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Why is the Mellotron still popular?
- Thread starter Felken
- Start date
Alkali Ike
Gold Supporting Member
- Jan 1, 2011
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- Jan 1, 2014
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- Decendant from the Clovis culture. "Emitting that wonderful bass effect since 1970".
Why is the Mellotron still popular?
Because GOD plays a Mellotron and His is in perfect condition at all times.
Mine, not as good. But still heavenly.
Because GOD plays a Mellotron and His is in perfect condition at all times.
Mine, not as good. But still heavenly.
Alkali Ike
Gold Supporting Member
- Jan 1, 2011
- 2,856
- 15,666
- Disclosures
- I never actually learned to play very well
Relic’ing a vehicle or instrument is an art. Do it “wrong” and it screams F-A-K-E.
By the same token, if I'm seeing a Doors' cover band...I would hope it's a Fender Piano Bass onstage & not a synth/sampler.
A Rhodes Piano Bass is a road-worthy instrument if if is even slightly taken care of. A mellotron is never road-worthy, even with full time technicians. I think it was Wakeman who toured with 2. With two, the chances of one making it to the nights destination in playable condition was increased slightly. A full time tech just to make sure one Mellotron was playable every night.
I've seen a few pop up around Austin for $4-6k. They usually don't sell, they just reposted every couple months. Our keyboard shop, Switched On, had two in stock at one point. Both were on consignment from the original owner. The move to the shop was the first time they left his house since he bought them ~40 years ago.
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I remember an article about the Moody Blues from years ago that said Gary Pender (the original keyboardist) actually spent more time repairing the mellotron than playing it, often fixing it with wire and a pair of pliers. YES's Tony Kaye got so mad at his during a BADGER concert that he kicked it off the stage in a fit of rage.
BUT....Oh what a sound.
BUT....Oh what a sound.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Same reason the piano/flute/violin are still being used centuries later - people like the sound.
I think Rick Wakeman topped them all with his infamous bonfire (see Interviews at the bottom of the page):
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I LOVE mellotrons, and not just Porcupine Tree’s “Mellotron Scratch” (fun to play anyways).
To me the mellotron is a sound all on its own. Yeah, it was designed to emulate a symphony and for the time was admirable if unreliable. It has become a sound I it’s own right and a fantastic addition to great recordings.
I can’t imagine “The Rain Song” with anything other than a mellotron, or endless Genesis music, or King Crimson without the distinct blurry, watery sound of the mellotron.
In original prog bands we always make extensive use of the mellotron (sampled of course) in numerous songs to a beautiful effect.
Mellotrons sound amazing.
To me the mellotron is a sound all on its own. Yeah, it was designed to emulate a symphony and for the time was admirable if unreliable. It has become a sound I it’s own right and a fantastic addition to great recordings.
I can’t imagine “The Rain Song” with anything other than a mellotron, or endless Genesis music, or King Crimson without the distinct blurry, watery sound of the mellotron.
In original prog bands we always make extensive use of the mellotron (sampled of course) in numerous songs to a beautiful effect.
Mellotrons sound amazing.
I think Robert Fripp owned 2 due their unreliability but I could be mistaken.
I read that he still owns some of his old Mark II's and 400's:
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In fact Steve Wilson used one of Fripp's Mark II's on a recent solo album (see the photo of him playing it):
Planet Mellotron Album Reviews: Wobbler
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Thanks - I knew it was something like that. I remembered that someone borrowed one from Fripp on at least one occasion (I think Tony Banks borrowed one as well back in the 70s), but I’d forgotten SW did much more recently.
- Jan 1, 2014
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- Decendant from the Clovis culture. "Emitting that wonderful bass effect since 1970".
You know, hardly a day goes by that I don't hear a Mellotron/Chamberlin sound in some TV commercial or in some indie/alt tune on the radio. Granted most of them are samples, but samples of a real Tron or a Chamberlin. As I type this, the radio is playing "Closing Time" by Semi Sonic. You guessed it... Tron in the mix. Go figure.
Beauty will live forever.
Beauty will live forever.
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That would be Mike Pinder. He actually worked for the British electronics company that developed the instrument, giving the Moody Blues special access to it. He once remarked about how, when they were on tour in the US, the change in regional grid voltage between afternoon sound check and the night’s performance would play havoc on the motor speed, and create all sorts of pitch problems.
I sure wouldn't call a Mellotron popular but they have their fans. You have to be a touring band who can afford the maintenance, a how time consuming they are. Nobody in a bar band, or regional touring is going to want one.
Back in '70's, the hot keys set up was a B3 organ, Yamaha cp-80, Rhodes, poly Moog, and a Mellotron. The average keys player was in debt for the rest of his life, and slightly out of tune for most of it.
Good riddance.
Back in '70's, the hot keys set up was a B3 organ, Yamaha cp-80, Rhodes, poly Moog, and a Mellotron. The average keys player was in debt for the rest of his life, and slightly out of tune for most of it.
Good riddance.
