The Mellotron Group

As I have finally started to dig into this machine, I have discovered that  
there is a lot to like about it. I really think that this would have been a 
 great machine for a touring band, or in the studio. 
 
It's lighter than a standard Mellotron
 
It's sturdier than a standard Mellotron
 
It has four tracks instead of three.
It takes any standard tape frame but uses 1/4 inch tape.
 
Any of the four tracks can be mixed with any other in any combination
including all four at the same time.
 
Each track has its own separate controls for volume, EQ and panning  
left-right. 
 
 
I think it is unfortunate that this model never made it into mass  
production. I think it would have been immensely popular (for a Mellotron) if  they 
hadn't gone out of vogue.
 
It uses a standard motor as can be seen in the photos, but the capstan and  
pinch rollers are slightly smaller in diameter than a standard M-400. This 
may  or may not be a design flaw. I don't know yet because it was so whacked 
when it  came into the shop that it was nearly impossible to play. The 
rollers appear to  be in good shape and they spin freely, but the machine was so 
filthy and poorly  adjusted and the tapes are in such poor condition that 
it wasn't really very  easy to play.
 
Here are some photos for comparison to what we all know and love.
 

          
This is how it looked  upon arrival a while back. It's been in my shop 
since  May.
   
Here are the controls.  The black buttons are on/off for each track. Pitch 
is on the  left.
   
Inside
   
Inside the power pack.  That is an SMS-3 toward the front.
   
The keyboard frame is  one giant piece of stamped aluminum.
   
Keyboard frame with  pressure pads...
   
...and  without.
   
Notice that the motor  is not riveted. bolting a motor together is a pain 
in the ass, trust  me. Each bolt has to be correctly torqued. Even the 
slightest error  will cause the shaft to bind, amp draw to increase and the motor 
to  burn out.
   
I  have no idea what that crap is on the flywheel, but it was a bitch  to 
get off!
   
Here is the main frame  nearly torn all the way down. Also one big piece of 
stamped  aluminum.
   
Head  block
   
Close up of 4 track  heads. No azimuths to adjust. Those collars are locked 
in  place.
   
The whole thing was  pretty much of a filthy mess (as most are when I get 
them). Those  are line out jacks on the right side of the  photo
   
See, just like every  other  Mellotron...

 
So there you have it... A few photos exposing the "Dangerous Maytag."
 
 
Frank

Is this the 'Strange Advance' 4-Track ?
Are you going to get new tapes ?

Since most of us can't see these photos, Can you put them in the photo album on our Yahoo page ?  (It's easy to do).

Clay

Frank,

Do you know anything about the history of this machine or any of the other 3 that were produced (who used them, recordings,etc.)?  This machine has always intrigued me and seemed a better design than the 400 (fixed heads, etc.).  Have you ever seen one of the T.550s (400 built into a road case)?

Gary

From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lsf5275@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 9:22 PM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re: 4-Track Mellotron restoration

As I have finally started to dig into this machine, I have discovered that there is a lot to like about it. I really think that this would have been a great machine for a touring band, or in the studio.

It's lighter than a standard Mellotron

It's sturdier than a standard Mellotron

It has four tracks instead of three.
It takes any standard tape frame but uses 1/4 inch tape.

Any of the four tracks can be mixed with any other in any combination
including all four at the same time.

Each track has its own separate controls for volume, EQ and panning left-right.


I think it is unfortunate that this model never made it into mass production. I think it would have been immensely popular (for a Mellotron) if they hadn't gone out of vogue.

It uses a standard motor as can be seen in the photos, but the capstan and pinch rollers are slightly smaller in diameter than a standard M-400. This may or may not be a design flaw. I don't know yet because it was so whacked when it came into the shop that it was nearly impossible to play. The rollers appear to be in good shape and they spin freely, but the machine was so filthy and poorly adjusted and the tapes are in such poor condition that it wasn't really very easy to play.

Here are some photos for comparison to what we all know and love.

[cid:image002.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

This is how it looked upon arrival a while back. It's been in my shop since May.


[cid:image004.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

Here are the controls. The black buttons are on/off for each track. Pitch is on the left.


[cid:image006.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

Inside


[cid:image008.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

Inside the power pack. That is an SMS-3 toward the front.


[cid:image010.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

The keyboard frame is one giant piece of stamped aluminum.


[cid:image012.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

Keyboard frame with pressure pads...


[cid:image014.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

...and without.


[cid:image016.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

Notice that the motor is not riveted. bolting a motor together is a pain in the ass, trust me. Each bolt has to be correctly torqued. Even the slightest error will cause the shaft to bind, amp draw to increase and the motor to burn out.


