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Description

The Mellotron became more popular after the Beatles used it on several tracks. It was subsequently adopted by the Moody Blues, Genesis and King Crimson, and became a notable instrument in progressive rock. Later models such as the M400, the best selling model, dispensed with the accompaniments and some sound selection controls in order to be used by touring musicians. The instrument became less popular in the 1980s due to the introduction of polyphonic synthesizers and samplers, despite a number of high profile uses from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and XTC. Production of the Mellotron ceased in 1986, but it regained popularity in the 1990s, and was used by several notable bands.

Product specs

Brand Mellotron
Model M400
Finish White
Year 1970 - 1986
Made In United States
Categories Keyboard Synths
Analog / Digital Analog
Key Size Full Size
Keyboard Action Weighted
Polyphony 35 Voices

FAQs

What is the polyphony of the Mellotron M400?

The Mellotron M400 features 35-note polyphony, allowing each key to trigger a separate tape playback for a rich, full sound.

How does the Mellotron M400 produce its unique sound?

The Mellotron M400 uses analog tape loops for each key, playing pre-recorded sounds that provide its distinctive, vintage timbre.

Is the Mellotron M400 suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Mellotron M400 is often used in live settings due to its full-size weighted keys and unique sound, though its vintage nature requires careful handling.

What type of sound can I expect from the Mellotron M400?

The Mellotron M400 is known for its warm, orchestral sound, often used to replicate strings, choirs, and flutes with a distinct vintage character.

Does the Mellotron M400 require any special maintenance?

As a vintage instrument, the Mellotron M400 may require regular maintenance of its tape mechanisms and careful storage to preserve its functionality.

Bell Tone Synth Works

Bell Tone Synth Works

Inside a Mellotron M400: How the Mellotron Works

Video thumbnail for Inside a Mellotron M400: How the Mellotron Works by Bell Tone Synth Works

Inside a Mellotron M400: How the Mellotron Works

Bell Tone Synth Works

Bell Tone Synth Works

Video thumbnail for The Mellotron In Action by Doctor Mix

The Mellotron In Action

Doctor Mix

Doctor Mix

Video thumbnail for Nights In White Satin by the Moody Blues, on my Mellotron M400 by Marco Hoogland - Iconic Vintage Keys and Synths

Nights In White Satin by the Moody Blues, on my Mellotron M400

Marco Hoogland - Iconic Vintage Keys and Synths

Marco Hoogland - Iconic Vintage Keys and Synths

Video thumbnail for MELLOTRON M400 by Red Dog Music

MELLOTRON M400

Red Dog Music

Red Dog Music

Video thumbnail for Production Room: Mellotron M400 by Red Dog Music

Production Room: Mellotron M400

Red Dog Music

Red Dog Music

Video thumbnail for Mellotron M400 by Marius Leicht

Mellotron M400

Marius Leicht

Marius Leicht

Video thumbnail for Exploring the Mellotron M400 by Marius Leicht

Exploring the Mellotron M400

Marius Leicht

Marius Leicht

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Mellotron M400.

Features and functionality

  • Original M400 tapes sometimes lacked full octave recordings; for instance, low cello notes were replaced with upright bass due to cellist's tuning refusal.

    Source
  • The Mellotron produces a tactile sensation under the fingers, as players coax sounds rather than simply play notes, adding a unique layer to performance.

    Source
  • The MicroFreak uses pitch-shifting from a single sample, which can result in unnatural sounds at octave extremes compared to dedicated Mellotron models with individual samples per note.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The M4000D lacks the pitch control found on original Mellotrons, a feature important for certain classic rock sounds like "2000 Light Years From Home".

    Source
  • The Studiologic Sledge and Korg Modwave Module are alternatives for Mellotron sounds, with the Sledge known for strong strings and flute emulation, priced used around $600.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Known for inspiring sounds, the M4000D is favored by fans of subtle Mellotron use in AIR, Beck, and Elliott Smith records.

    Source
  • A single note, like the top D on solo flute, can evoke strong audience reactions, making it powerful for live performances.

    Source
  • Steven Wilson's live setup uses Apple MainStage with a Behringer master keyboard for authentic Mellotron sounds, indicating a cost-effective option for live performances without standalone units.

    Source

Build quality

  • The M4000D is praised for its high build quality, akin to premium guitars like Fender Stratocasters, despite functional alternatives being available at lower costs.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • While priced around $4,000, some users have acquired the M4000D for $2,300, considering it more reasonable for its quality and inspiration factor.

    Source
  • The Roland JV/XV series offers Mellotron sounds via expansion cards but only samples 3 notes per voicing, potentially reaching the cost of a Micro or M2D with hardware and cards.

    Source

User experience

  • Playing the Mellotron involves an active feel where keys connect to a rubber drive wheel, pulling tape through, unlike passive keyboards like the Hammond.

