On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Mellotron MkII
Bradmatic/Mellotronics
The Rolling Stones British
Brian Jones British
Not on view
The Mellotron uses prerecorded three-track tapes to reproduce a variety of orchestral instrument sounds, rhythm tracks, and special effects. When a key is depressed, it plays a recording from a sample library that includes string sections, flutes, brass, and vocal choirs for up to eight seconds. This is one of two Mellotrons owned by the Rolling Stones; Brian Jones played one on “2000 Light Years from Home” and “She’s a Rainbow” from Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967) and on several songs from Beggars Banquet (1968). The Mellotron’s atmospheric sound became popular with psychedelic and progressive rock bands.
Technical Description:
Mahogany case, metal magnetic tape receivers, wooden keys with plastic tops; two thirty-five key manuals, one for rhythms and pre-recorded effects and one for eighteen pre-recorded melody sounds; tube preamp, solid-state power amps, two twelve-inch speakers, spring reverb, volume pedal
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.