[cid:image018.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

I have no idea what that crap is on the flywheel, but it was a bitch to get off!


[cid:image020.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

Here is the main frame nearly torn all the way down. Also one big piece of stamped aluminum.


[cid:image022.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

Head block


[cid:image024.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

Close up of 4 track heads. No azimuths to adjust. Those collars are locked in place.


[cid:image026.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

The whole thing was pretty much of a filthy mess (as most are when I get them). Those are line out jacks on the right side of the photo


[cid:image028.jpg@01CA585E.E805E130]

See, just like every other Mellotron...



So there you have it... A few photos exposing the "Dangerous Maytag."


Frank

Yes and yes.
 
 
In a message dated 10/29/2009 7:45:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
ecclesreinson@rogers.com writes:

Is  this the 'Strange Advance' 4-Track ?
Are you going to get new tapes  ?

Since most of us can't see these photos, Can you put them in the  photo 
album on our Yahoo page ? (It's easy to  do).

Clay

Not yet.
 
 
In a message dated 10/29/2009 9:12:37 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
unobtainiumkeys@gmail.com writes:

So Frank - have you cut your fingers on the wonderful extruded aluminium  
yet?  : - 0

I heard this 4-Track in 1985 on the rotating stage at the Forum in Toronto.  Strange Advance <-- (Nice hair !)  I remember thinking "That white thing doesn't look like a Mellotron".  It definitely sounded like a Mellotron.  Unfortunately, Strange Advance had two decent songs and about thirty bad ones.  - IMHO

Clay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S-xe-UH0hA



--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote:

>
> Yes and yes.
>  
>  
> In a message dated 10/29/2009 7:45:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
> ecclesreinson@... writes:
> 
> Is  this the 'Strange Advance' 4-Track ?
> Are you going to get new tapes  ?
> 
> Since most of us can't see these photos, Can you put them in the  photo 
> album on our Yahoo page ? (It's easy to  do).
> 
> Clay
>

I have uploaded a complete set of 4-Track photos for all to see. They are  
on the Yahoo page.
 
Frank
 
 
In a message dated 10/29/2009 7:45:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
ecclesreinson@rogers.com writes:

 
 
 
Is this the 'Strange Advance' 4-Track ?
Are you going to get new tapes  ?

Since most of us can't see these photos, Can you put them in the  photo 
album on our Yahoo page ? (It's easy to  do).

Clay

I like to watch...

-----Original Message-----
From: lsf5275@aol.com
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, Oct 29, 2009 12:57 pm
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: 4-Track Mellotron restoration






















    

                  




I have uploaded a complete set of 4-Track photos for all to see. They are 
on the Yahoo page.


 


Frank


 




In a message dated 10/29/2009 7:45:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
ecclesreinson@rogers.com writes:


  
  

  
Is this the 'Strange Advance' 4-Track ?
Are you going to get new tapes 
  ?

Since most of us can't see these photos, Can you put them in the 
  photo album on our Yahoo page ? (It's easy to 
  do).

Clay

thanks Frank,...and aloha
Lee

lsf5275@aol.com wrote:

>  
>
> I have uploaded a complete set of 4-Track photos for all to see. They 
> are on the Yahoo page.
>  
> Frank
>  
> In a message dated 10/29/2009 7:45:35 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, 
> ecclesreinson@rogers.com writes:
>
>      
>
>     Is this the 'Strange Advance' 4-Track ?
>     Are you going to get new tapes ?
>
>     Since most of us can't see these photos, Can you put them in the
>     photo album on our Yahoo page ? (It's easy to do).
>
>     Clay
>
>

Gary,
 
I have never seen a T-550, although I know someone who has one. As for the  
other  4-tracks, I think Ryo has one in his collection. Beyond that, I have 
 no idea where the other two are. I agree that it seems like a vast 
improvement  over the 400, but it would still have needed to have evolved a bit for 
mass  production. One neat thing about it is that it all bolts together... 
Everything!  Even the cabinet may be disassembled into a bunch of stamped 
metal panels. Plus,  there is room in the cabinet for two small children or a 
good sized dog. Or  maybe a cooler of some kind :-). It certainly is very 
road worthy.
 
Frank
 
 
In a message dated 10/29/2009 9:16:34 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
gabru@comsec.net writes:

Frank, 
Do you know  anything about the history of this machine or any of the other 
3 that were  produced (who used them, recordings,etc.Do  This machine has 
always  intrigued me and seemed a better design than the 400 (fixed heads,  
etc.).  Have you ever seen one of the T.550s (400 built into a road  case)?  
Gary

Also, they aren't flammable...



