Mellotronists

So, has anyone kept a record of how badly the M400 Three Violins are out 
of tune with each other and which keys are the worst offenders?  I've 
got 1407 back together and playing and I'm down to minute keyboard 
adjustments and I'm wondering if there are certain notes that I just 
shouldn't attempt to put that much time into.  Most notes sound OK as 
you're running up or down the keyboard, but if I try playing something 
in unison an octave apart or certain chords, it becomes obvious there 
are still some tuning problems. As my pinch rollers are finally spinning 
like they have ball bearings, I guess I should  check motor stability 
and the SMS4 to make sure that issues aren't originating there.

john

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, john barrick <astroboy@...> 
wrote:
>
> So, has anyone kept a record of how badly the M400 Three Violins 
are out 
> of tune with each other and which keys are the worst offenders?  
I've 
> got 1407 back together and playing and I'm down to minute keyboard 
> adjustments and I'm wondering if there are certain notes that I 
just 
> shouldn't attempt to put that much time into.  Most notes sound OK 
as 
> you're running up or down the keyboard, but if I try playing 
something 
> in unison an octave apart or certain chords, it becomes obvious 
there 
> are still some tuning problems. As my pinch rollers are finally 
spinning 
> like they have ball bearings, I guess I should  check motor 
stability 
> and the SMS4 to make sure that issues aren't originating there.
> 
> john
>


 Don't knock yourself out John, I use a small Korg tuner, found in 
music stores for around $20. and just go for an average.  If you get 
middle A in tune and go down to D it will show reading flat, switch 
track and the flute will be ok almost.  You will eventually get new 
tapes and that problem will solve itself.  Just watch your 
adjutstments as to not get too much tension on rollers.  BTW 
congrats on getting up and running, the work sure pays off.    Doug

In a message dated 6/17/2007 8:41:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
astroboy@... writes:

So, has anyone kept a record of how badly the M400 Three Violins are out  
of tune with each other and which keys are the worst offenders? I've  
got 1407 back together and playing and I'm down to minute keyboard  
adjustments and I'm wondering if there are certain notes that I just  
shouldn't attempt to put that much time into. Most notes sound OK as  
you're running up or down the keyboard, but if I try playing something  
in unison an octave apart or certain chords, it becomes obvious there  
are still some tuning problems. As my pinch rollers are finally spinning  
like they have ball bearings, I guess I should check motor stability  
and the SMS4 to make sure that issues aren't originating  there.

john



Yes, actually. I have put this on a spread sheet. It is rather complicated.  
On it I have taken into account motor stability, tape stretch, global  
warming, potential pinch roller squeeze, humidity, shitty tape,  daylight savings 
time, gas prices, and the all important, "mean time  between failure," which I 
have calculated as, "any time now."
 
Regis



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

lsf5275@... wrote:
>
> Yes, actually. I have put this on a spread sheet. It is rather 
> complicated. On it I have taken into account motor stability, tape 
> stretch, global warming, potential pinch roller squeeze, humidity, 
> shitty tape, daylight savings time, gas prices, and the all important, 
> "mean time between failure," which I have calculated as, "any time now."
>  
> Regis
>
>
What about Northern vs. Southern hemisphere?

kelly

Low "F" is the real clanker on 3V.  All I can say is, I got the "tuned" 
tapes for the Mark V, and they are an utter delight to play.  They still 
have character and individuality, but you don't have to be so careful about 
voicings with them.  Also, on a previous thread, the Mk II 3V is the ONLY 
way to go if you want that creamy sound, the M400 violins are very cutting 
in comparison.




> So, has anyone kept a record of how badly the M400 Three Violins are out
> of tune with each other and which keys are the worst offenders?

Too right, man.

I hate that F. Oh, that F.....

Bearing in mind that I started on a Hammond and many organ classics/cliches 
are in F...

I would LOVE to do my own varispeed tapeset session. I've had the priviledge 
of being around one of the finest Rhodes/Wurly/Hammond/Everything Else guys 
in Europe ( 'Rocket' Ron Lebar) while he tunes - with the handy if awkward 
consequence that my own pitch sensitivity has been improved significantly- 
to the point where my own Wurlitzer tuning sounds crap and Mellotron tuning 
vagaries now annoy me more than I would ever admit to anybody outside of our 
little support group (Tapeworms Anonymous?).

Perhaps we should have a go. Martin? Fancy it? No remastering- just a few 
pitch tweaks. I'll bring the teabags and the Hawkwind.

Here comes the lightning- I may have to unplug the computer.




>From: "jonesalley" <jonesalley@...>
>To: "Mellotronists" <Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] M400 3 Violin Tuning
>Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2007 22:35:44 -0500
>
>Low "F" is the real clanker on 3V.  All I can say is, I got the "tuned"
>tapes for the Mark V, and they are an utter delight to play.  They still
>have character and individuality, but you don't have to be so careful about
>voicings with them.  Also, on a previous thread, the Mk II 3V is the ONLY
>way to go if you want that creamy sound, the M400 violins are very cutting
>in comparison.
>
>
>
>
> > So, has anyone kept a record of how badly the M400 Three Violins are out
> > of tune with each other and which keys are the worst offenders?
>

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In a message dated 18/06/2007 16:57:02 GMT Standard Time,  
markstuartwallis@... writes:

Perhaps we should have a go. Martin? Fancy it? No remastering- just a  few 
pitch tweaks. I'll bring the teabags and the  Hawkwind.



Already available!  This is a moot pont in the world of  mellotrons.  The 
purests protest at anything anything messed with yet  EVERYONE who has asked for 
tuned tapes loves them and wouldn't have the  originals back.  This speaks 
volumes!  
 
Martin
Streetly Electronics - All Things  Mellotronic
_www.mellotronics.co.uk_ (http://www.mellotronics.co.uk/) 
_www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/) 
US Sales  East: Jimmy Moore _JMoore6397@..._ (http://JMoore6397@.../) 
US Sales West:  Paul Cox _pjc56@..._ (http://pjc56@.../)

Lots of lovely typos in my earlier post.   Enjoy.

--- In Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com, tronbros@... wrote:
>
> Lots of lovely typos in my earlier post.   Enjoy.
>



How many times do we have to remind you not to answer emails after de 
magging!!!!!   Doug

AHHHH-  The "Well-Tempered Mellotron"!!!

   -Bruce D.


--- tronbros@... wrote:

>  
> In a message dated 18/06/2007 16:57:02 GMT Standard
> Time,  
> markstuartwallis@... writes:
> 
> Perhaps we should have a go. Martin? Fancy it? No
> remastering- just a  few 
> pitch tweaks. I'll bring the teabags and the 
> Hawkwind.
> 
> 
> 
> Already available!  This is a moot pont in the world
> of  mellotrons.  The 
> purests protest at anything anything messed with yet
>  EVERYONE who has asked for 
> tuned tapes loves them and wouldn't have the 
> originals back.  This speaks 
> volumes!  
>  
> Martin
> Streetly Electronics - All Things  Mellotronic
> _www.mellotronics.co.uk_
> (http://www.mellotronics.co.uk/) 
> _www.mellotronics.com_
> (http://www.mellotronics.com/) 
> US Sales  East: Jimmy Moore _JMoore6397@..._
> (http://JMoore6397@.../) 
> US Sales West:  Paul Cox _pjc56@..._
> (http://pjc56@.../) 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>    
> 



       
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