Mellotronists

Even though it's obviously not in the album centerfold shot, perhaps 
it's the first reference to the (D)ouble Wake-o-tron!  Chris?  When 
was that behemoth originally put together?

jonesalley wrote:

> Even though it's obviously not in the album centerfold shot, perhaps
> it's the first reference to the (D)ouble Wake-o-tron!  Chris?  When
> was that behemoth originally put together?

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

Greetings Jon and everyone,

I had the "privilege" to work on the  Wake-O-Tron's parts at the
first Toronto workshop in 2000 and then hosted Chris Dale at our
New England home for 4 days in March 2001.

The double-Tron can be seen if you look real closely on  LP
cover of  "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth" ,released in the USA
in early 1973.  6-Wives was released sometime in summer 1973.
Perhaps those two machines were those destined to be siamesed
together with facing flywheels joined with sprrrrings.   -- Jerry Korb

In a message dated 3/7/2004 3:57:21 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
jkorb@... writes:
The double-Tron can be seen if you look real closely on  LP 
cover of  "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth" ,released in the USA 
in early 1973.  6-Wives was released sometime in summer 1973. 
Perhaps those two machines were those destined to be siamesed 
together with facing flywheels joined with sprrrrings. 
The Wake-O-Tron can also be seen and heard on the DVD, "Rick Wakeman - 
Legends of Rock", containing material from "6 Wives" and "Journey".  It sounds a 
helluva lot better than "vocalists" Holt and Pickford-Hopkins.

Frank Samagaio
San Diego CA
MkII #134 / M300 #908
author, The Mellotron Book

On Monday, March 8, 2004, at 02:12  am, MAinPsych@... wrote:
> The Wake-O-Tron can also be seen and heard on the DVD, "Rick Wakeman - 
> Legends of Rock", containing material from "6 Wives" and "Journey".  
> It sounds a helluva lot better than "vocalists" Holt and 
> Pickford-Hopkins.

Too right! It always astounded me where RW found his appalling singers. 
He even managed to get some disturbingly shite noises out of Chaka 
Khan, Steve Harley and Kenny Lynch on the dubious '1984' album written 
during his Prophet and Korg 'Bewildered Period'.

They should have known better.

I suspect the reference to "Mellotron 400-D" was a confusion of 
"Minimoog model-D" and "Mellotron 400".

Come to think of it, Jon Anderson sounded as though he'd been for a few 
ales before delivering his effort on the said LP....................

C
http://www.s-club.co.uk
        Sundae Club*
    [there ain't no party]

----- Original Message -----

From: MAinPsych@...

To: Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, March 08, 2004 2:12 AM

Subject: Re: [Mellotronists] 400-D?

, "Rick Wakeman - Legends of Rock", containing material from "6 Wives" and "Journey". It sounds a helluva lot better than "vocalists" Holt and Pickford-Hopkins.

Frank Samagaio

San Diego CA

MkII #134 / M300 #908

author, The Mellotron Book

That video's regarded as a minor comedy classic around here. 'Bellowing' Ashley Holt has to be one of the worst vocalists ever to tread the boards at that level. Going by Wakey's autobiog, he's effectively a pub singer who got lucky when Rick's career took off. Pickford-Hopkins is a marvel in comparison.

We particularly liked the honky-tonk upright piano on a hydraulic lift behind Rick, which appears and disappears throughout the gig. At risk of being shot down in flames, this, gentlemen, is why punk happened. Nice Mellotron work, though, not just on the Wake-o-tron, but also a regular M400 which appears to have been mounted on stilts to raise it to sensible playing height for a well-over-six-footer. One of the MiniMoogs is flat all the way through, though, with no attempt from Rick to tune it.

Andy T.

In a message dated 8/3/04 1:40:18 PM GMT Standard Time, 
andy.thompson@... writes:


> but also a regular M400 which appears to have been mounted on stilts to 
> raise it to sensible playing height for a well-over-six-footer

There were two of these.  A black one and a white one.  The black one is the 
only surviving Wakeman M400 and is up for sale on Ebay UK.  It was restored 
last year.

Martin
Streetly Electronics - all things MELLOTRONIC - click this link..........

US East Coast Agent: Jimmy Moore - JMoore6397@...

