The Mellotron Group

Jean,

Martin posted the following information about keyboard adjustments a while ago. It was really helpful for me. Maybe it will be helpful to you. If not, keep asking questions. Someone will be able to answer them.

Pads: a good pad should come from silence to a full sound in 1/4 turn of the adjustment screw.  From there you should add 1/2 turn further to establish a good setting.

Rollers: a good roller should come up to full speed from stall in 1/2 turn max.  From there you should add 1 full turn to establish a good setting.

Keys: undo the backnut until the key drops away from the bar.  Now tighten the nut until the key just touches the rubber strip and add 1/8 turn.  This is the correct back pressure.  Too little and the key will flap, too much and it will feel like a girder.

Key depth: press down a black ket between two white keys at either end of the keyboard.  The key should be no more than 1/6th of an inch above the white key otherwise the action will feel shallow and 'orrible.

If you have the above settings your tron will be a delight.  If you don't, it won't.

Bernie

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Casterman Jean <jycasterman@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for your mail Bernie,it's fair ;-)
> Â 
> I knew this web page but I'm really new in the mellotron world and I'm not sure to understand very well all the mechanical stuffs
> Yesterday,I tried to adjust (pinchroller and pressure screw)Â only one key but it doesn't change anything on this particular key...the tape was crinkle in the pinch roller...
> Â 
> Once again thanks for your help
>  
> 
> ________________________________
>  From: tron400 <tron400@...>
> To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 12:26 PM
> Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: mellotron problem...
>    
>  
> Â   
>  
> Jean, sounds like your keyboard needs adjusting. Please read this for symptoms and adjustment instructions:
> 
> http://www.kleonard.com/mellotron/mellotronia/techtalk.htm
> 
> Bernie
> 
> --- In mailto:newmellotrongroup%40yahoogroups.com, Casterman Jean <jycasterman@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Guys,
> > Â 
> > I bought a M400 some months ago .it is a refurbished mellotron (with a new tapeframe and the old CMC 10)
> > The mellotron works perfectly until last week.
> > Here's my problem:
> > I don't know why but a lot of tapes/notes (16 notes/tapes per sound bank)   gets hung up(jam,crinkle) in the pinchrollers and won't come back out, the tapes wont'fall.
> > I cleaned the pinchrollers,capstan,tape heads,pads with isopropyl alchool but the problem is still present and the some tape are a little bit damaged(some creases on the tapes).
> > I don't know how can I resolve this problem but it's really tricky....
> > Â 
> > It' seems it's a comon problem but I don't know what's the cause of this problems ,I have a dry room with a dehumidifier (No more than 53% moisture in my studio)
> > Â 
> > I feel a little bit helpless to resolve this problem
> > Â 
> > Thanks for your help and sorry for my bad english
> > Â 
> > Â 
> > Jean
> >
>