You don't have to buy the fucking thing!
Can you blame the guy for wanting to maximize his  price?
 
Tony



 
 
Tony,
With that logic, I should have gotten at least as much for my  restored 
#908.  I think this goes a bit beyond maximization,  crossing over into fantasy 
and wishful thinking (and likely just plain  greed).  But who knows -- a 
guy recently wrote me to say he bought an  ex-Pappalardi m/c (just how many of 
these DID he own?) for $5400.  Barnum  had it right; there's one born every 
minute.  BTW, I have a bridge  in Brooklyn that you might be interested 
in...
 
Frank

Pricing way above market value (40% above?) is a shitty way to try to sell things.  If he does sell it for that price, he will have taken advantage of a misinformed buyer.  

Clay

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "tony1" <atm655@...> wrote:

>
> You don't have to buy the fucking thing!
> Can you blame the guy for wanting to maximize his price?
> 
> Tony
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: ClayE 
>   To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com 
>   Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 9:58 AM
>   Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Tron on eBay
> 
> 
>     
>   Auction includes FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the United States. I guess shipping could cost up to $700. OK, OK The price is still out of line.
> 
>   --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@ wrote:
>   >
>   > _http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-
>   > /120582426104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8_ 
>   > (http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-/120582426
>   > 104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8) 
>   > 
>   > An optimist
>   >
>

Hey-
If one reads the scrolling description carefully, the Anvil case will be used for shipping, and then returned to the seller.  If I were to buy this, I think the case should be included for the price.  

-Bruce D.

--- On Mon, 6/14/10, ClayE <ecclesreinson@rogers.com> wrote:


From: ClayE <ecclesreinson@rogers.com>
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Tron on eBay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, June 14, 2010, 7:58 AM


  



Auction includes FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the United States. I guess shipping could cost up to $700. OK, OK The price is still out of line.

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote:

>
> _http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-
> /120582426104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8_ 
> (http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-/120582426
> 104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8) 
> 
> An optimist
>

I agree 100% Bruce!
Tony
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bruce Daily 
  To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 2:05 PM
  Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Tron on eBay


    
        Hey-
        If one reads the scrolling description carefully, the Anvil case will be used for shipping, and then returned to the seller.  If I were to buy this, I think the case should be included for the price.  

        -Bruce D.

        --- On Mon, 6/14/10, ClayE <ecclesreinson@rogers.com> wrote:


          From: ClayE <ecclesreinson@rogers.com>
          Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: Tron on eBay
          To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
          Date: Monday, June 14, 2010, 7:58 AM


            
          Auction includes FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the United States. I guess shipping could cost up to $700. OK, OK The price is still out of line.

          --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote:

          >
          > _http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-
          > /120582426104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8_ 
          > (http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-/120582426
          > 104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8) 
          > 
          > An optimist
          >

Now who's greedy? 
 
By the way, as I read it, shipping is $499.99 in the lower 48.  I wish  
someone in the group could go take a look. We should all start asking questions 
 of the seller and get him all excited. It would be like American Idol. 
We'll get  him excited and then crush his dreams. Click 
 
 
In a message dated 6/14/2010 2:05:56 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
pocotron@yahoo.com writes:

 
 
 
Hey-
If one reads the scrolling description carefully, the Anvil case  will be 
used for shipping, and then returned to the seller.   If I were to buy this, 
I think the case should be included for  the price.  

-Bruce D.

--- On Mon, 6/14/10, ClayE  <ecclesreinson@ecclesrein> wrote:



From:  ClayE <ecclesreinson@ecclesrein>
Subject:  [newmellotrongroup] Re: Tron on eBay
To:  newmellotrongroup@To:  To:
Date: Monday, June 14,  2010, 7:58 AM


 
Auction includes FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the United States. I  guess 
shipping could cost up to $700. OK, OK The price is still out of  line.

--- In _newmellotrongroup@newmellotronnew_ 
(http://us.mc636.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com) ,  lsf5275@... wrote:
>
> 
__http://cgi.ebay.http://cghttp://cgihttp://cgi.ebhttp://cgi.ebay.http://cgi._ 
(http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-) 
>  /120582426104?  &pt=Keyboards_pt=K&hash=item1c1345cdf8hash=item1c134
> 
(_http://cgi.ebay.http://cghttp://cgihttp://cgi.ebhttp://cgi.ebay.http://cgi.http://cgi.ebay.<WBR>co_ 
(http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-/120582426) 

>  104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_pt=K&hash=item1c1345cdf8hash=item1c134
> 
> An  optimist
>

Does it use tapes? I may be interested. But only if you offer free  
shipping and a flight case.

On Jun 14, 2010, at 11:25 AM, MAinPsych@aol.com wrote:

>
> BTW, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that you might be interested in...
>
> Frank

Frank, for your information I own the Brooklyn Bridge, maybe you are
talking about the Williamsburg or the Manhattan!

>
> In a message dated 6/14/2010 7:15:30 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> atm655@verizon.net writes:
>
> You don't have to buy the fucking thing!
> Can you blame the guy for wanting to maximize his  price?
>
> Tony
>
>
>
>
>
> Tony,
> With that logic, I should have gotten at least as much for my  restored
> #908.  I think this goes a bit beyond maximization, crossing  over into
> fantasy
> and wishful thinking (and likely just plain greed).   But who knows -- a
> guy recently wrote me to say he bought an ex-Pappalardi m/c  (just how
> many of
> these DID he own?) for $5400.  Barnum had it right;  there's one born
> every
> minute.  BTW, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that  you might be interested
> in...
>
> Frank
>

In a message dated 6/14/2010 7:37:47 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
tomdcour@amnh.org writes:

Frank,  for your information I own the Brooklyn Bridge, maybe you are
talking about  the Williamsburg or the Manhattan!




