The Mellotron Group

Hi All.
You'll all be pleased to know that I've decided that I just can't bring myself to sell my tron. Too much personal history, and good times and input from Martin and John make it just more than an instrument to me. I will have to accommodate it somehow, if we move house next year. I hope to take the front cover with me when I see Steve Hackett, get him to sign it. 
Relieved.
AK

Sent from my iPad

Great decision Andy!

      From: "Andy Kinch kinchmusic@aol.com [newmellotrongroup]" <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com>
 To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com 
 Sent: Sunday, December 11, 2016 2:28 AM
 Subject: [newmellotrongroup] My M400
   
    Hi All.
You'll all be pleased to know that I've decided that I just can't bring myself to sell my tron. Too much personal history, and good times and input from Martin and John make it just more than an instrument to me. I will have to accommodate it somehow, if we move house next year. I hope to take the front cover with me when I see Steve Hackett, get him to sign it. 
Relieved.
AK

Sent from my iPad

Like a member of the family....

Andy Kinch kinchmusic@aol.com [newmellotrongroup] wrote:
> more than an instrument to me

GREAT news, Andy!  I can empathize... there have been times when more money, or space, would be very helpful. Occasionally people have suggested, "You have a lot of guitars and other gear. Why don't you sell some of those?" And of course, the Mellotron! Of course, they don't understand that it's like suggesting to a mechanic, "You have so many wrenches. You should sell some of 'em!" And that's my stock answer. But while they're tools of our trade, they also have souls of a sort, somehow connected to us. As you put it, a history, memories, and just the joy and intrigue of playing them. My thought is first, if I sold something, it would be for very short-term relief, then it's just GONE. Then there's also the fact that I use it, and I'd want to replace it at some point.  We all know prices of used instruments aren't getting any lower... quite the opposite, so it's pretty tough to think of selling an instrument for any reason, if you plan on replacing it "when I have more money." Pretty hard when you use that instrument to make the money! So once I've landed a desired and loved instrument, including the Mellotron and some delicious synths as well as guitars & basses, I can't remember selling anything but a beloved-but-aging Echo-plex and one inexpensive acoustic guitar that was given to me. And I even regretted THAT! I USE the things, and yes, I LOVE 'em.

Anyway, I'm VERY glad you've chosen to hang on to your 'tron.  Good show! I know it'll make a fine showpiece in your new place.
Happy Christmas and Merry New Year!
Cheers!
Berington Berington Van Campen 
Van Campen Productions / V.C.MusiCorp Scoring Services / Sessions
VCMusiCorp1@yahoo.com 
The BEATUNES - Beatles Tribute Band
www.TheBeatunes.com 
NEW Home/Office: (818) 508-3154
www.facebook.com/berington

"I will have to accommodate it somehow, ..."  Hey Andy, I'm sure you'll find a way. It would look fine with a small lamp on it, maybe a couple of other small unspillable special items, easy to remove if you want to open the lid. I think that's what I did when I first got mine, right in our dining room. Good luck!
And good luck with Steve Hackett, too! THAT would be cool, eh?
Cheers,Berington
 Berington Van Campen 
Van Campen Productions / V.C.MusiCorp Scoring Services / Sessions
VCMusiCorp1@yahoo.com 
The BEATUNES - Beatles Tribute Band
www.TheBeatunes.com 
NEW Home/Office: (818) 508-3154
www.facebook.com/berington

Thanks guys for all your encouragement. I will try to take on board some of your suggestions. Small lamp or MiniMoog Berington? I rather think the MiniMoog will have to take pride of place. It's what they were made for after all Lol.

Sent from my iPad

> On 12 Dec 2016, at 19:28, Berington Van Campen vcmusicorp1@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> "I will have to accommodate it somehow, ..."  Hey Andy, I'm sure you'll find a way. It would look fine with a small lamp on it, maybe a couple of other small unspillable special items, easy to remove if you want to open the lid. I think that's what I did when I first got mine, right in our dining room. Good luck!
> 
> And good luck with Steve Hackett, too! THAT would be cool, eh?
> 
> Cheers,
> Berington
> 
>  
> Berington Van Campen 
> Van Campen Productions / V.C.MusiCorp Scoring Services / Sessions
> VCMusiCorp1@yahoo.com 
> The BEATUNES - Beatles Tribute Band
> www.TheBeatunes.com 
> NEW Home/Office: (818) 508-3154
> www.facebook.com/berington
>

Hi Bernie.
Martin and John installed the tron in a brand new cabinet for me for the reasons you have stated. It was getting a bit wobbly.
Solid as rock now :)
Sent from my iPad

> On 13 Dec 2016, at 13:11, guajian@yahoo.com [newmellotrongroup] <newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
> 
> One problem that old M400's tend to develop is an out of square cabinet from placing too much weight on them. I'd ask Martin if he thinks 28 lbs is too much. I had to replace my Hammond XK-3 with an SK-1 because he thought the XK-3 weighed too much.
> 
> Bernie
> 
>

I have a Memory-Moog synth on top ofmine (slightly Wakeman-esque, yes), so I solved not only the weight problem,but my even bigger concern of being able to open the lid without having toremove the heavy synth first. I found an old Ampeg amp dolly I'd had, that fitsperfectly between the Mellotron skids, turned the 2 fixed castors on it so theywent sideways instead of lengthwise. It's JUST high enough to lift theMellotron very slightly, so it rolls front-to-back perfectly, and still remains nicely stable and balanced. 

Then I built a simple 3-board(3/4x12) pine frame/stand, just high and wide enough to straddle the Mellotron on thedolly, braced in the rear with one crosspiece positioned to clear the plugs on theback of the 'tron. I stained it a dark cherry, if I rememberright, to somewhat match the wood on both the Memory-Moog and the adjacentMini-Moog. Now, any time I want to get into the Mellotron, Ijust move the swell pedals and pull 'er straight out. Works like a charm! If you feel the stand is a little narrow to be secure (mine's 12" deep),you can attach it to a wall behind it in any preferred way. It's not onlypractical, but looks great, too! The stand barely even shows; it looks like theMemory-Moog's just floating slightly over the Mellotron.

I've attached a photo in which youcan see just the edge of the dolly under the Mellotron, and a bit of the rightend of the Memory-Moog stand, under the Mini. 

It's an afternoon project, maybe shorter-timeand prettier-looking for those good with woodworking, and it works.

Cheers, & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!Berington Berington Van Campen 
Van Campen Productions / V.C.MusiCorp Scoring Services / Sessions
VCMusiCorp1@yahoo.com 
The BEATUNES - Beatles Tribute Band
www.TheBeatunes.com 
NEW Home/Office: (818) 508-3154
www.facebook.com/berington

Guess the photo didn't stick. I'll try again, fwiw. If it gives you any ideas... it works for me.

Cheers & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

 Berington Van Campen 
Van Campen Productions / V.C.MusiCorp Scoring Services / Sessions
VCMusiCorp1@yahoo.com 
The BEATUNES - Beatles Tribute Band
www.TheBeatunes.com 
NEW Home/Office: (818) 508-3154
www.facebook.com/berington