The Mellotron Group

Thanks John,
 
My net cost on that Tron was well under a grand. And for  those that don't 
understand John's remark about the tape frames... All are  slightly 
different. I like to adjust the restored Trons for the lightest and  fastest (but 
still accurate) keyboard action. So if you have one frame that has  a bit more 
friction in its tape path than another, you may have to slightly  tighten 
the pinch rollers a bit to accommodate. Slightly. The trick is to set  them 
properly for each frame. Once you know the frame it takes moments.
 
When I rebuilt John's Mellotron, I also rebuilt it's one tape frame. It was 
 in terrible shape and I went through it and tried to make it as clean and  
friction free as possible. John has since acquired other frames that may be 
 better or worse. That frame was pretty slick when I was done with it.
 
Most Mellotrons are set up for "worst case", and few are set up us well as  
they could be. When they are right, they can be amazing. Years of picking 
the  brains of those more experienced than I (Martin, John and Markus) and 
endless  hours of experimenting led me to where I am now. I didn't invent the 
wheel, I  just figured out how to make it perfectly round and to roll freely.
 
So for John, he has the choice of tweaking from frame to frame to keep it  
super sweet or setting it up for worst case. He understands and agrees with 
my  philosophy. 
 
Frank
 
 
In a message dated 12/20/2011 5:19:35 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
hammaren@geoconcepts.com writes:

 
 
 
 
I found mine  in a trailer in the backyard of a fellow musician that I 
worked with briefly.  He wanted to get rid of it, and probably would have cost 
me nothing if I let  him. Instead I traded a Blue mic, so let’s say the thing 
cost me $1200. I  wasn’t using the mic, and even in the wretched condition 
the Tron was in I  felt I got the bargain (he thought he got the better end 
of the deal, so I  guess that was a win-win.) In any event, a similar 
machine came up in the  group in worse shape than mine that went for something in 
the 2 grand  category, before shipping arrangements. I thought about it, but 
eventually  deferred and Frank S. got it. Now for perhaps the most useful 
part of my  comments, and I am now a believer, is that no matter how handy 
you think you  are, and no matter how helpful people in the groups can be, 
this is not a task  for girls (metaphorically speaking, please!). I am very 
electronically  inclined, and mechanically less so, but still better than most, 
and I am glad  I decided to not bring it home and turn it on. I did a 
little research and  found Frank, and after some discussion felt that rather than 
spend the next  ten years dicking around with something I knew nothing 
about, I would let him  restore it the way it should be as if I had the money 
long ago in that Sam Ash  in NY to buy that Mellotron on the floor. I won’t 
mention the cost, as this is  between me and my priest, but when I brought 
that work of art home after  restoration, I was grinning for days. I only brag 
about two pieces of gear I  own – my Dotcom and my Tron. So, the net is by 
all means go out there and find  one, but realize that unless it is in 
playable condition (I mean very  playable), I wouldn’t spend not much more than 
what I did in that trade. The  things Frank had to do to my Tron would have 
taken me years, if not forever to  accomplish. Even in fully restored shape my 
Tron still has its little moments,  like after swapping tapes. Just the 
nature of the beast, and part of its  charm. It does require a little 
attention. 
I hope you  find one someday, but remember, there are no Sams Photofacts 
for the  Tron. 
“This is my  Tron. There are many like it, but this one is mine” 
Regards, 
John 
 
 
From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com  
[mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of  Sean
Sent: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 3:49 PM
To:  newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Tron  hunting, for dummies, or at least, me

 
 
 
Of course I'd like to pick up a used 'tron.

Now that we're all done  laughing! :)

Those of you that have been successful, how'd you do it?  I've been 
scouring thrift stores, consignment stores, music shops, talking to  music shop 
owners, organists, and posting on facebook walls for these music  shops.

I'm hoping, like a fool probably, that California is a big place  and there 
may be one or two unaccounted for 'trons in the state, probably in  bad 
condition. Hopefully in the possession of someone who doesn't value it  much 
and will let it go for a bargain.

Of course, I may just be high as  a kite or something.

Thanks

-Sean