The company was called Mellotronics, and the first product, the Mellotron Mark 1, appeared
in 1963. Although it was an improvement over the Chamberlin, it wasn't much more reliable
than its predecessor. In 1964 it was followed by the Mellotron Mark 2, the first one that
proved to be reliable enough to be usable.
This was a truly monster machine, with two keyboards, capable of 70 notes of polyphony,
and with tapes available for many different sounds, including the famous flutes, violins and
choirs, as well as full strings, guitars, brass, organs, pianos, etc.
After a smaller interim Model 300, in 1970 the Mellotron Model 400 (M400) appeared. Even
smaller than the M300, more portable and cheaper, with a better tape mechanism and new
removable tape frames with three sounds each that could be easily replaced, it contributed
decisively to popularize the Mellotron, especially among members of the progressive rock
bands, which relied much on keyboards and orchestral sounds for their music.
1.2.1. Whos' who of Mellotron users
Anyone who remembers The Beatles remembers the famous song
Strawberry Fields
Forever. The flutes intro in that song is one of the most famous passages featuring the
Mellotron.
The Beatles adopted enthusiastically the Mellotron, especially Paul McCartney, which was
the one who played it in
Strawberry Fields Forever and used it several times after that, even
after The Beatles demise (for example, to play the bagpipes in
Mull of Kyntire).
Allegedly, it was Mike Pinder who introduced the instrument to John Lennon and Paul
McCartney. Mike was working at Mellotronics before joining The Moody Blues.
But there were many others. Actually, naming the notable users of the Mellotron is almost
a who's who of the rock scene of the sixties and seventies. The Beatles come first in our list
(obviously). Their big rivals The Rolling Stones also used the Mellotron as well (played by
Brian Jones).
Mike Pinder (The Moody Blues) also used it since 1967. After joining the band, the Mellotron
was called to play a key role in their music since the very beginning. Anyone who hears the
famous song
Nights in White Satin from the first album of the band, Days of Future Passed,
will immediately recognize the Mellotron sounds in it.
Many other progressive rock bands followed, to the point where the Mellotron itself became
a defining feature of the prog-rock sound.
The Mellotron was often featured in the long pieces that defined the style, accompanying
guitar or synthesizer solos, supplying backing beds and even used as a replacement for
orchestral lines.
Tony Banks (Genesis) was another notable user, as was Rick Wakeman (Yes). King Crimson
bought a Mellotron when they started, and although aware of the way The Moody Blues
used it, they decided to go ahead, and also use it to fill the "orchestral" passages of their
music. The Mello was used right away in their great first album
In the Court of Crimson
King, as well as its successor In The Wake of Poseidon. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) also
featured the Mellotron on some albums of the band.
Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme (Barclay James Harvest) was another keyboardist who used
the Mellotron extensively. On stage, he even used multiple Mellotrons at the same time, to
play the orchestral passages the band was known for (in the beginning, the band played
with a real orchestra). The famous swiss keyboardist Patrick Moraz (Yes, The Moody Blues)
also used the Mellotron, and its follower Novatron (Novatrons were rebranded Mellotrons).
Arturia - User Manual Mellotron V - WELCOME TO THE MELLOTRON
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Содержание Mellotron V
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