West Coast Service Agent:  Paul J Cox - pjc56@...

Hi Jon/Jerry/all:


I think it was put together sometime in late 72 or early 73. This was
presumably done to keep the two 400's in tune with each other during tours.
I have acquired a fair amount of information about the machine both in
documents and talking to people claiming to be involved but some accounts
contradict each other and I think there's a fair mix of accurate/inaccurrate
info. Some of it's from Wakeman himself. I've got to finish a web page on
it.

Here is some of it anyway. *You* decide the facts/myths:

- machine was put together from two early 400s. (probably not disputed! :)
- fireproof case - wouldn't burn no matter how matter how much gas was
tossed on it. (hmmmmmmm)
- first used for the close of CTTE tour when separate 400's wouldn't stay in
tune together. (Anderson was particularly annoyed).
with exception of Relayer (which was Moraz)  - it was used on all subsequent
Yes/Wakeman recordings/tours until 1978 when it was stolen from storage
(along with lots of other keyboards - this is why Wakeman never used his old
stuff in the 80's)
- custom recordings/re-edited tapes also made for machine done in Complex 7.
- toured 7 times around the world including 1 Strawbs tour.
- band Wally might have used it for their album.
- some people associated with the instrument in various capacities include
Peter Levesly, Peter Robinson, Michael Tate, John Cleary, Frank Levi, Roy
Martin
- ideas/hints for marketing/building Mark V came from this machine as
Wakeman's use of it would have been influential at the time and other groups
(Moodies/Crimson/Genesis etc no longer used double units), also more revenue
for double unit.
- before 1990's mellotron revival it was supposedly the most
videographed/photographed machine in the 70's/80's appearing in music
promos/Rockschool video/Rock Hardware Book, and other instructional material
where photo of mellotron was needed. (if true- then probably stock footage
used over and over again)


Again *you* decide.


On the subject of  400D -  watched video Dave Kean sent me in 1992. I
remembered him talking about 400Cs/Ds in this video.

He says 400C's have CMC-4 board/metal serial # plate, and brass capstan,
400-D's have SMS board, and nickel/metal capstan.

If this is true then the 400D designation only applies to one machine on 6
Wives inside cover because Brass/Strings/Flute mellotron has a brass
capstan. (For nitpickers only! :)



Chris








----- Original Message -----

From: "jonesalley" <jonesalley@...>
To: <Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2004 6:50 PM
Subject: [Mellotronists] 400-D?


> Even though it's obviously not in the album centerfold shot, perhaps
> it's the first reference to the (D)ouble Wake-o-tron!  Chris?  When
> was that behemoth originally put together?
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi All,
To say its possibly the most photographed machine I don't think I've 
ever seen it close up! Anyone know if there's a pic on the web 
anywhere or does anyone have one to put up on the website?
John

> 
> I think it was put together sometime in late 72 or early 73. This was
> presumably done to keep the two 400's in tune with each other during tours.
> I have acquired a fair amount of information about the machine both in
> documents and talking to people claiming to be involved but some accounts
> contradict each other and I think there's a fair mix of accurate/inaccurrate
> info. Some of it's from Wakeman himself. I've got to finish a web page on
> it.
> 
> Here is some of it anyway. *You* decide the facts/myths:
> 
> - machine was put together from two early 400s. (probably not disputed! :)
> - fireproof case - wouldn't burn no matter how matter how much gas was
> tossed on it. (hmmmmmmm)
> - first used for the close of CTTE tour when separate 400's wouldn't stay in
> tune together. (Anderson was particularly annoyed).
> with exception of Relayer (which was Moraz)  - it was used on all subsequent
> Yes/Wakeman recordings/tours until 1978 when it was stolen from storage
> (along with lots of other keyboards - this is why Wakeman never used his old
> stuff in the 80's)
> - custom recordings/re-edited tapes also made for machine done in Complex 7.
> - toured 7 times around the world including 1 Strawbs tour.
> - band Wally might have used it for their album.
> - some people associated with the instrument in various capacities include
> Peter Levesly, Peter Robinson, Michael Tate, John Cleary, Frank Levi, Roy
> Martin
> - ideas/hints for marketing/building Mark V came from this machine as
> Wakeman's use of it would have been influential at the time and other groups
> (Moodies/Crimson/Genesis etc no longer used double units), also more revenue
> for double unit.
> - before 1990's mellotron revival it was supposedly the most
> videographed/photographed machine in the 70's/80's appearing in music
> promos/Rockschool video/Rock Hardware Book, and other instructional material
> where photo of mellotron was needed. (if true- then probably stock footage
> used over and over again)
> 
> 
> Again *you* decide.
> 
> 
> On the subject of  400D -  watched video Dave Kean sent me in 1992. I
> remembered him talking about 400Cs/Ds in this video.
> 
> He says 400C's have CMC-4 board/metal serial # plate, and brass capstan,
> 400-D's have SMS board, and nickel/metal capstan.
> 
> If this is true then the 400D designation only applies to one machine on 6
> Wives inside cover because Brass/Strings/Flute mellotron has a brass
> capstan. (For nitpickers only! :)
> 
> 
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jonesalley" <jonesalley@...>
> To: <Mellotronists@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2004 6:50 PM
> Subject: [Mellotronists] 400-D?
> 
> 
> > Even though it's obviously not in the album centerfold shot, perhaps
> > it's the first reference to the (D)ouble Wake-o-tron!  Chris?  When
> > was that behemoth originally put together?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
>  
>

