Mellotronists

Janne,
 
Welcome to the group.
 
My first M400 was an EMI and was rebuilt by Streetly (see 
_http://members.aol.com/tronpage/rebuild.htm_ (http://members.aol.com/tronpage/rebuild.htm) 
)
Also there is a description of how to set up rollers, pads etc...
 
Main things to look for are...
- Frame out of square - causes squeaks and general tape replay problems,  the 
keyboard should be an easy fit and not need hand-to-hand combat to remove  it!
- headblock grounded (hum) should be on insulated rollers
- tone pot wiring sounds wrong or a short circuit capacitor
- CMC10 can be source of whine and motor slowing when playing big  chords
- tape heads should be clean and demagnetised (otherwise partial tape  
erasure can occur)
- single notes being quiet could be problems / damage to felt pads / pad  arms
- EMI did use some less well specified components (mine had the mains  
transformer replaced)
 
However it is possible to get an EMI machine to play just as well as any  
other as I know from my own machine.
 
Stick with it - its worth the journey.
 
All the best,
Norm