The George Washington.

Okay, but that goes to Jersey

>
> In a message dated 6/14/2010 7:37:47 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> tomdcour@amnh.org writes:
>
> Frank,  for your information I own the Brooklyn Bridge, maybe you are
> talking about  the Williamsburg or the Manhattan!
>
>
>
>
> The George Washington.
>

I missed this the first time I viewed the auction:

"When they were being manufactured, Mellotron M400s keyboards carried a retail price in the area of $5,200... ...in 1973, which is approximately $25,000 in 2010. Yikes."

So I guess 7K is a fair price. See that Martin? You guys aren't charging enough.

Bernie

That's it exactly Mike.  We learned that the hard way with houses here in the US!
Want to buy a "$500,000" house for $200,000?....Isn't that a good deal?....maybe not...the prices are still falling......

Gary



If someone prices something way above 'market value' and it sells, does that then become the new 'market value'? Isn't that the same way they value houses? Nothing has any intrinsic #value' aside from what someone will pay for it. The market is a matter of human will, not some kind of uncontrollable beast we have to tame.

Mike

ClayE wrote:


Pricing way above market value (40% above?) is a shitty way to try to sell things. If he does sell it for that price, he will have taken advantage of a misinformed buyer.

Clay

Here is the reply I received following my queries about the LA e-Bay 'tron:

Serviced by a local LA-tech, who owns several, and has serviced at least 20 high-profile Trons. We prefer to keep all vintage items in original condition, and would never install a motor control. The original vintage '78 Streetly tape set is included, which has: Violin, Cello, and Flute. The flight case is not included, and it does not have a protecto-muff.


So who is this LA tech, and does he really know anything about 'trons? Perhaps it is Paul Cox, the Streetly link? If so, it seems strange that he would be reluctant to put in a new motor control, unless it was specified to remain original by the store.

Dan

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel" <dan_miso@...> wrote:

>
> Oh Golly, look!! A CMC-10; all original too!
> 
> ...and the tapes are?
> 
> Dan
> 
> 
> 
> --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@ wrote:
> >
> > _http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-
> > /120582426104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8_ 
> > (http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-/120582426
> > 104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8) 
> >  
> > An optimist
> >
>

In a message dated 6/18/2010 6:15:06 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time,  
dan_miso@yahoo.com writes:

Here  is the reply I received following my queries about the LA e-Bay  
'tron:

Serviced by a local LA-tech, who owns several, and has serviced  at least 
20 high-profile Trons. We prefer to keep all vintage items in  original 
condition, and would never install a motor control. The original  vintage '78 
Streetly tape set is included, which has: Violin, Cello, and  Flute. The flight 
case is not included, and it does not have a  protecto-muff.

So who is this LA tech, and does he really know anything  about 'trons? 
Perhaps it is Paul Cox, the Streetly link? If so, it seems  strange that he 
would be reluctant to put in a new motor control, unless it  was specified to 
remain original by the  store.

Dan


 
Or some phantom.  Before Paul Cox came into the picture,  when I checked 
out a couple of MkII's in the L.A. area (before acquiring #134)  in the early 
2000's, their owners (Kevin Augunas and the multi-talented Vincent  Gallo) 
also referred to "a local L.A. tech", never mentioning him by name even  when 
I asked.  What's interesting is that both MkII's were in such  piss-poor 
shape they were either lying or this Coleman College dropout phantom  tech 
should go back to working on Schwinn bicycles!

Frank 1

I thought the motor control was recommended by Streetly. Wouldn't the upgrade still be considered "original condition"? Doesn't the manufacturer know best? Imagine if this eBay'er was selling a MkI for $150,000 and had refused the safety bar upgrade because they thought it should remain in its "original condition".

Bernie

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel" <dan_miso@...> wrote:

>
> Here is the reply I received following my queries about the LA e-Bay 'tron:
> 
> Serviced by a local LA-tech, who owns several, and has serviced at least 20 high-profile Trons. We prefer to keep all vintage items in original condition, and would never install a motor control. The original vintage '78 Streetly tape set is included, which has: Violin, Cello, and Flute. The flight case is not included, and it does not have a protecto-muff.
> 
> 
> So who is this LA tech, and does he really know anything about 'trons? Perhaps it is Paul Cox, the Streetly link? If so, it seems strange that he would be reluctant to put in a new motor control, unless it was specified to remain original by the store.
> 
> Dan
> 
> --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, "Daniel" <dan_miso@> wrote:
> >
> > Oh Golly, look!! A CMC-10; all original too!
> > 
> > ...and the tapes are?
> > 
> > Dan
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@ wrote:
> > >
> > > _http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-
> > > /120582426104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8_ 
> > > (http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-MELLOTRON-TRON-VINTAGE-SYNTH-SYNTHESIZER-KEYBOARD-/120582426
> > > 104?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Keyboards_MIDI&hash=item1c1345cdf8) 
> > >  
> > > An optimist
> > >
> >
>