Mellotronists

"Brundage, Jim" wrote:

> Hello to all-
>
> I was talking to a friend about Mellotrons and the Uriah Heep tron came
> up. I told him that it was reportedly once owned by David Copperfield.
> (I hope I got that right)
> He then asked what other famous people, whether it be a professional
> musician, magician, actor or whatever, actually owns a Mellotron
> currently. It seems that many of the folks we know as being some of the
> original "Mellotron players" no longer own one. I would also assume that
> the majority of the bands listed on Andy's list do not actually own one
> and used someone else's or the studio owned one or they used... samples.
>
> Any interesting owners worth noting?    Thanks- Jim #912

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello Jim and Everyone,     Larry Fast of  "Synergy" fame (ex-Nektar),
still owns his M400/725. Was purchased new in May-1973,
and used on his premiere LP "Electronic Realizations For Rock Orchestra."
But not any further LP's and works.

It sat unused in his studio for some years, until the Sound Sales guys
from CT personally drove to NJ to "improve" the Tron. After that,
Larry was fed-up with its performance and placed it in storage in 1980.

.....Until 2004.  I undertook the electro-mechanical restoration
of  M400/#725 in July.  According to Mr.Fast, "it plays better
than ever,even better than new...." He's now dabbling with the Tron
again for future installation in his home-based studio.
One can only hope and pray that he'll use it again on a recorded work.

Attached photo is Larry and myself taken in August-2004 at his
residence in Morris Cty,NJ.    Potential  "Moneypit" Website
on that Tron is planned for the future.

Regards,  JK (living 8 seconds at time)

P.S:   To those of you from the NYC area....Well-known WNEW-FM
D.J. Scott Muni passed-away last week at age 74 of natural causes.
He introduced all the classic LP's from the 60's-70's and explained
in detail several times the Mellotron MK-II's workings on the air.
.....BTW, he was given the nickname of "professor" by his colleagues
and musicians long-ago.  End of an era.....he'll be missed.......JK