>To say its possibly the most photographed machine I don't think I've
>ever seen it close up! Anyone know if there's a pic on the web
>anywhere or does anyone have one to put up on the website?

You've seen it.

http://www.kleonard.com/mellotron/tronto0901/wakeo.htm

...kl...
M400 #805 - 400D?  likes double-Ds better.
M400 #1037 - [no internal combustible parts at the moment]


* Ken Leonard - Web Table of Contents:  http://www.kleonard.com
* Get Outdoors New England:  http://www.GONewEngland.org
 >> Mystery writer Rick Blechta Shoots Straight in the Dark:
 >>   http://www.rickblechta.com/Pages/SSitD.html -> Special Promotion!

Ahhh! Taaaa!
Is the control panel an original Wakeman feature? Also, did it have 
to have a heavier motor or something to drive the 2 capstans?
John

To:             	mellotronists@yahoogroups.com
From:           	Ken Leonard <ken@...>
Date sent:      	Tue, 09 Mar 2004 09:17:17 -0500

Subject:        	Re: [Mellotronists] 400-D?

> 
> >To say its possibly the most photographed machine I don't think I've
> >ever seen it close up! Anyone know if there's a pic on the web
> >anywhere or does anyone have one to put up on the website?
> 
> You've seen it.
> 
> http://www.kleonard.com/mellotron/tronto0901/wakeo.htm
> 
> ...kl...
> M400 #805 - 400D?  likes double-Ds better.
> M400 #1037 - [no internal combustible parts at the moment]
> 
> 
> * Ken Leonard - Web Table of Contents:  http://www.kleonard.com
> * Get Outdoors New England:  http://www.GONewEngland.org
>  >> Mystery writer Rick Blechta Shoots Straight in the Dark:
>  >>   http://www.rickblechta.com/Pages/SSitD.html -> Special Promotion!
> 
> 
> 
> 
>  
> Yahoo! Groups Links
> 
> 
> 
>  
>

At 02:33 PM 3/9/2004 +0000, J.K.Beresford wrote:
>Ahhh! Taaaa!
>Is the control panel an original Wakeman feature?

The outstanding silkscreening on the control panel was created locally (Mr. 
Dickson, right?), and I believe it to be an interpretive work of Wakeman's 
battle with alcohol and and the damage it had to his brain cells---leading, 
of course, to damage to several M400s.

>Also, did it have
>to have a heavier motor or something to drive the 2 capstans?

Negative.  One M400 motor.  I asked the same question, but apparently those 
little motors have enough torque to handle both capstans.

...kl...
M400 #805 - reminded of Dickson's "air artwork"
M400 #1037 - [torque to you later]

* Ken Leonard - Web Table of Contents:  http://www.kleonard.com
* Get Outdoors New England:  http://www.GONewEngland.org
 >> Mystery writer Rick Blechta Shoots Straight in the Dark:
 >>   http://www.rickblechta.com/Pages/SSitD.html -> Special Promotion!