    Source
  • The Mellotron can unpredictably change sound quality mid-performance, requiring players to adapt to its idiosyncrasies, like a violinist's chair sound on the F2 note.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • The MicroFreak offers limited sample memory, holding only 3.5 minutes of recording time, inadequate for full Mellotron sample sets which require roughly 15 minutes.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 8 Ratings

5 star
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1 star
rothhandlestudios

Mellotron M400

I have three and they are a pillar of my sound. I have used them on every album Ive ever recorded or produced.

Genres:

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Linda McCartney uses Mellotron M400

Linda McCartney

Singer, Keyboardist

Wings

...
Verified via ARTE

During the "Wings over the World" tour in 1974/75, Linda McCartney used a Mellotron M400, as documented in the ARTE Concert program "Paul McCartney and Wings: Rockshow."

See how Lawrence Gowan uses Mellotron M400

Lawrence Gowan

Singer, Keyboardist

Styx

...
Verified via Keyboardmag

"I got a Mellotron last year. You know, there’s only about twelve hundred of them accounted for in the world. They only made 2,500 of the M-400."

See how Lisa Bella Donna uses Mellotron M400

Lisa Bella Donna

Keyboardist, Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video from EarthQuaker Day, Lisa Bella Donna performs using a Mellotron M400.

See how Nick Hook uses Mellotron M400

Nick Hook

Music Producer

Cubic Zirconia

...
Verified via Photo

Nick Hook uses the Mellotron M4000, not the M400, as previously mentioned. Apologies for the error. This is evident from his Instagram post.

See how Julian Cope uses Mellotron M400

Julian Cope

Singer, Guitarist

The Teardrop Explodes

...
Verified via Photo

Julian is shown here kicking his feet up on an orange Mellotron M400. The image comes from this article from The Wire.

See how Robert Wyatt uses Mellotron M400

Robert Wyatt

Singer, Drummer

Soft Machine

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, Wyatt can be seen with a Mellotron M400 in his studio.

See how Mel Collins uses Mellotron M400

Mel Collins

Keyboardist, Saxophonist

King Crimson

...
Verified via Photo

Mel Collins is credited with playing the Mellotron M400 on several live King Crimson releases, as documented in a Discogs user-uploaded image.

See how David Cross uses Mellotron M400

David Cross

Keyboardist, Composer

King Crimson

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo from King Crimson’s 1974 performance of Starless on the French TV show, melody, David Cross can be seen with a white Mellotron M400 with a custom painted white Hohner Pianet N on top of it.

See how Glenn McClelland uses Mellotron M400

Glenn McClelland

Keyboardist

Ween

...
Verified via YouTube

seen with it at 24:04

See how Peter Baumann (2) uses Mellotron M400

Peter Baumann (2)

Keyboardist

Tangerine Dream

...
Verified via The Music Aficionado

... This is the story of Tangerine Dream’s Ricochet.... The array of electronic equipment used by Tangerine Dream on that tour was formidable indeed. For its time it looked nothing short of a futuristic world controlled by machines. For the die hard rig fanatics, an approximate list of the machines used by the three members of the group at the Coventry Cathedral show included:

See how Tony McPhee uses Mellotron M400

Tony McPhee

Singer, Guitarist

The Groundhogs

...
Verified via Discogs

McPhee used an M400 from Who Will Save the World? The Mighty Groundhogs up to Solid as a means of progressing the sound of The Groundhogs and his own sound, as reported in the following sources:

Sounds, March 18, 1972, "The Groundhogs: Tony McPhee At The Talk-In" by Jerry Gilbert

Do you think this could be the start of a new phase for the band?

Well I can't really envisage it. I'm going to get a mellotron for the States which will involve some pretty clever juggling between guitar and mellotron, but it'll be nice to have it because when you play guitar and play a lot of improvised stuff you do get the feeling that if you could just break it up a little bit... with Split we found that more than half the album we could easily do on stage but with this one it's going to be very difficult because the basic three piece sound is all the same really and it's getting a bit of a problem figuring out which way we are going to go. But I really think that if you listened to that album without knowing us, I'm pretty sure that if you saw us live we wouldn't be the same band at all.

I don't mind this because I think albums are different things anyway – I don't think it's necessary to see a band doing its album on stage.

Since Thank Christ For The Bomb you've started to get into sounds and effects which you can obtain by using the studios and also by modifying your guitar and amplification.

Yeah definitely. Studios are weird things, you know you can get a sound on stage which suits you but you can't get it in a studio so you have to muck about with it quite a bit and in doing so you get a different sound. I use a wah-wah pedal which I'm using less of now – it got a bit tiresome after a while – then there's a new thing called an octave splitter and that just sort of gives you a rough octave above and below.

You can get sounds like a bass and sustained sounds with a weird quality and in effect it's like an electrical Rory Gallagher – you know this ability he's got of striking harmonics, well in actual fact that's what it does, so you can cheat quite well on those things. Also playing two notes at once it gives you the same effect as a ring modulator which is very trendy these days... notes which are the subtraction and addition of the two frequencies and this sort of thing which gives you a bubbly sort of sound. That's all I get along with really but I do feel now that I want more – not simply from gadgets because I don't use these as gadgets, I use them as separate instruments really.

