The Dead, White, Raconteurs

[vwxyz67]

So, lately Im in a HUGE Jack white phase. I know his playing style is very controversial but i have a few questions. Ive done my research and found him to use the big muff and the whammy but my question is, on some tracks how does he get that crackling/slash breaking sound after some notes/chords? i.e. Bone Broke, Little Cream Soda etc. by the White Stripes? Also does he use some sort of micro amp or booster type stompbox?

[sydsbluesky]

Just listened to the songs, but the quality was pretty bad. Where exactly is this sound we're looking for? I'm not hearing anything too out of line for just... good old guitar and heavy tube break up?

Does he use single coils for that stuff? It sounds a bit jangly with a lot of dirt on top. Sounds a little similar to some OD used by a guy named Sugizo from Japan, and I know he uses LP's with duncan antiquity II pups in neck and middle with a lollar p-90 in the bridge, and plays them through old fender tube amps with some stuff in between.

[ijustwannastrat]

If I remember correctly from my Jack White phase, he uses crappy discount guitars, enough effects to make you think twice about that White Stripes cover band, and soul.

[newey]

From Wikipedia:

With few exceptions, Jack White has shown a continued partiality towards amps and pedals from the 1960s.[37] Jack uses a number of effects to create his sound, a Electro-Harmonix POG to reach pitches that would be otherwise impossible with a regular guitar.[94] For instance, without the pedal, "Seven Nation Army" and "The Hardest Button to Button" would require a bass guitar[95] and "Black Math" would be very difficult to play without a 29th fret (which does not exist on most guitars) on the highest string.[95] When performing live, Jack White uses a Randy Parsons custom guitar, a 1964 JB Hutto Montgomery Airline, a Harmony Rocket, a 1970s Crestwood Astral II, and a 1950s Kay Hollowbody. Also, while playing live, White uses an MXR Micro-Amp, Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi distortion/sustainer, and an Electro-Harmonix POG (a polyphonic octave generator). He also uses a Boss TU-2 tuner pedal. He plugs this setup into a 1970s Fender Twin Reverb, and two 100-Watt Sears Silvertone 6" x 10" combo amplifiers.[95] In addition to standard guitar tuning, Jack White also uses several open tunings.

White also plays other instruments such as a black F-Style Gibson mandolin, Rhodes bass keys, and a Steinway piano. Jack plays a custom-made red and white marimba on "The Nurse", "Forever for Her (Is Over for Me)" as well as on the non-album tracks "Who's A Big Baby" and "Top Special".

[vwxyz67]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he plays through tube amps which I've never had the chance to experiment with. -_- I am trying to find an older fender amp as my crate annoys the piss out of me. And, much like jack, most of my guitars are older and 'budget minded'. It's just like a crackly breaking type sound that happens when what sounds like to me is palm muting. Idk it's so muddy/fuzzy it's hard to tell.

[newey]

It's just like a crackly breaking type sound

Like hitting or kicking the reverb tank, maybe?

[ijustwannastrat]

Can you tell me what time in "Little Cream Soda" this sound occurs? I finally found my Icky Thump CD, but I obviously should have just youtubed it.

If you're talking about the bridge-ish no vocal parts, where he's playing a bit of rhythm, then switching to 1 beat leads, he's using a whammy pedal. He's changing the notes really up high. He's actually playing them really low on the neck. It gives him the ability to play those cool pull-off/hammer licks, all while sounding high up the neck, and having a wicked distortion. I don't know if he's the first person to think of that, but I definately think of him when others do it.

[vwxyz67]

Yes but not the lead parts. Hear how the rythym part has some like off patern distortion or something?? It's very crackly and broken up. But it only happens when he's palm muting.

[ijustwannastrat]

Just scratching my brain, I believe that is a combination of a ElectroHarmonix Big Muff Pi, and whatever other effects he hides from the world.

www.digitalburn.org/jack-white-and-his-pedal-boards/

Check it out. Second pic shows a MXR microamp, an american Big Muff Pi (with "custom" paint).

I personally think he's delightfully insane. Looking closely, he has a whammy AND a POG, so he could put one an octave down, and one an octave up, and I'm sure that absolutely rips the tone to hell.

He seems to dig the red, white, and black theme with EVERYthing. Why he painted his BMP is beyond me. It already fit the theme.

EDIT: Oh, abridged, if you want any part of his tone, you pretty much need to buy ALL of his gear, and play around with it until you find what you need. Being partially off your rocker doesn't hurt either.

[ashcatlt]

Better yet, get a guitar, some pedals, and an amp or two and mess around until you find YOUR sound...

[Double Yoi]

While Jack's style is kinda cool, I have to agree with ashcatlt.
Finding your sound is an important step in the evolution of any player.
But don't limit yourself to someone elses tone or style.
I dig everyone from Billy G to Steve Vai, but I dont have the vintage gear or walls and walls of processors to get thier sound, or talent to nail their style.
So I mess around with my stuff till I find what I like.
Wailing is wailing pal, so get down.

[ijustwannastrat]

Personally, I've always thought that emulating a sound is the way to go. But you should tweak if from there. I spent a HUGE time trying to figure out how Pearl Jam gets that funky guitar sound at the beginning of "Alive." Now I'm pretty sure it was standing right infront of me. When I put my wah at almost the heel position, I sort of get that sound. I don't have his amps or guitars, so it doesn't copy it completely. But I've noticed I've been doing WAY more stuff with the wah in one position. In the toe position, it feels sort of nasally, and I love it for solos HIGH up on the neck. Minor Pentatonic, pl0x?

[ashcatlt]

I may have been drunk when I wrote that reply. I don't really remember, if that gives you any indication. Then again, I might be drunk now. Ask me tomorrow.

Not to backpedal, but I do agree (I think wannstrat said something like this) that shooting for a specific sound can help you to find your sound. The trick is to recognize something cool when you find it. It may not have been what you thought you were trying to get, but...

[sumgai]

Let me just say that ashcatlt's Karma count probably consists of 50% me having to Exalt him. Why? Because he posts more concisely spot-on correct answers when he's drunk than the rest of us do when we're sober!

Happy Exalt Day, ash! ;D



sumgai




p.s. I highly recommend that no one else try this..... ash is a trained professional!

[BlackAngusYoung]

If it's a weird/unidentified breakup... could it be the killswitch he has on that board?

[JFrankParnell]

wait, The Dead? Oh, the Dead Weather.

[chuck]

the cool thing is that you can get THAT sound in a totally different way than the guy on the record.
stumbling across an awesome sound is one of life's little pleasures