The Mellotron an essential instrument ?

It's not an essential instrument, but it's a great sounding one!  I think Keith Emerson managed without one, but it all depends on the sound a band wants. Most of the classic symphonic prog bands of the 70's wanted to capture that great string sound, without having to employ an orchestra. The 'sampled' strings (and choral sounds) of the mellotron had a haunting warmth of their own anyway.

It was not really used much for solos. As you rightly say the tape had to rewind once the player removed his finger from the key - each key having its own tape. It was used really only for playing chords, or indeed slow solos. Apparently the Mellotron that Genesis purchased off King Crimson was KC's 3rd one, and it broke down after virtually every gig!

Jim Garten wrote: Hammond, Mellotron, Electric Piano, Moog - all you ever needed for progressive rock keyboard perfection. BTW - hello again, Karnie

 KE9?, oh God..hold on tight!!

Not essential but an excellent sounding instrument, love the symphonic sound it adds without having to use an orchestra.

Of course it's essential.
All the best bands used it ( Genesis, Yes, KC, TD ) and the sound is really wonderful.
And the fact that mellotrons are rare, expensive and really difficult to use makes them PROG!

The guide to essential 'oldskool' prog keyboards!

The ones I own and play:

Organ
String machine
Electronic piano (Much underrated, Tony Banks used one a lot)
Moog monosynth
Crappy old polysynth

The ones I have to fake using software:

Electric piano (soundfont.it offers a great free wurlitzer plugin!)
Mellotron

Think this about sums it up.

abyssyinfinity wrote: NO MELLOTRON NO PROG...

That's right! i can't imagine early KING CRIMSON or THE MOODY BLUES without mellotron... I love the sound of this instrument

I used to dream nightly about owning a Mellotron and in 1981 I found one.  After 24 years, I still own this wonderful instrument (and will never sell it even with the many offers I have received).  It was a major pain in the arse to lug around, but well worth it.  Once, when I was on stage cleaning the tape heads before a show, a guy came up to me and said that he will be contacting a musicians' union and reporting me for using an instrument that puts string players, choirs, and flautists out of work.  I'm not making this up!  I just laughed at him and said, "Hey I'll be making about $10 on this gig, so sue me."  So much for the appreciation of Prog Rockers in the early 80s in Cincinnasti, Ohio. 

Ever heard a Mellotron through a Leslie cabinet?  What an experience.  To me, the Mellotron is one of the most beautiful instruments ever created.  It has a much more human element and nuance to it than any synthesizer has, including samplers.  And since Prog Rock is the greatest music known to mankind, the human emotion-like Mellotron is most essential.