The Mellotron Group

From: Mike Dickson
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 7:24 PM

http://cgi.ebay. co.uk/ws/ eBayISAPI. dll?ViewItem& item=11035888606 9&ssPageName= ADME:B:SS: GB:1123

--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/

>
> Wouldn't want that tape set.
>
> --- On *Tue, 3/3/09, Mike Dickson /<mike.dickson@gmail.com>/* wrote:
>
>     From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com>
>     Subject: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
>     To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
>     Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 7:24 PM
>
>     http://cgi.ebay. co.uk/ws/ eBayISAPI. dll?ViewItem&
>     item=11035888606 9&ssPageName= ADME:B:SS: GB:1123
>     <http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110358886069&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123>
>
>     -- 
>     Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
>     Free Music Project: http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
>     <http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson>
>     Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/ <http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/>
>
>
>

From: tronbros@aol.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 9:10 PM

In a message dated 03/03/2009 06:39:19 GMT Standard Time, markpringnz@ yahoo.com writes:

Wouldn't want that tape set.

You can't set an M400 up to optimum performance with old tapes, it just doesn't work so get rid of them. If you try tuning a car with ancient plugs it won't work either.

M

Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics. com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol. com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink

From: Bernie
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 2:00 AM

--- In newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com, Mark Wallis
wrote:
>
>
> There's a CMC10 in there too. Bet that's fun. The price doesn't seem
too outrageous though.
> By the way..Would any of our British chums like to swap an M400 in
need of TLC for a slightly tatty split '62 Hammond C3?I'm feeling the
need for 2 M400s and have too many organs- so I'm thinking the
previously unthinkable. .Besides, 2 M400s together are a much more
giggable proposition than any 2-manual Mellotron and I can't afford a
Mk5.Love and Scones,MSW xx

I thought that by #1527, SMS-2's were standard.

From: Bernie
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 1:58 AM

--- In newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com, Mike Dickson
wrote:
>
> http://cgi.ebay. co.uk/ws/ eBayISAPI. dll?
ViewItem&item= 110358886069& ssPageName= ADME:B:SS: GB:1123
>
> --
> Mike Dickson, Edinburgh
>
> Free Music Project: http://www.last. fm/music/ Mike+Dickson
> Or http://www.mikedick son.org.uk/
>

...and then there's this one: http://tinyurl. com/c84r69

>
> One of the emi trons, looks very clean but way too expensive.
>
>
>
>

From: Mark Pring
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 4:58 PM

Meaning I wouldn't find those sounds very useful. Not sure how old the tapes in my mellotron are, except they are not the original set, probably at least 15 years old but I really like the way they sound. I am happy with the new tapes, they are a lot more realistic and sound quite different, I love the M300a strings but I prefer the flute and choir sounds on the old set except for the horrible hum on the F above middle C on the old set. I have also learned to love the Mark II 3 violins so I still use the old tapes quite a lot.

Mark

--- On Tue, 3/3/09, tronbros@aol. com wrote:

From: tronbros@aol. com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@ yahoogroups. com
Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2009, 9:10 PM

In a message dated 03/03/2009 06:39:19 GMT Standard Time, markpringnz@ yahoo.com writes:

Wouldn't want that tape set.

You can't set an M400 up to optimum performance with old tapes, it just doesn't work so get rid of them. If you try tuning a car with ancient plugs it won't work either.

M

Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics. com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol. com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink

From: tronbros@aol.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] M400S on e-Bay
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, March 4, 2009, 1:13 AM

In a message dated 04/03/2009 05:58:04 GMT Standard Time, pocotron@yahoo. com writes:

The tape set that came with my 'tron is marked "BBS" on each key, and is really worn, so it its quite possibly an original set.

If the 'BBS' marking is in bold felt tip squashed capitals then they are probably London produced tapes which were always out of azimuth! You can check this for certain as they have a drop out zone between tracks whereas Streetly tapes blended at a constant volume, as do ours now. The wrong azimuth gave them a nasal quality that some love.

Best,

M

Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
www.mellotronics. com
US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol. com
US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink

>
> In a message dated 04/03/2009 05:58:04 GMT Standard Time,
> pocotron@yahoo.com
> writes:
>
> The  tape set that came with my 'tron is marked "BBS" on each key, and  is
> really worn, so it its quite possibly an original  set.
>
>
> If the 'BBS' marking is in bold felt tip squashed capitals then they  are
> probably London produced tapes which were always out of  azimuth!  You can
> check
> this for certain as they have a drop out zone  between tracks whereas
> Streetly
> tapes blended at a constant volume, as do ours  now.  The wrong azimuth
> gave
> them a nasal quality that some  love.
>
> Best,
>
> M
>
> Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
> _www.mellotronics.com_ (http://www.mellotronics.com/)
>
> US  Sales East: Jimmy Moore_  JMoore6397@aol.com_
> (http://JMoore6397@aol.com/)
> US Sales West: Paul Cox_  pjc56@earthlink_ (mailto:pjc56@earthlink)
>

>
> In a message dated 04/03/2009 17:03:37 GMT Standard Time, 
> pocotron@yahoo.com writes:
>
>     Interesting clues, Martin.  Mellotron history 101.
>        The lettering on my set is bold, but not too squashed (my
>     interpretation).  The lettering can also be scraped or rubbed off
>     easily (like a wax pencil?).  Then again, some felt marker inks
>     stay on the surface too.  The adjacent tracks blend very well. 
>     The tapes are dark shiny gray on both sides.  And, there is a
>     little aluminum tag under the front left drawbar bolt that has
>     "BB" scratched into it.
>
> Streetly tapes and probably Les Bradley's writing in chinagraph.
>
>      
>        Another point-  My tapes have punch holes evident at some of
>     the cuts(before the back drawbar).  Were the punch holes used from
>     the beginning to mark the cut points?
>
> We still punch hloes to indicate where you cut.  There's no measuring 
> with us!
>  
> Best,
>  
> M
>  
> *Streetly Electronics - All Things Mellotronic
> www.mellotronics.com <http://www.mellotronics.com/>*
> US Sales East: Jimmy Moore JMoore6397@aol.com <http://JMoore6397@aol.com/>
> US Sales West: Paul Cox pjc56@earthlink <mailto:pjc56@earthlink>
>
>