The Mellotron Group

From right here on the list. A few week ago Matt Meixner popped up with one 
 to sell. I drove out to Milwaukee the weekend before last and picked it 
up. Matt  also has a Mark VI with four tape frames.
 
I can't verify for dead certain this is that machine unless Leo can find  
his purchase receipt or until I can complete the link to Matt. I have to 
verify  one more transaction. The odds are likely that this is it, but I'm 
working to be  sure. Otherwise, I'll have to say is "might" be the one.
 
 
 
In a message dated 2/28/2011 12:30:57 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
gabru@comsec.net writes:

 
 
 
 
Nice find  Frank.  How did you acquire it? 
Gary 
 
 
 
From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com  
[mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of  lsf5275@aol.com
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 9:22  AM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [new  mellotrongroup] Re: Freddy Fender Mellotron

 
It appears that  I have acquired the actual Mellotron that was used on the 
1974 recording  session in which Freddy Fender re-recorded Wasted Days and 
Wasted Nights,  which went on to be a big hit. It was owned and played by a 
man named Leo  O'neil, who was actually a horn player. I tracked Leo down and 
he gave me some  history. He says he also played it live quite a bit and 
told me the one night  Patrick Moraz was in the audience at one of Leo's gigs. 
It was after a Moody  Blues show and Patrick came out and caught his show. 
Afterward, Leo says that  Patrick came up to him and complimented him on his 
playing style and on  the sound he was getting out of it.
 

 
Leo  attributes his skill on the Mellotron to the fact that as a horn 
player he was  used to playing fewer notes and to holding them for brief periods. 
He  said his playing style was, "to use only one or two fingers down low 
and the  one finger an octave or more above, and to move around on the 
keyboard so as  not to run the tape out."
 

 
So there you  have it.
 

 
I only have to  trace one more link and I'll know for sure that this is 
that  machine.
 

 
It's a real  mess, but it will get better.