The whole point is I knew I could imitate things like strings on the new album but I wanted the actual strings sound for some reason otherwise it makes it another freaky album which I didn't want to do. When the mellotron comes on stage we are going to have to re-think quite drastically – not that we do much thinking; we'll probably just slide along like we always do.

Hogwash liner notes (listed under McPhee's profile and pictured in Pete Cruickshank's profile)

Mellotron M400

Sounds, May 5, 1973, "Mac’s Home Cooking: The Groundhogs" by Jerry Gilbert

"So I think it’s time to pull a few strokes and they can take it or leave it. The synthesiser and mellotron, no matter what else they did, at least provided a break."

Roots

The real testing time comes in September when Mac goes solo. He plans to do a series of solo concerts featuring a set of pure, unadulterated blues, going right back to his early roots. Then he’ll reappear with his thinking cap on and present a one man electronics show.

He’s also cutting an album called The Two Faces Of Tony McPhee, and on stage he plans to surround himself with three Moogs, two mellotrons, Hammond organ, electric and acoustic piano as well as a wide range of acoustics and electric guitars.

Photos from the 1973 Kendal Pop Festival (August 26, 1973): Derek Copeland, John Dennis (#1, #2)

New Musical Express, October 27, 1973, "Tony McPhee: Who Will Save McPhee" by Tony Stewart

"I just had the feeling that I wanted to do something different. But the audiences just wouldn't let us get away from Split, and it showed itself. It got so we were stuck in the quagmire of Split.

"I realised what was happening and I tried to break out of it with The Mighty Groundhogs by making it more melodic and bringing in the mellotron. I don't know whether I should have done that.

"With Hogwash we went back to the initial formula of being heavy. But now there are criticisms levelled at us of being too much like a jet plane and I do want to get away from that. I want to get more dynamics into the thing, And more arrangements just to break up the guitar monopoly.

"So that's why I used synthesiser on my solo album – for a complete change. That's the only way to do it really – by saying, 'forget what I've done in the past, this is something completely different'. There's no guitar at all on the second side, and the first side is acoustic, which I don't play on stage anyway."

Solid liner notes

SINS OF THE FATHER [...] Vocals, Guitar & Mellotron ; T.S.

[...]

SNOW STORM [...] Vocals, Guitars, Bass & Mellotron ; T.S.

Solid back cover

Instruments used :

Gibson S.G, Fender Stratocaster, Yamaha Acoustic, Zemaitis Bass, Ludwig Drums, ARP 2600 Synthesizer, Mellotron

Beat Instrumental, November 1974, "Home Studios: Tony McPhee" by Del Robinson, pg. 28-29 (pictured)

Tony's also very interested in electronic music: 'I want to build an electronic music studio', and he enthusiastically demonstrated some gear in his present set-up. It includes a couple of ARP2600 synthesisers, a rhythm sequencer ('I found this unit invaluable'), and frequency shifter, a Compact piano and a Mellotron.

'I'm a guitarist, not a keyboards player,' commented Tony modestly. 'Though I find I'm really beginning to get into synthesisers now. They're very creative instruments and it's very much up to the individual musician what he gets out of them. I prefer the ARPs - not everyone can get along with EMS units. I know people have criticised the ARP because you have to patch across it, but I don't find this a problem.'

Tony's also got a Mellotron (although he doesn't use it much now - 'It takes too long to tune up on stage and we don't like to lose any impact at the start of a performance.'), and a Compact piano.

Beat Instrumental, March 1976, "Tony McPhee: The Hogs Return" by Chris Simmons, pg. 25

Like Tony, Dave is a capable musician on other instruments besides guitar - electric violin and mandolin, and these will be gradually integrated into the act when the time is right. The combination of these and McPhee's mellotron and ARP synthesizer will certainly give an added dimension to the band's music.

See how Arnaldo Baptista uses Mellotron M400

Arnaldo Baptista

Bassist, Keyboardist

Os Mutantes

...
Verified via Photo

Mutantes brought the Mellotron to Brazil in 1972, after a travel to England to buy equipment. Songs: "Mande um abraço pra velha", "O A E O Z".

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Mellotron M400, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Hohner Clavinet D6
Hohner Clavinet D6 Vintage & Electric Pianos
5
Yamaha CS-80
Yamaha CS-80 Synthesizers
4
ARP 2600
ARP 2600 Synthesizers
3
Yamaha CP-80 Electric Grand Piano
Yamaha CP-80 Electric Grand Piano Vintage & Electric Pianos
2
Roland SDD-320 Dimension D
Roland SDD-320 Dimension D Effects Processors
2
EMT 140 Plate
EMT 140 Plate Effects Processors
2

Community setups

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