Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

A little while ago I started having some trouble with my Janglebox.
It developed an intermittent problem where without warning the sound would 'drop out' and hiss like mad, even in bypass mode.
After a couple of emails to Steve at Janglebox I thought the problem could be with the power adaptor I was using, so I changed it for a Boss one and Steve sent me the reverse polarity plug. This seemed to do the trick, and for a few weeks I played without any problems at all.
Then last Friday night, halfway through a gig (and halfway through a song) the problem happened again, the sound dropped out and my amp started to hiss like a crazy snake.
I was gutted.
I had to rip the JB off my pedalboard and had to struggle through the rest of the gig without it.
The Janglebox sound is integral to the sound of my band, and this just ruined the rest of the gig.
I've got a big gig coming up in less than 2 weeks time (Saturday 15th May), I need to buy another compressor quickly that will give me a similar sound to the JB.
I don't have time to buy anything from the States, so that rules out something like the Diamond CPR-1.
Here in the UK I can buy a MXR Dyna Comp, an Electro harmonix Soul Preacher, or the very expensive Keeley.
Which one should I go for?
All help and suggestions greatly appreciated, I'm desperate!
Cheers.
Rob.

Hey Rob, sorry to hear about your Janglebox, but if you're looking for a replacement I highly recommend the Diamond. If you check out their web site, you'll see there's a dealer in Dublin that appears to have one in stock. Although they don't show any dealers in England, there appear to be a number of dealers on the continent as well. Good luck!

Keeley is your best bet. Also the best built. Won't let you down.

Expensive? How much is peace of mind worth?


You get what you pay for.

Ric-O-Buc wrote:Keeley is your best bet. Also the best built. Won't let you down.

Expensive? How much is peace of mind worth?


You get what you pay for.

+1000!

Mateybob wrote:A little while ago I started having some trouble with my Janglebox.
It developed an intermittent problem where without warning the sound would 'drop out' and hiss like mad, even in bypass mode.
After a couple of emails to Steve at Janglebox I thought the problem could be with the power adaptor I was using, so I changed it for a Boss one and Steve sent me the reverse polarity plug. This seemed to do the trick, and for a few weeks I played without any problems at all.

Rob: Email sent. I sincerely regret the problem you had. We'll do what we can to get this resolved ASAP and make it right for you. Please get back to me at your earliest convenience:
[email protected]

Thanks for all the advice, PM's and emails from various lovely people on this forum!
I'm taking huge steps forward with this now, and should hopefully have something in place for our next gig.
Phew!
Thanks again.
Rob.

Here is an update on my JB situation.

After further inspection, the problem turned out be with the power supply adaptor on my pedalboard, and not with the Janglebox unit itself.

The wire going into the adaptor plug had broken, so the Janglebox wasn't getting any power from the mains adaptor.
So the Janglebox must have just been running on the (old) 9volt battery that was in it, hence it 'ran out of juice' half way through our set and hence the subsequent problems.

A big apology goes out to Steve Lasko for any unwarranted negative publicity, and once again a big thank you to everyone who has been helping me 'behind the scenes' to sort out the problem and keep our 'show on the road'.

Cheers.

Rob.

Glad to hear this!

Now, who makes the adapter cable so we can blast that company?

jps wrote:Glad to hear this!

Now, who makes the adapter cable so we can blast that company?

It's Boss!

I didn't really mean to blast anyone, I was just panicking as I use the Janglebox on every song we play, and we've got a couple of really important gigs coming up, it couldn't have happened at a worse time. But it's all sorted now.
I've also just formed another band with a few friends and we're going to be doing our versions of Beatles songs, for the pub and club crowds, and I wouldn't be able play 99% of those songs without my Janglebox either.
So it's a big PHEW! here.

Maybe a backup JB is in order for the future. I would think as a gigging musician you have a backup guitar and amp. If the JB is that critical to your sound I would think a backup is a must.

ken_j wrote:Maybe a backup JB is in order for the future. I would think as a gigging musician you have a backup guitar and amp. If the JB is that critical to your sound I would think a backup is a must.

You are absolutely right, and that is what I'm going to do!
I'm going to change my username to TwoJangleboxBob!

I had a feeling. Gotta love the Janglebox.

Mateybob wrote: I'm going to change my username to TwoJangleboxBob!

sounds like a really bad movie

I'm sure you could score and old POD 2.0 for dirt cheap, the compressor on that is really good for jangle. Also, if your amp dies as well, you can still play through the PA. Just an idea,but a backup of your "can't live without it" pedals is essential if you play all of the time.

whojamfan wrote:

Mateybob wrote: I'm going to change my username to TwoJangleboxBob!

sounds like a really bad movie

I'm sure you could score and old POD 2.0 for dirt cheap, the compressor on that is really good for jangle. Also, if your amp dies as well, you can still play through the PA. Just an idea,but a backup of your "can't live without it" pedals is essential if you play all of the time.

"TwoJangleboxBob" a hilarious comedy about a 40 something approaching mid life crisis on the road with his band, who also has a financially damaging addiction to rickenbacker guitars, starring Bill Murray as Rob Jones!

After we've played a gig, the comments that we get the most (after 'You are sex on legs' ) are regarding our 'sound'.
Before I had a janglebox, I used to play without any pedals at all, I just used to plug straight into my AC30 and go from there. The sound was OK, but nothing to shout about.
Once I'd got the janglebox it was like finding the key to the magic garden. Everything just fell into place, and people are blown away by the sound we get on stage.
I've even had people accuse us of having backing tracks because the sound is so good.
so yes, I could get by, but I'm a complete perfectionist, and now I know how good the band can sound, I won't settle for second best.

I actually had a pod2, I bought it mainly for recording, but I sold it on as I could never get a tone out of it that I was completely happy with.
On my early demos I used to put my amp in a cupboard so I could record it at highish volumes without disturbing the neighbours too much!