A big hand for the MELLOTRON !! - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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erik neuteboom View Drop Down

Prog Reviewer

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Posted: July 07 2007 at 04:32

Pierreolivier, MORE POSTS !

pierreolivier View Drop Down

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Posted: July 07 2007 at 00:17

Anaon wrote:

Do you know Bigelf? I don't know that much about it, just that they use a lot the Mellotron and that gives a great video clip with two Mellotrons :)

Bigelf is a very good band. I love the kind of mix of Black Sabbath and some proto-prog bands that Bigelf music is made. Their first album cover is a must for amateur of gears with differents models of mellotrons on it. Quite fantastic cover and the music is very good. Those guys in Bigelf are Mellotron freaks for sure.

I don't know if some of you distinguished the different side shape of those two M400 mellotron in the Bigelf pic provided by Anaon. The one at your left (supporting something wich had to be an EMS Synthi A and a Yoda figurine !

) is a regular Streetly M400. The one at your right(supporting a Minimoog) had a different side shape. Those M400 's were a special kit made at Streetly shop and assembled By EMI(the famous studios and records company) as a special project. Apparently, less than 100 of those EMI M400 were made in the 70's. They were assembled by EMI because Streetly was apparently rushed by the M400 popularity and could not overcome the demand, so they engaged EMI as sub-contractant to assembled them ,EMI was renouned for their electronics knowledge at the time.But, according to the Mellotron book by Frank Samagaio, those EMI M400 are supposed to be more fragile and had not aged well compared to regular "Streetly'" M400. The Bigelf one on the pic seems to be in a good shape (in the exterior at least) so maybe that one was repaired and upgraded in pristine condition. A very interesting pic of Bigelf, taken from their "Mad Hatter" video ,i think. Thanks for posting the pics, Anaon!

I love those Orange stacks a lot too.

Sorry about making 3 different posts!

Edited by pierreolivier - July 07 2007 at 00:31

pierreolivier View Drop Down

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 23:19

erik neuteboom wrote:

OK,

Here's some Mellotron extravaganza, the Mark II on which the

wonderful eruptions on the first King Crimson album were played:

Tony Banks played his Watcher Of The Skies intro on it and Mike Pinder used it for Nights In White Satin (to be seen on the Isle Of Wight Festival 1970 DVD).

Hi Erik,

Yes.that's the "In the court of the Crimson King" Mark II mellotron. According to the pic, that mellotron is in pretty bad shape

.That's mainly because King Crimson toured with this mellotron, including a tour in the US. It's not visible in this photo but this Mark II had handles on his sides to help the roadies when they were transporting this mellotron in 1969. Apparently, Robert Fripp stil own this Mellotron Mark II but is stored in the Streetly shop in storage since a couple of years. What I heard too, that Mark II is for sale since maybe, 10 years but apparently Fripp is asking something like 25 grands(US dollars) for it because of his historic importance

. A ordinary Mark II is sold around 15 grands today, depending of the state of the machine. So, Erik if you had that kind of money, that "In the court...." Mark II can be your.

pierreolivier View Drop Down

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 22:17

verslibre wrote:

Pierre: thanks for the info! Anything 'Tron-related is always a pleasure to read.

It's a pleasure, Verslibre.

Anaon

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 12:09

I didn't know that much this band but when I heard that they used a lot the Mellotron, I started to learn more about it :) I have just received Rubycon and first Edgar Froese's album Aqua :) Really really nice!

What do you think about the way that Neal Morse uses Mellotrons sounds? I've always loved his way of using choir sounds for big epic end...

My music: http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/
My blog: http://groovesandmemories.com/

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 12:00

I love 74-77 Tangerine Dream, on the double live LP Encore (live usa 1977) the Mellotron is omnipresent

Anaon

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 11:54

You're welcome :) I checked your review, I have to listen to it! :) Even more seen as I'm also a Black Sabbath fan :)

Another great use of the Mellotron is in Tangerine Dream even if it's used in a different way.

My music: http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/
My blog: http://groovesandmemories.com/

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 11:47

Great picture Anaon, thanks

Yes, I know this USA band, check out their album entitled Hex (see my review), loaded with heavy Tron sounds

Anaon

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 11:29

Do you know Bigelf? I don't know that much about it, just that they use a lot the Mellotron and that gives a great video clip with two Mellotrons :)

My music: http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/
My blog: http://groovesandmemories.com/

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 08:45

OK,

Here's some Mellotron extravaganza, the Mark II on which the

wonderful eruptions on the first King Crimson album were played:

Tony Banks played his Watcher Of The Skies intro on it and Mike Pinder used it for Nights In White Satin (to be seen on the Isle Of Wight Festival 1970 DVD).

Edited by erik neuteboom - July 06 2007 at 08:47

Mandrakeroot View Drop Down

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Italian Prog Specialist

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 08:16

Andrea Cortese wrote:

Well the Anekdoten's one is a very good mellotron album, but not impressive, in my opinion.

I prefer Primitive by The Watch.

Chauvinistic Italian Progsters, Erik?

I would say... Italian Prog lovers!!!

I am not Andrea Cortese... But I confirm this Andrea Cortese's post!!!

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 08:13

And perhaps the Hohner D6 clavinet, Jim :

Jim Garten View Drop Down

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 07:44

erik neuteboom wrote:

That's an almost perfect picture - all you need now is a Hammond C3 to one side:

& a Fender Rhodes electric piano to the other:

& you can keep all your fancy modern synths!

Jon Lord 1941 - 2012

Anaon

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 07:15

erik neuteboom wrote:

Wobbler on DVD Nearfest 2005

Where do you find this? I really love Wobbler Clap

My music: http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/
My blog: http://groovesandmemories.com/

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 06:18

You chauvinistic Italian proghead

...............

Andrea Cortese View Drop Down

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 05:59

Well the Anekdoten's one is a very good mellotron album, but not impressive, in my opinion.

I prefer Primitive by The Watch.

Edited by Andrea Cortese - July 06 2007 at 06:00

erik neuteboom View Drop Down

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 05:46

Best Tron moments on recent records:

Anekdoten on CD Time Of A Day

Wobbler on DVD Nearfest 2005

verslibre

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Posted: July 06 2007 at 02:13

Pierre: thanks for the info! Anything 'Tron-related is always a pleasure to read.

eBay

purplepiper View Drop Down

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Posted: July 04 2007 at 17:34

yay mellotron!!!

for those about to prog, we salute you.

Anaon

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Posted: July 01 2007 at 15:16

That's a good news as seen as I can't find this album in CD!! And italian prog rock in general, quite hard to find even online...

Oh by the way, about mellotron, my favourite moments must be in Genesis, probably in Selling England by the Pound for sure.

My music: http://spleenarcana.bandcamp.com/
My blog: http://groovesandmemories.com/