I agree that it seems like a vast 

> improvement  over the 400, but it would still have needed to have evolved a bit for 
> mass  production. One neat thing about it is that it all bolts together... 
> Everything!  Even the cabinet may be disassembled into a bunch of stamped 
> metal panels.

Is this part of your collection or are you rebuilding for a client?
What a great rare piece.  I am sure it will be a showpiece when you're done.
Are the original tapes pretty well shot?  What is the keyboard action like compared
to a 400? .....Have fun....great project!

Gary

From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of lsf5275@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:03 PM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: 4-Track Mellotron restoration


Gary,

I have never seen a T-550, although I know someone who has one. As for the other  4-tracks, I think Ryo has one in his collection. Beyond that, I have no idea where the other two are. I agree that it seems like a vast improvement over the 400, but it would still have needed to have evolved a bit for mass production. One neat thing about it is that it all bolts together... Everything! Even the cabinet may be disassembled into a bunch of stamped metal panels. Plus, there is room in the cabinet for two small children or a good sized dog. Or maybe a cooler of some kind :-). It certainly is very road worthy.

Frank

In a message dated 10/29/2009 9:16:34 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, gabru@comsec.net<mailto:gabru@comsec.net> writes:
Frank,
Do you know anything about the history of this machine or any of the other 3 that were produced (who used them, recordings,etc.)?  This machine has always intrigued me and seemed a better design than the 400 (fixed heads, etc.).  Have you ever seen one of the T.550s (400 built into a road case)?
Gary

....maybe if Frank had maintained them Wakeman would have kept the matches in his pocket.... :)
....but what a great story...probably added to the Mellotron's fame (such as it is :))

From: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rick Blechta
Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 5:15 PM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Re: 4-Track Mellotron restoration




On Oct 29, 2009, at 8:11 PM, jonesalley wrote:


Also, they aren't flammable...

That's why Wakeman never bought one. No fun...

It belongs to someone for whom I had previously restored two M-400s. I  
insisted that he buy it because I could not. 
 
I'm not sure whether we are going to repaint the cabinet or not. It cleaned 
 up very well, but has some scratches on the front. Otherwise, it will look 
 factory fresh.
 
The tapes are in pretty bad shape, though they are playable. We will be  
cleaning them up and preserving them. The tape frame looks pretty standard  
except that the thumb screws are smaller (although they are the same thread siz
e  as any other frame and fit a 400 fine) and the side rails are beefier. 
Any  standard M-400 tape frame will fit in the 4-Track as long as it holds 
1/4 inch  tapes.
 
I cannot comment on the keyboard action because the keyboard was a mess  
when the machine arrived. I will let you know the answer to that question as  
soon as the machine is back together. I suspect that it will be very good, 
but  probably no better than a properly adjusted M-400. 
 
I have been able to achieve very light touch and very fast action on M-400  
keyboards. Nearly as good as the M4000, but not quite. I have done so many 
of  them that I continue to learn and improve as I try new methods to 
improve the  action. 
 
Frank
 
 
 
 
In a message dated 10/29/2009 8:36:14 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
gabru@comsec.net writes:

Is this part  of your collection or are you rebuilding for a client?    
What a great  rare piece.  I am sure it will be a showpiece when you’re 
done.    
Are the  original tapes pretty well shot?  What is the keyboard action like 
 compared  
to a 400?  …..Have fun….great  project!

Wakeman is now claiming that he burned three Mellotrons. A case of  a 
legend growing a legend?
 
 
In a message dated 10/29/2009 8:43:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
gabru@comsec.net writes:

….maybe if  Frank had maintained them Wakeman would have kept the matches 
in his pocket….  J

You mean that isn't why they designed them that way?

> 
> That's why Wakeman never bought one. No fun...
>

Nope, you got the title wrong. It was, "Canned Tuna on a Cruise  Liner.
 
 
In a message dated 10/29/2009 9:51:30 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
rick@rickblechta.com writes:

They also looked good built in under kitchen counters right next to the  
dishwasher. This was also the reason Genesis named their tune "Can Utility and 
 the Trash Can Liners".

Curiously enough, my favorite Mellotron appearance on any recording is the chordal solo halfway into "Can-Utility and the Coastliners."  I get goosebumps just thinking about it.  There's no guitarist in the world that can begin to match the naked, screaming power of that solo.  The way it hangs on the low "D" nearly to the end of the tape and then explodes into monstrous ascending chords is one musical moment that never gets old for me.  Positively orgasmic.  That's why I give Tony a pass on a lot of other stuff, like those gadawful cat noises he pulls out of his Pro Soloist...



 This was also the reason Genesis named their tune "Can  

> Utility and the Trash Can Liners".
> 
> S'truth!
>

Hi!

