Mellotron Mark 2

Fairly straightforward to use, but if operated improperly could result in damage to the all-important tapes. But the controls are minimal and simple to operate. The hardest part is tearing yourself away from playing it...

8 second samples under each key, as described above. A fantastic warm sound, partially due to the cabinet and built-in speakers. This is suprisingly advanced technology for the time! It doesn't do a lot but play good sounds in a very satisfying way. The better you are at playing harmonically interesting music, the more you would like a Mellotron Mk.II

The sounds are famous, but interestingly enough, they also fascinate people who have no "history" with the instrument. So it's not a nostalgia thing, they have a sound quality that is unique. New tapes are all made custom nowadays - original or specially chosen sets. Beware claims of "originality" as the dealers have various sources for their tapes and their own reasons for doing things their way. They are a competitive bunch who argue constantly about things to their detriment. Despite claims to the contrary, many Mellotron users prefer old tape sets, not always. It is not a simple thing to just put in a new set of tapes - and not always an improvement.

They are relatively unreliable, compared to a Hammond or Piano. Even good ones break down now and then. Studio use is the safest. Sensitive to moisture and certainly requires personal attention. You do NOT buy a Mk.II and expect it to "just work" all the time. Even the "completely refurbished" units I know have needed help now and then. You MUST give it attention to maintain it's playability. You tune guitars bass and drums when you use them; the Mellotron usually needs LESS than that, but combined with the original "flaws" in the tape recordins (tunings and inconsistencies), this is not a set-and-forget instrument. Fine autos also require attention, but usually service people are local for cars! The more you take care of it, the better it stays in shape.

Active support all over - from other Mellotron owners (worldwide, who are a friendly lot), from Mellotron.com (North America and Europe), and Streetly Electronics (UK). Most Mellotrons need a "little" help to get in good shape. There are videos avialable to train yoursef to maintain your Mellotron - this is adviseable because it is likely no one will come to your home or studio to "fix" a Mellotron. Shipping one is a NIGHTMARE financially, so a simple investment in the service manual and videos are crucial and a good investment. YOU are your Mellotron serviceman, or it will spend considerable time not working...

They tend to go for extravagant prices, and seem to be worthwile only to collectors, not really a good "value", but are probably a good investment. They are heaviy as hell and do not love traveling. But the sound is so impressive, and it is such a magical instrument... The smaller models from the 1970's are much more common, and the new Mk. VI model is an improved version of those for stage or studio use. But the MkII is a RARE classic and there are very few left out there.

Ah the Mellotron. The all time classic, without which we wouldn't have sampling today. I'm going to describe my experiences with a Mark 2 and a 400 over the time I had them, roughly from 1984-1994.
If you've never tried a Mark 2, you've missed out on one of life's great pleasures. The mark 2 is the BIG ONE, in every way. Twin 35 note keyboards, three tape settings on each bank and SIX banks of tape stored on rollers connected together by bicycle chains (Really, I'm not making this up). Onboard reverb for the right hand keyboard (the lead section), built in amp and speakers, weighing in at around 2cwt. Two removal men can lift it-just! Four guys can lift it a little easier. You've got control over bank select, which tape out of the three to select, and you have five buttons for each tape bank, so you can 'layer' two adjacent sounds and play them at the same time.
And the sounds? Far more than you might think on a Mark 2. Flutes, strings (different recording to a 400), at least three different types of saxes, several organs from cheesy cabaret and churchy sounds to a blasting Hammond, mandolin, accordion, piano (very unusual sounding), clean electric guitar, vibes and a few more I've forgotten about.
The left hand keyboard is the fun one, packed with 'rhythm fills' -complete backing tracks each seven seconds long. Jazz, latin, rock 'n' roll, swing and smooth sections. You'll also find the intro to the Beatles 'Bungalow Bill' here! Also on there are section riffs and solos: string ensembles, jazz trombone fills, accordion chords, ensemble flute riffs, and more, many of which turn up on early King Crimson albums and the like.
The essence of the Mark 2's sound can be heard on Geensis' 'Watcher of the Skies' which is a combination of strings and brass (bank 2) with believe it or not accordion bass in the left hand. It sounds terrifically powerful.

