The Etiology of the Jangle

[admin]

The topic of what sets the stage for the Jangle is a theme that, to a greater or lesser extent, is part of the majority of guitar topics on The Rickenbacker Forum. It is so prevalent that it is almost surprizing that it is not on the Rickenbacker Basses topic too. OK, so I have gone a bit far.

But what are the salient factors comprising the jangle. Can the jangle be accomplished with any Rickenbacker guitar equipped with high gains and toasters? Are toasters the only jangle-makers? Do you have to have a Vox AC-30? So many questions and the few offered here only touch the tip of the iceberg.

I am interested in what you have to say on this one. There are two observations that have shaped my view of what constitutes a jangle. First, while toasters jangle, not all toasters in just any model of Rickenbacker guitar will guarantee a jangle. Second, the relative positions of pickups is almost as important a factor as any other in the jangle.

I have found that two pickups close together will not have the jangle quality of two spaced apart. In fact, a high gain and a toaster together, with separation will jangle, as will two toasters or two high gains.

I will let you have at it. Pickup type, pickup position, amplifier, Rickenbacker model or compression and sustain circuitry. What is the bare minimum for the jangle.

[sloop_john_b]

I got my first Rickenbacker guitar almost two years ago, a 360 ('03, with hi-gains). I liked everything about it, but it wasn't "jangly" like I had expected it to be. At the time I was playing a Marshall JCM amp.

As I started playing less hard rock, I decided to seek out a new amp. The first one I tried was a Twin Reverb. When I hit that "bright" switch on, that was it! Instant jangle! At that moment, things changed forever.

I've found that a good boost of treble is the difference maker. Compression definitley helps. Whats great about the Janglebox is that it's got the best of both worlds; the treble boost and the nice compressor.

I've owned a bunch of amps over the last few years, the best for the "jangle" was the Twin Reverb, followed by the AC-30. If there were different speakers in the Vox, though, it might have been more jangly. Mine had the Greenbacks.

[325_fan]

I bought a Vox AD60VT seeking jangle for my Ric 360/12. I thought I achieved it, but the Vox was just too complicated for my 52 mind and eyesight to grasp. Now I'm waiting to try one of those Vox AC30CC1's out. It should be waiting for me on my front porch when I get home from work.

I wonder if John Lennon was seeking more jangle by disconnecting the middle pickup on his 325?

[admin]

While not all amplifiers are created equal, I have been able to get a jangle from each one of my six or twelve string models on any of the tube amplifers I own.

[wim]

There was no jangle in my 360V64 until I unwound the pickups to 7.4K Ohm.
Even now I'll have to set the amp tone controls in a very specific position to get the jangle. (Fender Blues Deville)
As mentioned above, it takes the Bright switch, extra treble (at about 8-9 on a 12 scale) and some more mid
Strange thing with that amp is that when you turn the treble higher it simultaneously seems to cut bass too.
When set in a 6/6/6 (bass mid treble) position it's just a clear sound, not really 'jangly'.
It has also to do with the way you play I think.
It wont work with light strings on my guitar. I need at least .011 and a medium pick.
The bridge pickup on it's own jangles, but the best sound is with the neck pickup blended in about 25% (my experience)

[kcole4001]

I can almost get my 4000 to jangle with stainless round wounds.

[kcole4001]

Very interesting topic, & very timely as my first Rick guitar is on it's way to me as we speak.

[kcole4001]

I shall attempt the jangle with my newly acquired 4080 & a '66 Super Reverb. It's an awesome amp for every other guitar that's been played through it so far. A Rick should be interesting.

[jps]

With my 660/12, I thought I had a nice jangle from my Mesa/Boogie DC-2 combo until I recently tried a friend's mid '70s Fender Princeton Reverb. As nice as the M/B is, the PR just smokes it, especially in the midrange clarity. The bias modulated vibrato is also to die for compared to the typical blackface grounding out vibrato.

The PR in question has some issues with it so I may attempt to refurbish it and make it sound even better.

To me, jangle is more than just brightness, the mids have to sing, too.

[admin]

Jeffrey: I completely agree with your point. The jangle factor is accentuated with brightness, however, it is more than that. It can also be achieved without the addition of compression, sustain and treble boost. Plugged straight into an AC-30 with Alnico Blue speakers the 6 and 12 strings I have will jangle nicely and to varying degrees. I did not get much of a jangle through the Vox with the Greenbacks.

[tony_carey]

A couple of days ago, I played a standard modern 370 with hi-gains through an AC30 & directly after, a 1997 with toasters (the older type) & my client pronounced immediately that the 370 'jangled more'(his words)!

It strikes me that there are different types of jangle & it depends what an individual is looking for. I have noticed that some Rics have an incredible jangle when played unplugged!

[admin]

Interesting observations from your client. I hope you passed the audition.

Kidding aside, I consider that side by side and depending on the conditions, it is certainly possible to have high gains with a more pronounced jangle than toasters. It depends on the amplifier, the number of pickups, the guitar, amplifier and the type of pickup and how it is wound.

It has long been held by many that only toasters give the optimal jangle and only those of a lower rating at that (5-7 Kohms or so). I have found that the hot high gains and the hot toasters and a combination of both will still produce a great jangle.

[danbind]

Okay, would you consider "chime" the same as "jangle"? Chime seems more Byrds-y (intro to Turn, Turn, Turn), and when I think of jangle I think of a more, well (I'm trying to think of a word besides "jangly"), textured (?) sound, like REM's "Pretty Persuasion". Both jangle and chime are good sounds but I've always separated them out in my mind.

[rick12dr]

I hate the word "jangle"; Wayyy overused. John Hall referred to "the crystalline chime" of a 360-12 in a video I saw that had a factory tour and other stuff on it.I'll cut Steve Lasko some slack here, though for Janglebox.Put a treble booster on a Rick 12 and it's more like "glass avalanche..."or ice pick between the eyeballs..

[winston]

Don you are probably right. Here's what the dictionary has to say:

Main Entry: 1 jan·gle
Pronunciation: 'ja[ng]-g&l
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): jan·gled; jan·gling /-g(&-)li[ng]/
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French jangler, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch jangelen to grumble

intransitive senses
1 : to talk idly
2 : to quarrel verbally
3 : to make a harsh or discordant often ringing sound <keys>
transitive senses
1 : to utter or sound in a discordant, babbling, or chattering way
2 a : to cause to sound harshly or inharmoniously b : to excite to tense irritation <jangled>

Not too flattering a description if taken literally.