Thanks Frank for the photos..
The first 4 photos were taken by the previous owner, right ?
I have them in my mellotron photos archive and they dates back to 2007.
These photos are small and the control panel is a bit fuzzy.
If it's possible, could you take these 4 photos yourself (+ the back  
panel) ?

And which is its serial number ? #001 ?

Thanks and cheers,


David
...........................................
http://www.mellotron.fr
http://www.fairlightcmi.fr

I don't know who took those photos. I took the rest. I've had the first  
four for a while.
 
I will be uploading lots of photos over the next week or two.
 
Frank
 
 
 
In a message dated 11/1/2009 11:01:59 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
candor@free.fr writes:

The first 4 photos were  taken by the previous owner, right ?
I have them in my mellotron photos archive  and they dates back to 2007.
These photos are small and the control panel  is a bit fuzzy.
If it's possible, could you take these 4 photos yourself (+ the  back 
panel) ?

lsf5275@aol.com wrote:
>  
>
> I don't know who took those photos. I took the rest. I've had the 
> first four for a while.
>


Based on the logo in the lower right hand corner, those old photos are 
likely from ebay. Assuming it's the same machine, it has lost another 
knob since then.

Bob S.

Only one knob missing.
 
 
In a message dated 11/1/2009 2:00:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
bob.snyder@cox.net writes:

Based  on the logo in the lower right hand corner, those old photos are 
likely  from ebay. Assuming it's the same machine, it has lost another 
knob since  then.

Bob S.

Hi Frank,
I'd be interested to know if this machine sounds different to an M400 what with the different heads and amps etc? Does it sound less tronny or more like a chamerlin or just the same?

bw
John



--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, lsf5275@... wrote:

>
> As I have finally started to dig into this machine, I have discovered that  
> there is a lot to like about it. I really think that this would have been a 
>  great machine for a touring band, or in the studio. 
>  
> It's lighter than a standard Mellotron
>  
> It's sturdier than a standard Mellotron
>  
> It has four tracks instead of three.
> It takes any standard tape frame but uses 1/4 inch tape.
>  
> Any of the four tracks can be mixed with any other in any combination
> including all four at the same time.
>  
> Each track has its own separate controls for volume, EQ and panning  
> left-right. 
>  
>  
> I think it is unfortunate that this model never made it into mass  
> production. I think it would have been immensely popular (for a Mellotron) if  they 
> hadn't gone out of vogue.
>  
> It uses a standard motor as can be seen in the photos, but the capstan and  
> pinch rollers are slightly smaller in diameter than a standard M-400. This 
> may  or may not be a design flaw. I don't know yet because it was so whacked 
> when it  came into the shop that it was nearly impossible to play. The 
> rollers appear to  be in good shape and they spin freely, but the machine was so 
> filthy and poorly  adjusted and the tapes are in such poor condition that 
> it wasn't really very  easy to play.
>  
> Here are some photos for comparison to what we all know and love.
>  
> 
>           
> This is how it looked  upon arrival a while back. It's been in my shop 
> since  May.
>    
> Here are the controls.  The black buttons are on/off for each track. Pitch 
> is on the  left.
>    
> Inside
>    
> Inside the power pack.  That is an SMS-3 toward the front.
>    
> The keyboard frame is  one giant piece of stamped aluminum.
>    
> Keyboard frame with  pressure pads...
>    
> ...and  without.
>    
> Notice that the motor  is not riveted. bolting a motor together is a pain 
> in the ass, trust  me. Each bolt has to be correctly torqued. Even the 
> slightest error  will cause the shaft to bind, amp draw to increase and the motor 
> to  burn out.
>    
> I  have no idea what that crap is on the flywheel, but it was a bitch  to 
> get off!
>    
> Here is the main frame  nearly torn all the way down. Also one big piece of 
> stamped  aluminum.
>    
> Head  block
>    
> Close up of 4 track  heads. No azimuths to adjust. Those collars are locked 
> in  place.
>    
> The whole thing was  pretty much of a filthy mess (as most are when I get 
> them). Those  are line out jacks on the right side of the  photo
>    
> See, just like every  other  Mellotron...
> 
>  
> So there you have it... A few photos exposing the "Dangerous Maytag."
>  
>  
> Frank
>

I'll let you know when I'm done.
 
Frank
 
 
In a message dated 11/4/2009 11:55:58 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
j.k.beresford@shef.ac.uk writes:

Hi  Frank,
I'd be interested to know if this machine sounds different to an  M400 what 
with the different heads and amps etc? Does it sound less tronny or  more 
like a chamerlin or just the  same?