The Mellotron Group

Has anyone used an M400 flight case bottom as a dolly / platform?  It adds about6 inches.  Works well with feet off. Ends up about 2.5 inches higher.



--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, john barrick <barrickjohn262@...> wrote:
>
> I'm with Gino on this, Frank.  The height of the M400 cabinet is awkward at
> best.  When I made new feet for mine, I added about two inches, keeping in
> mind that I'm probably going to put in on some kind of "furniture dolly"
> arrangement, so I can wheel it wherever I want it.  I really look forward to
> seeing your refinements to the cabinet.  When I rebuild mine (new cabinet)
> I've been thinking of a number of aesthetic modifications, many of which
> involve radiusing and rounding over of sharp edges with some kind of natural
> wood finish.  The side panels present the  real problem there and may
> involve some sort of solid wood construction.  I'll get it figured out
> eventually.  I'm a real fan of the transparent front and back panels, too.
> 
> john
> 
> On Sat, May 7, 2011 at 10:51 PM, <lsf5275@...> wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> >  It is light for plywood and very high quality. Not inexpensive. I'd go
> > with solid wood in something that small.
> >
> >  In a message dated 5/7/2011 11:49:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> > wonggster@... writes:
> >
> >
> >
> > Sounds bitching. Baltic Birch is light isn't it?  I have to replace my
> > Afromosia case for my EMS synthi VCS3 (not the 'A' you saw at Nearfest)
> > wondering if stained birch was a good sub.
> >
> > On Sat, May 7, 2011 at 11:25 PM, <lsf5275@...> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> The cabinet will be 3 inches taller at the keyboard. It is being built
> >> from Baltic Birch plywood and MDF. I may do away with removable panels and
> >> go with doors. I'm using the old cabinet as a platform to experiment with
> >> different ways of doing it. There will be several other differences as well.
> >> It will still look like a Mellotron.
> >>
> >>  In a message dated 5/7/2011 10:18:33 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> >> wonggster@... writes:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> I have always wanted my cabinet "one brick" higher. Despite my deep love
> >> for Mellotrons, cabinets have always a source of conflict for me, too
> >> 'something ' for both standing and sitting.  Have you thought about making
> >> your cabinet taller or shorter ?
> >>
> >> best
> >>
> >> g
> >>
> >> On Sat, May 7, 2011 at 1:12 AM, <lsf5275@...> wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Since I brought this machine home a couple of months ago, aside from
> >>> stripping the cabinet and getting the mechanicals into the wood frame, I've
> >>> not had the time to even really examine it. All I knew was that it didn't
> >>> work and that the cabinet was not worth repairing.
> >>>
> >>> Well, yesterday I finally got around to finding out why this machine
> >>> doesn't work. Every time I restore an old Mellotron I find something unusual
> >>> that I've never seen before. This one was no exception. The SMS 2 was bad,
> >>> and though I have several spares, I was able to fix the one that came with
> >>> it and it was soon up and running. Then the surprises started. The keyboard
> >>> was beyond horrible. Oddly, the pressure pad adjustment screws were backed
> >>> way out. I removed the keyboard and took a close look. All of the felt pads
> >>> that isolate the adjustment screws were replaced with new ones that were 1/4
> >>> inch thick. Interesting...  these thick felt pads were also installed on the
> >>> backs of the pressure pads themselves, forcing them to stand off of the
> >>> pressure pad rest 1/4 inch, which then necessitated someone bending it into
> >>> a bizarre configuration.
> >>>
> >>> I wanted to get it to run before I started tearing it down and I did get
> >>> it to work... sorta. I am happy that the motor appears to be very strong
> >>> with little wear on the commutator or brushes. Minor warps in some of the
> >>> keys are a quick fix. It has a PML 1 and it is very quiet. I cranked up the
> >>> sound dry and got no humming and no crackling. Amazingly, a check of the
> >>> heads revealed zero magnetism on any of them. In fact, aside from a small
> >>> magnetic reading from the left bearing block, there was none anywhere in or
> >>> near the tape path. Hooray!
> >>>
> >>> So far, I have begun kitting a new cabinet. With any luck, I'll have all
> >>> of the parts cut within the next couple of weeks. Since this one is mine and
> >>> I have no deadline or expectant owner, the going will be slow. I expect
> >>> there will be some surprises when I reveal it. The fun has begun.
> >>>
> >>> Frank
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >   
> >
>