Electro-Harmonix MEL9 Tape Replay Machine Pedal

zZounds Gear Experts Say...

You don't have to be a keyboardist to create incredible Mellotron sounds! The MEL9 recreates anything from rich orchestral sounds to the iconic flute tone.

Overview

The polyphonic Electro-Harmonix MEL9 uses the same extraordinary technology as the B9, C9 and KEY9 to transform your axe and resurrect the sound of vintage tape-based keyboards.

Check out all the different sounds the Mel9 has to offer:

Features:

- Pays homage to nine of the coolest Mellotron sounds: Orchestra, Cello, Strings, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Brass, Low Choir and High Choir
- Works on guitar without modifications, special pickups or MIDI implementation and tracks bends, slides, even whammy dive bombs!
- Also works with bass guitar down do the open A string as well as keyboards
- Includes independent Effect and Dry volume controls so you can create the perfect mix at the Effects output
- Dry Output jack outputs your input signal at unity gain
- Attack control sets the volume swell speed. As it's turned clockwise, the notes fade in more gradually
- Sustain control adjusts the release time after a sound is stopped. As it's turned clockwise, the fade out time increases

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm - www.p65Warnings.ca.gov.

Specs

- Power: Comes with a standard EHX 9.6DC200mA PSU
- Dimensions: (W x L x H) 4 x 4.75 x 2.25" (102 x 121 x 89mm)

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging
Base Item: Shipping Weight: 1.5 lbs; Shipping Dimensions: 7 x 6 x 3 in; Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): MEL9

Things To Know

Electro-Harmonix MEL9 Tape Replay Machine Pedal

Updated May 28, 2025 14:30 by Pat Betzold

Hey, how's it going? This is Patrick with zZounds, and I'm here with the Electro-Harmonix MEL9. This pedal is kind of a special effects pedal for guitar, keyboards, whatever. But it's based on a classic Mellotron keyboard, which is a tape-based sampler from the '60s, a really, you know, kind of primitive sampler synthesizer kind of thing. Very well-used on a lot of famous recordings. You probably heard it on, you know, Strawberry Fields Forever, for example, from The Beatles. Like that intro, I think that was using the flute sound on a Mellotron. And this gives you nine sounds, as the name suggests—MEL9—which you can access with this rotary knob here. You can get Orchestra, which is kind of like a full, you know, orchestra sound, cello, strings, flute, clarinet, saxophone, brass, kind of a low choir and a high choir, like a low-voice and a high-pitch voice setting. You can also control, you know, the blend of the dry and the wet, and then you've got an attack and sustain as well. And then on the side, you'll see there are two outputs, and you can either just run this mono, where you can blend in the effect, you know, in one output, or you can split it so that you have, you know, the dry going to one and the wet going to another if you want to do a cool stereo rig thing or something like that. This is definitely the kind of pedal that you're going to get and maybe turn on for one section of one song and, you know, not really use a lot. But it's worth it, I would say, just… read more for that one section. We got some really cool sounds in here. The flute one is one that I think people use a lot. I personally like the brass one, which is number seven. It just kind of has a little bit of a cool swell, and if you use a distortion after it, you can get kind of a cool synth-like effect. So very cool on its own, even cooler when you add, you know, other effects to it, like delays, reverbs, you know, octave, whatever you want to put after this, it can get pretty wild. Just a really cool, out-there, you know, special effect pedal for the guitar. Check it out at zZounds. This is the Electro-Harmonix MEL9.

Electro-Harmonix MEL9 Tape Replay Machine Pedal

Documents and Manuals

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 718-937-8300

Manual

Reviews

(5 ratings)

Submitted October 2, 2019 by Paul J Vigeant Jr. in Worcester, MA

"Another Pallette of Colors For my Muse... LMAO"

Overall:

(see rating details)

Verified Purchaser zZounds has verified that this reviewer purchased this specific product from us.

It took over a year, but I finally bought it and I can't imagine my board without it. Despite what I've read elsewhere, I can go down to Low E on my my bass and the pedal works fine, however I do recommend a short scale bass and/or a boost or compression pedal. I did find the pedal was not able to keep up with faster player, but it may be that I use it with a bass instead of guitar. I have used it with an electric piano to pleasant results. I have even experimented with a vocal mic for interesting textures. Sometimes, instead of using it for pads and orchestrated parts, I used it like it was another filter or modulation pedals. With experimentation, you can get some great textures. Definitely a keepah!

Sound
It reminds me of the tones I remember from the old prog records I used to listen to in high school. I find it responds better to slow, deliberate playing, It fits well with my blend of post-metal, doom, southern stoner metal, and experimental projects. You need to experiment with this pedal and find out what tones work for you. Again recommend using it like any other filter/modulation pedal you have in your chain. Works well with other pedals, too.

Features
I experimented with different instruments, and found that the pedal could accommodate the full range of my short-scale six string Schecter, but not my vintage Yamaha piano.

Ease of Use
Start with setting all controls at 12 o' clock… read more and the voices knob at #1 and experiment!

Quality
The metal case is solid. The black print on white paint is striking and evokes the Mellotron feel. One of the more solid pedals I have.

Value
This pedal is worth the value you put into it. It is another palette of colors for my muse.

Manufacturer Support
I have not had to contact the company yet.

The Wow Factor
The Mel9 allows me to create sounds I cannot get with my bass alone, and without additional hardware.

Musical Background:
Semi- Professional

Musical Style:
Alternative, Experimental, Post Metal, Doom, World music

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