pedal , but you wouldn ’ t know it just from listening . Just like a tape delay , the Mel9 sounds organic and alive .
With the Mel9 , Electro- Harmonix set out to give guitarists access to Mellotron sounds — warts and all — in a convenient and easy to use pedal . It succeeded in spades ; packing most of the Mellotron sounds that classic , alternative , and indie rock fans dream of : Orchestra , Cello , Strings , Flute , Clarinet , Saxophone , Brass , Low Choir , and High Choir . It sports controls for Dry Volume , Effect Volume , Attack , and Sustain . It also offers an output for Dry signal only and one for Dry and Effect . It ’ s probably obvious , but the Dry Volume and Effect Volume dials control the blend on the Effect output . Attack controls how quickly the Mel9 fades in . Dialed all of the way to the left , you get an instant attack . Turned right , you get a slow attack that fades in . This setting is especially great for building pads under rhythm guitar parts . But I ’ m getting ahead of myself .
We don ’ t have enough space to dig into each patch in the Mel9 . But rest assured , each sounds awesome and authentic and the tracking is flawless .
I ’ d expect that 99 percent of guitarists who try the Mel9 are going to first try to cop the sounds from the most famous use of Mellotron on a recording — the use of a Mellotron “ flute ” sound on “ Strawberry Fields Forever ” by the Beatles . It ’ s the first thing I tried . I turned the guitar signal to zero , set Attack at 9 o ’ clock and Sustain at 3 o ’ clock and pulled up the tab for “ Strawberry Fields .” I started playing and was blown away by just how accurate the emulation was .
Of course , I ’ m not in a Beatles cover band . So I quickly got to work trying the Mel9 in various original compositions . I grew up listening the sounds of New Order , U2 , and the Cure . I ’ m always looking for cool “ synthy pads ” to bolster my clean rhythm parts . The Mel9 shines in this department , especially the Strings , Flute , and High Choir patches . Strings especially sounds like the synth strings you heard on so many ‘ 80s classics . Flute is cool , because it voiced darkly and sort of bob and weaves with modulation under whatever you play . Because of the darker voicing , you can turn the blend a little higher without drowning out your base guitar sound . As the modulation rises and falls , the effect becomes more and less apparent . It ’ s pretty special .
The Mel9 also works for lead guitar — both blended with your guitar signal and on its own . Trumpet doesn ’ t really sound like a trumpet , but it ’ s cool for bright synthy melodies . Clarinet and Saxophone on the other hand are bright , reedy , and buzzy and sound extremely cool when blended with a fuzz tone , adding extra bite and dimension to your parts .
Maybe it ’ s because the learning curve is getting shallower , but it seems like each step in the 9 series pedals is easier to play than the one before it . I love everything about the Mel9 and it instantly earned a spot on my board .
None , unless you ’ re lazy and unwilling to adapt your playing style to the way the pedal works . Sloppy playing will lead to sloppy results .
pedal , but you wouldn ’ t know it just from listening . Just like a tape delay , the Mel9 sounds organic and alive .
With the Mel9 , Electro- Harmonix set out to give guitarists access to Mellotron sounds — warts and all — in a convenient and easy to use pedal . It succeeded in spades ; packing most of the Mellotron sounds that classic , alternative , and indie rock fans dream of : Orchestra , Cello , Strings , Flute , Clarinet , Saxophone , Brass , Low Choir , and High Choir . It sports controls for Dry Volume , Effect Volume , Attack , and Sustain . It also offers an output for Dry signal only and one for Dry and Effect . It ’ s probably obvious , but the Dry Volume and Effect Volume dials control the blend on the Effect output . Attack controls how quickly the Mel9 fades in . Dialed all of the way to the left , you get an instant attack . Turned right , you get a slow attack that fades in . This setting is especially great for building pads under rhythm guitar parts . But I ’ m getting ahead of myself .
We don ’ t have enough space to dig into each patch in the Mel9 . But rest assured , each sounds awesome and authentic and the tracking is flawless .
I ’ d expect that 99 percent of guitarists who try the Mel9 are going to first try to cop the sounds from the most famous use of Mellotron on a recording — the use of a Mellotron “ flute ” sound on “ Strawberry Fields Forever ” by the Beatles . It ’ s the first thing I tried . I turned the guitar signal to zero , set Attack at 9 o ’ clock and Sustain at 3 o ’ clock and pulled up the tab for “ Strawberry Fields .” I started playing and was blown away by just how accurate the emulation was .
Of course , I ’ m not in a Beatles cover band . So I quickly got to work trying the Mel9 in various original compositions . I grew up listening the sounds of New Order , U2 , and the Cure . I ’ m always looking for cool “ synthy pads ” to bolster my clean rhythm parts . The Mel9 shines in this department , especially the Strings , Flute , and High Choir patches . Strings especially sounds like the synth strings you heard on so many ‘ 80s classics . Flute is cool , because it voiced darkly and sort of bob and weaves with modulation under whatever you play . Because of the darker voicing , you can turn the blend a little higher without drowning out your base guitar sound . As the modulation rises and falls , the effect becomes more and less apparent . It ’ s pretty special .
The Mel9 also works for lead guitar — both blended with your guitar signal and on its own . Trumpet doesn ’ t really sound like a trumpet , but it ’ s cool for bright synthy melodies . Clarinet and Saxophone on the other hand are bright , reedy , and buzzy and sound extremely cool when blended with a fuzz tone , adding extra bite and dimension to your parts .
WHAT WE LIKE
Maybe it ’ s because the learning curve is getting shallower , but it seems like each step in the 9 series pedals is easier to play than the one before it . I love everything about the Mel9 and it instantly earned a spot on my board .
CONCERNS
None , unless you ’ re lazy and unwilling to adapt your playing style to the way the pedal works . Sloppy playing will lead to sloppy results .