Hi Frank,
My tron playing experience is limited to 2 machines. The first mellotron I played was the first production model of the M4000 shortly before it was shipped. I have always assumed that the keyboard action of that machine was correctly adjusted.
I have spent many happy hours working on the keyboard of #1565 which is the second mellotron I played, I have aimed to get a similar action to the M4000 and have largely succeeded. I don't think it is quite as light as the M4000 but certainly it's a lot different to what I started out with which was much worse, playing it then was quite a good upper body work out.
I would be interested to compare both machines to a Mark VI but the photos I have seen don't suggest that the feel would be much different.
I can't remember who said it but playing a mellotron and certainly the M4000 I played can only be described as playing a sponge.
Don't get me wrong, I love my mellotron but I am not blind to its limitations. Compared to playing a piano or a good weighted action keyboard it has the action from hell. Just my opinion.
Mark
--- On Fri, 1/15/10, lsf5275@aol.com wrote:
From: lsf5275@aol.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] NAMM Report
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, January 15, 2010, 7:22 PM
Maybe the action on yours is horrible. The actions on the ones I own and have worked on are very light and very fast.In a message dated 1/14/2010 10:35:15 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, markpringnz@ yahoo.com writes:Can't see the advantage of having a mellotron keyboard action, it's horrible!