The Magical Mellotron

[mrSpaceman2001]

How many film scores of the day were actually a mellotron? It's a remarkably recognisable sound!..

[Truckguy1970]

This instrument was also used on Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven song.

[Truckguy1970]

There really isn't that much to it,all it is is a bunch of spring loaded tapes and a long rod with a bunch of rollers driven by a motor,the only thing really complicated is keeping the heads aligned.The only electronics used are for the amp.

[georgelee43211]

george harrison must have used the mellotron on his solo lp ''wonderwall''.

[MasterOfPizza99t]

Why are British people so awesome???

[NTComputer86]

how does the rythm tape rewind while its playing? that is amazing how mechanically complex that machine is yet still able to be played quickly like that

[Riskteven]

@NTComputer86 I really wonder that too! I did n't even know there were any mellotrons with rhythm box/function at all. Thought that was only on Hammond/Yamaha and such instruments.

[NTComputer86]

@Riskteven what like the kind that are all memory based? I think this was the predecessor of todays keyboards. I think the rhythm tape is a loop while the individual key tape ribbons rewind on release. such an amazing machine tho lol I want one

[Riskteven]

@NTComputer86 I am not sure they are common enough to be bought on Craighs list like any average Hammond type instrument. They are rare and I think even a Yamaha Thyros 4 is less expensive.

[NTComputer86]

@Riskteven yeah, i havent stumbled across one lol. I assume they hold their value quite well

[Ponnybit]

@NTComputer86 from what i understand the tape has a sample of a few seconds and when the key is released there is a spring that pulls the tape back to the start, in this case the loop.

[BadChizzle]

Wonderful!

[gareebee]

Little did they know that the mellotron would go on to do what they never thought it would do! The most famous of it's sounds such as"flute" (Strawberry Fields Forever) and "three violins" (Knights in White Satin) weren't even demonstrated here!

[arose400]

this is soooo rad! i understand the concept but heck if i know how it works mechanically! really cool nonetheless...thanks for posting

[alramone1]

cool instrument but i still don't get how it works.

[synsei1]

@alramone1 Basically, looped magnetic tapes for each note and each instruments.

[The2010SnowDay]

@synsei1 The Mellotron tapes were'nt looped. They lasted 7-8seconds, and were then pulled back by a spring.

[synsei1]

@The2010SnowDay Thank you, I assumed they were looped and the notes could be played limitlessly.

[lazzer408]

@The2010SnowDay It's kind of amazing how stable the frequency is and how quickly it can be retriggered.

[feathersfall]

wow this is totally neato burrito. i've only heard a few songs that use it but it's cool it's been utilized so differently and amazignly by different songs. =)