The Mellotron Group

it is with mixed emotion that i announce the arrival
last nite of M400S serial 1190.

the good:
now i have 2 m400 mellotrons, though 1190 is really
just here for safekeeping for an undetermined stay.
it has a squeaky clean almost new [circa 2001] streetly
tape frame, and an updated motor card - one that i
cannot immediately identify [pics taken will be posted
ASAP]. it came with not only the 'bondage-muff' but
also in a road case - not one that i would ship it
around the world in, but more than adequate for local
or even cross-country touring. this m400 was originally
owned by a local [philly] r&b producer that gave it to
my boss a few years back, and has been in our studio
since then [being maintained and repaired by me when
needed - i have mentioned some of the stupidity that
it was subjected to previously on the old list]. it
seems that because it was well-protected in its early
life, it is, even now, in very good condition indeed.
the keyboard itself appears near mint - much better
than the one in serial 364. the biggest issue right
now is that i have no room in my studio for it until
i do a major overhaul, so the it's in the bedroom.
this DOES NOT please the wife [but the bondage suit
might come in handy if things get TOO ugly ;0) ]

the sad:
this came about as a result of the company i used
to work for closing down and clearing out the
studio complex. it was on the cover of MIX magazine
just a few years ago as one of the "best new rooms"
feature they do annually. a couple million $$ were
spent creating and gearing it [72 input SSL 9000J],
all quested monitoring, dual studer 24 tracks...]
but the studio business has gone so far into the
toilet that the facility can't even make its rent.

i did manage to weasel a couple other choice items
out of the place [again, just mine for safekeeping]

tc electronic 2290
[with unknown ram - i need to open it up and poke around]

eventide orville
[esentially an h7x00 if i am not mistaken]

lexicon pcm-91
[the reverb only unit that goes for about $1100 used]

and a roland jv-2080 with 7 [!] expansion cards
[i am decidedly unimpress with the sounds in this
thing, though there are THOUSANDS of them!]


i'll get the pics posted when i can - the motor
card is DEFINITELY updated [the metal bracket
that once held the OLD card is still there. this
m400 is also running on 220 via a quite heavy
transformer [is that the technically correct
term for a "step-up" unit?]. the new card is small
of stature and mounted on the bottom panel right
in the middle - it has one large blue cap on it.
the pics will no doubt solve any mysteries...

best,
jeff