Janglebox vs. Ric-O-Sound

rickosound · Post by **rickosound** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 4:23 pm

This our first posting on the site, although my son and I visit it frequently. We were interested in the recent Janglebox discussion and thought we might add our two cents' worth. By way of background, I should point out that we own a 350V63, a 360/12, a Janglebox and a Ric-O-Sound unit. We also have an Apple computer where we do the Garage Band thing. We'd like to share a story and an observation about the "jangle" sound.
We live in Kansas City where my son (who's almost 14) participates in Rock U, a local private school that teaches kids how to join and perform in a rock group. In April, his band was invited to open a multi-group show at the Uptown Theater, which is a long-standing and prestigious music venue in KC. (Gordon Lightfoot played there two weeks ago, for example.) The event was the owner's 50th birthday party and evidently somebody had the idea that having a group of youngsters open up would be appropriate. Anyway, the owner sent word over in advance that he would like to hear some Beatle songs. My son's band dutifully dusted off What You're Doing, which they had played at an earlier gig, but before we bought our Janglebox. The night of the show, we packed up the 360/12 and the Janglebox and headed off. The stagehands hooked him into some kind of Marshall amp which was there for all the bands to use. Several hundred people were in attendance and I would consider them to be a fairly discriminating audience that included many musicians and regular concert-goers. When my son hit his first note on What You're Doing, it was Jangle heaven! You could almost see the jaws drop and I can't help but think several dozen people sat there and thought "How is he doing that?" I wondered how long it had been since the old music hall had heard a sound like that.
Now for the observation; we like our Ric-O-Sound unit but it's fairly cumbersome for live use. You really need two amps and although it sounds cool, it doesn't create much jangle, particularly. With our Apple, however, we've been surprised with the clear, ringing jangle it produces when plugged straight into the board. (It sounds nothing like its live effect.) Conversely, the Janglebox, while still useful, seems slightly more harsh and it does buzz somewhat on the bright setting. Our point is that if you're wanting to jangle in the studio you might check out the Ric-O-Sound first (or a suitable replacement as discussed elsewhere on this board). You could be surprised and completely satisfied, for less money. If it's the live jangle you want, on the other hand, the Janglebox will turn heads. We're happy we have both. We think they have slightly different attributes.
P.S. While they were playing What You're Doing, one of the stagehands (not knowing I was a father) tapped me and said "Man, that's a great song. I haven't heard that in years!"

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:22 pm

Cool story, Tom, and welcome to the Forum (both to you and your son)!

I've got a Janglebox too, and I love it--it seems to bring out the best in my Rics, especially the 12-string ones, and the ones with toaster pickups!

jimk · Post by **jimk** » Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:41 pm

Welcome to the forum, Tom. I'm looking forward to hearing you guys play sometime. I just live up I-70 a piece in Lawrence. Glad to hear there are more Ric pickers in the hood.

JimK

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:05 am

Welcome to the forum Tom. Thanks for the detailed comparison of the Janglebox vs. Rick-O-Sound.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:03 am

A fine introduction to the RickResouce Forum, Tom. Thanks for this great story and your practical comments regarding "the jangle" that many seek. We look forward to your continued involvement here along with additional concert reviews. Now, how about a couple of photos?

With regard to the Janglebox, I concur that there is a harshness on the bright setting which is accompanied with some noise. At a gig, however, I expect few observers notice. You may also get some radio interference on this setting as well from time to time. I trust that they are still working on these issues as we speak.

rickosound · Post by **rickosound** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:17 am

Thanks for the warm welcome. Matthew and I have never posted on a website before, and outside of this forum, probably won't again but we find the topics here to be consistently stimulating and well run.
The kids from Kansas City Rock U will be performing at the Crown Center Pavillion here on August 25. Their website is http://www.rockukc.com/ if anybody's interested. Most larger communities have schools such as this and they merit support. Ours actually requires the kids to periodically play the older stuff.
You can do the Youtube search for Neon Voodoo (the former band name - long story, don't ask) and find my son's group doing Who Knew by Pink (he's got the George Harrison Gretsch) but on the sidebar you'll see an option for Can't Buy Me Love from a concert last summer. You won't have trouble finding the Ric there.
Not to stray too far from the topic, but we've seen some nice guitars at Rock U but the only Rics we know of are the two we lug around. Makes you wonder. I know Rics aren't entry level guitars but you take something like a 325 or a 350 and they're the perfect size and weight for a young boy or girl.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 5:48 am

Wow. What a marvellous ad for Rock U! Thanks for this link Tom. Nice work on the Gretsch, Matthew.

firstbassman · Post by **firstbassman** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 6:19 am

Tom, welcome.
And ...
MP3 of son's band's jangle?
Video?
Please post.

rickosound · Post by **rickosound** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:06 am

This is the best we can do. Not very jangly, but you get the idea. Thanks again for the kind comments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYka8GXGpWA&mode=related&search=

walker · Post by **walker** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:25 am

That's great! The kid did a nice job on the solo!

kenposurf · Post by **kenposurf** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 8:55 am

Very cool...welcome!

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 11:07 am

Welcome, Tom - great video! Have fun here..... we do!

britye · Post by **britye** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 3:16 pm

Welcome Tom great posts..thanks

wmthor · Post by **wmthor** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:10 am

Welcome aboard Tom and Matthew!

I really enjoyed watching both videos. It's not every day that we see someone as young as Matthew using a Ric and/or a Gretsch. That makes it very refreshing.

freshmattyp · Post by **freshmattyp** » Sun Jul 15, 2007 7:01 am

I've been gigging around Kansas City for about 15 years, and I can count on one hand the number of Ricks I see on a regular basis besides my own.

Well done!