The Mellotron was an icon of music technology, being essentially what was the first sampler known to the world. Despite being unreliable, it was what you could call the portable orchestral solution for bands such as King Crimson, The Beatles, The Moody Blues, Yes, Genesis, and a host of other bands from the 60s and 70s, with its particular sound becoming of interest to today's music software developers and users. Streetly Electronics, the company from which the Mellotron came, reestablished itself back in the 90s to recondition and repair existing Mellotron units. Realizing today's vintage trend as well as the need to introduce real hardware to today's software-totting generation, Streetly has decided to manufacture the 21st-century Mellotron in the form of the Streetly Electronics M4000.

The M4000 is the real deal that pays homage to the Mellotron MKII, not some keyboard with Mellotron tape samples stored in digital memory. It is a real Mellotron complete with TAPES. You read that right; no digital storage media, only TAPES. It has a total of 24 individual tape sound sets in 8 stations. Users can also program their own "start" positions with the inching facility by advancing the tapes by inching to the preferred position. Just like the MKII, the M4000 als has a cycling optical failsafe which protects the tapes from damage when changing the station while the keys are depressed as well as capturing the MKII's feel. The positively pressurized cabinet protects the tapes and internal mechanism from dust, smoke, and other environmental hazards via the FILTRON air cleanser. Azimuth alignable tape heads are at the heart of M4000, mounted in revolving collars for consistently correct positioning. You also get to say goodbye to the risk of back injury as the height of the M4000 is optimized for playing when standing.

Overall, what was once a studio curiosity and an unreliable touring partner has now been changed in the Streetly Electronics M4000, which by its set of features promises that it can be as roadworthy as any of your ruggedly designed gear with the added authenticity of real tapes. Being the first of its kind to see a rebirth 40 years after the introduction of the first Mellotron, its bound to become a sensation amongst vintage heads wanting a more reliable yet authentic instrument. The standard price, exclusive of shipping, custom duties, and other charges amount to 4,900.00 GBP (about 8080.00 USD). An optional touring case is available for 450.00 GBP (approximately 742.00 USD). Custom finishes as well as additional tape sets are available upon request.