4 Things to Know About the Mellotron on 'No Quarter'

The Mellotron is a tape-based keyboard, not a synth or organ It uses pre-recorded tape strips to produce sound, giving it a warbly, slightly haunted quality.

John Paul Jones rented it specifically for the session He wanted something other than a plain organ or piano to create the song’s eerie, choral backdrop.

The Mellotron is most audible in the verses and instrumental sections It provides the floating, orchestral feel that makes the song distinctive.

A digital Mellotron emulation gets you 95% of the way there You don’t need a vintage tape machine to replicate that exact tone.