Happy Friday!
 
Back in the late 90’s a band by the name of Neutral Milk Hotel released an album titled “In the Aeroplane over the Sea.”  If I remember correctly, they originated from Athens, Georgia and were somewhat known for building their own acoustic guitars from scratch.  Anyhow, I am interested in loosely imitating some of the guitar tones heard on this album in one of my current projects (specifically track 1 titled “The King of Carrot Flowers Pt. One”).  Obviously I do not have any of their hand made guitars, and I have limited experience in the analog domain; but it sounds to me they were slamming the signal into an analog deck.  Guitar parts are layered but it does not seem relevant to “that sound.”  Unfortunately, 6 ear surgeries have not done me any favors so I am turning to a hopefully intrigued forum audience for input.  Are they just smashing the Gtr tracks with heavy compression and tube saturation, or maybe it’s a mic placement thing?  I’m interested to hear what others think.   
 
I double checked forum policy before starting this thread to confirm that I cannot post the song without permission from the artist.  I’m not sure if there are any exceptions to this policy (EX. Posting a link to YouTube or ITunes), so I am erroring on the safe side by not posting anything and hoping anyone interested in taking a guess are able to find the song on their own.  If you know of a loophole let me know and I will post accordingly.
 
A word of warning: I did search the internet for a reliable reference on the matter and I was bombarded by self-indulgent album reviews and dissertations.  Google at your own risk!  
 
Jake         

This track?
 

 
I'm hearing one strummed guitar (possibly a baritone), an accordian(?) and a Moog-ish synth + vocals
 

Guitar parts are layered

 
Not hearing that on this track, maybe some of the other tracks have that sound.
 
A matter of experimenting with guitars and mic placement I would think.
 
The band seem be extant, might be worth dropping them line via their website.

Nothing seems to be extraordinary about that sound of the acoustic guitar.
 
You can attempt to imitate or duplicate any tone you wish. I've found that mic placement and mic selection, as well as different guitars, strings, picks, etc, will all vary the sound. Then you can add EQ as well as compression and that will also affect the final sound.
 
That sound seemed to have a mid bump with the highs rolled off and the lows as well. Probably a subdued bell curve.  Compressed a bit.  Vox sounded layered for sure.
 
Experiment and good luck dialing that sound in. You probably won't get it exact but it can be dialed in close enough for rock and roll.

Hi,
 
Might as well ask how Toni McPhee got his crosscut saw sound out of the guitar for one album!
 
He always had special sounds for many things he did.

My best guess is the guitar was eq'd as Guitarhacker says. There's also a clear but slightly "flammed"pick impact "click" going on which is characteristic of flexible nylon picks. The guitar may have been recorded using just one microphone near the sound hole, which might also explain the eq curve.
 
As for the other instruments, the chording keyboard sounds like either a harmonium or a lap organ. Both are gentle sounding free reed instruments with a slowish attack compared to an accordion and a softer, "wheezier" sound. The lap organ's used a lot in music from the Arab world and the Indian sub-continent, so it's often associated with an "eastern" sound even though it was invented in Europe (and taken elsewhere by missionaries because to was easy to transport). It's possible to get similar sounds out of synths and samplers of course, and the mellotron had a harmonium "patch".
 
The keyboard lead line's obviously a synth, sounds Moogish.

I knew I could count on this forum for options! 
 
Yes James, that is the track.  I just gave it another listen and I am still hearing layered guitar.  I must be hearing double because I appear to be the only one that thinks this is the case.  Maybe its just the obvious doubling of the vocals that is throwing me off.  Thanks for the input!
 
Guitarhacker, I didn't catch the low pass filter, but that makes perfect sense.  And I might agree with the guitar not being "extraordinary," it just happens to be the sound I felt the song I'm working on needs to "pop."  Thanks for giving it a go!
 
Moshkito, I had to google Toni McPhee.  Never heard of him until now.  Sounds interesting...
 
Tlw, the pick observation is one I hadn't considered (I believe credit is also due to James for pointing this out as well).  I am going to take your feedback with the others and give it another shot.  If I get it I get it, if I don't I don't.  If anything, I can say I tried.

Let us hear the results if you're happy with it, I'd be interested.

Welp...just sounds like a single acoustic to me as well. And could easily be self built...oof!

Grizzlylip
Moshkito, I had to google Toni McPhee.  Never heard of him until now.  Sounds interesting...
...

Power blues and guitar ... I have the idea that he gave Jimi the idea to do the national anthem as he apparently did "Amazing Grace" similarly a few weeks earlier at Wembley, with his band "Groundhogs". I like "Crosscut Saw" and "Black Diamond" specially. Outstanding guitar work and use of sounds.
 
NP: Groundhogs - Live Right