Electro-Harmonix Effectology, Vol.6 : How to make your guitar sound like a mellotron, using Electro-Harmonix FX Pedals!
News FeedWatch the new video from the excellent Effectology series, which shows how to recreate classic sounds using only Electro-Harmonix pedals! How about recreating the mellotron sound from The Beatles' Strawberry Fields Forever using your guitar? Find out how to do it!
The Mellotron was used by the Beatles, Genesis, the Moody Blues, King Crimson and countless other bands. Back in the 60's, before digital technology and samplers, it was the only way you could reproduce the sound of other instruments (such as violins, cellos, flutes etc.) by means of a keyboard instrument, thanks to the magnetic tapes the mellotron used, one for each key.
Effectology wizzard Bill Ruppert explains how he re-created the mellotron sounds with Electro-Harmonix pedals:
"To emulate the sound of the Mellotron flutes I used the chain below:
"I started with a Soul Preacher compressor to even out the attack of the guitar.
"Next in line is the POG2. I used only the dry, non pitch shifted signal, filtered to create more of a flute-like wave form. The attack control removed the guitar’s attack, giving the sound more “breath.“
"The Poly Chorus was set for a vibrato effect.
"The Mellotron “Strings with Brass and Bass Accordion” sound used the effect chain below:
"This sound started with a Soul Preacher compressor to increase the sustain of the guitar.
"This was run into a POG2 using the -1 octave for the bass accordion and +1 and +2 octaves for the brass and strings. The dry signal was set to 50%. Detune was set high.
"To fatten the sound I used the Poly Chorus in the chorus mode with a high feedback setting.
"From there the signal was feed into a volume pedal to swell the chords in. For ambiance I used a pair of stereo Memory Man pedals. The first pedal is optional. It was used to create a wider stereo signal using a Mod-delay setting. Its not a necessity.
"The second Memory Man was set for a long repeating delay with a reverberant decay.
"All sounds were recorded direct with out a guitar amplifier. If using an amp, set it for a very clean sound using its tone control to shape the sound.
Check more Effectology videos on You Tube. CLICK HERE
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