Any Mellotron sound is just as it was recorded. Add studio FX and it comes alive. Terrifically creativeresult are possible when used this way.

Full 35 note polyphony on both the Mark 2 and the 400, although with the early motor board the torgue on the motor would be too much and the whole thing would go out of tune. On the 400, the later SMS2 motor cured this problem. Nice keyboard action, individually adjustable screws and nuts -we ARE talking 50s/60s technology here. Get out your car tool kit for many jobs!
A certain amount of touch sensitivity available due to the keys pressing down on felt pads that pressed the tape rollers down harder on the replay heads. Or something similar. Anyway, it worked.

I'm giving the Melly a 10 on sound quality. Now that's not because the sound is high quality. For audio and hi-fi geeks, the sound is actually terrible. BUT -the character and quality to the sound is unsurpassed. It's the combination of good ol' tape technology and valve circuitry that provide that unique sound. Imperfect, yes, but very himan and appealing nevertheless. I used it al lot in conjunction with MIDI gear including Kurzweil modules and mellotron trackls sit very well and nicely within the hi-tech stuff.
One thing to take note of:
Mellotrons have had a reputation for dull sounds. This is actually untrue. Some modles were fitted with fourth or fifth generation tapes, and, as many owners had no idea about aftercare and servicing, the heads clogged up making the sound even duller. Now from the successors to the original company, Streetly electronics (run by the son of the guy that originally made them in England), you can get genuine first generation tapes, and the sparkle and clarity will surprise you, standing up well to modern sampled sound quality.

Mellotrons had a reputation for unreliability. If you were full of valves and kept being thrown into the back of vans, or dumped off airplanes, and experienced everything from -20 to 90 degrees in the shade, you'ld probably give up and sulk too.
Mellys need understanding and affection. No, they're not as rugged as today's samplers, but then with the age of the technology you wouldn't expect them to. That said, my Mark 2 was on most of its original tapes from 1963 when I bought it, and once I'd got a few things sorted (like a decent set of fuses) and cleaned up a few things -it worked fine and dandy. It also got me out of trouble one day. A Melly Mark 2 has a voltmeter built in to the power supply, and one day it told me that the electricity company were doing stupid things with my supply. Result? two burned out power supplies to drum machines, but the Melly came up grinning.
Mellotrons are like steam locomotives. Every so often they may need a major rebuild, but they're built like tanks and keep going when more modern gear gives up. They inspire love and affection out of all proportion to what they are -just like steam locos.
Give a mellotron a hug and a kiss whn you see one -I always do.

Streetly Electronics in th3e UK (01889-504211) are the people, with unparalleled back up, from new and custom tapes, accessories, all up to a full rebuild. If I had the money, I'd buy at least two refurbished ones. However, Market forces mean that the formerly unloved monster is now 'hip' again. Beware collectors!
Streetly are one of the most friendly and helpful companies I've ever dealt with. Check em out. I beleive there's a new website lurking around. Enter Streetly Electronics on your search engine and it'll come up somewhere.

Yes, that's right #150-200. But then that was in the 80s, and many people thought I was quite mad. My (now-ex) partner sold both when we slit up and made a tidy profit in the mid 90s. Ho Hum.
You're looking at between #2-10K now! Those damn collectors.
However, I'd do it all over again. Someone once said 'the obsessed are immune to reason'. You either love or hate Mellotrons. I know there are people out there who love them with a passion, and that's why they're still there, still being played and recorded with, still loved and cherished.
I know you can buy a VST plug in Mellotron. Very good it sounds too. But it's that combinations of the sights, sounds and yes, the smells (that enticing aroma of wood, plastic, tape, metal and electronic static) that makes the experience of owning and playing one so unique.

Fantastic value -if you can afford one. How can you put a price on something so original, wacky and wonderful?
Forget 24 bit, 96k, super duper clean digital. Every so often get back to your technological roots and recharge them creative batteries on a Melly. If you have one that you don't want any more..........