The Tones of Elephant: How to Sound Like The White Stripes

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Sennheiser IE 100 Pro at Sweetwater: imp.i114863.net/5bAbD9 Sennheiser IE 100 Pro at Thomann: bit.ly/IE100PROthomann

[@marzsit9833]

the eastwood reproduction of that guitar is far superior to the original valco airline guitar, which was an almost unplayable piece of junk. the one jack white played was extensively modified internally with a much larger wood block between the neck and the tailpiece so it would actually stay in tune and resonate properly and a lot of work was done to the neck as well.

[@MeatSnax]

It's crazy just how good the newer airlines are. Shortly after Elephant was released a bandmate of mine bought an Airline repro, and back then we all still thought Airlines, Silvertones, Danelectros and other pawn shop finds were just plastic junk, so imagine my surprise when I liked it more than both my Ibanez and my Fender. Turns out they were based on plastic junk, so I wasn't totally wrong.

[@DP-hn6rl]

Agreed, having owned several originals-they were absolute garbage. They felt even cheaper than a Wal-Mart $100 guitar today

[@shempuhorn8261]

I have four original Valco made guitars and they are fantastic in all respects. I tried an Eastwood or two and was underwhelmed. No go for me, unfortunately.

[@Danielallanz]

Without the res o there's no tone..sure it might be hard guitar to work for a lot of modern players but it's the og

[@xbmpr]

I’ve owned 3 of the original 2P red models and one of the original white 3P models. I’ve also owned 3 original wooden ones in the same body style and those were definitely worse then the resoglas ones. It’s not the fiberglass that makes it worse, it’s neglect and age. Nobody cared about these guitars for decades.

[@augustkuuskvere79]

The stereo amp setup is the secret sauce for sure.

[@Isaacgrant92]

yeah the whammy 4 needs to be recalibrated every now and again. That d'angelico is stunning.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

I think it's more of a mechanical thing. The expression pedal get stuck sometimes.

[@nintendoor1]

I actually took some of the rubber feet off of the treadle on my Whammy 4, because it had issues returning to neutral. I still love it though, and I’ve owned both the 4 and 5. The 4 has more mojo to my ears

[@davidzack8875]

Agreed re the D’Angelico!

[@metallaholic]

You just need to calibrate the whammy and it’ll sound fine.

[@beatrixxxkiddo]

Finally somebody giving love to elephant, it's such a great album

[@DJParkesie959II]

Best WS album. Fight me if you think otherwise.

[@ChicagoBulls1984]

Elephant is widely considered the best, but I think Icky Thump is way underrated. The guitar licks are epic.

[@LieLikesMusic]

1:17 I died xD Looks like studio is brimming with gear. Almost didn't recognize it at first

[@noahhite1699]

Absolutely love learning how the sounds of one of my favourite albums were created! Great video as always

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks!

[@reganw9076]

Would love to see a black keys vid 👍

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Good idea!

[@LieLikesMusic]

YES

[@noyd4172]

I think the purpose of the Micro Amp is (yes, it gives a slight gain boost on the dirtier amp and a volume boost on the cleaner amp) to amplify the pick attack and raise the minimum volume floor; I noticed when you had the Micro Amp on, the "click" of your pick attack was much more pronounced. It also gives the sound overall harmonic richness without a lot of extra distortion, and the way it brings up the minimum volume is how he did the stutter trick for most of his career with some very careful fingerwork around muting. (I think he might use the Coppersound Telegraph now, and his signature pedal with them, the Triplegraph, just came out).

[@brunodelandev]

If you place the micro amp after the Big muff It allows to boost the volume of this pedal which is known to lost some volume. This is a trick for almost every fuzz pedals and It's a trick use by a lot of band.

[@channtastic]

The fuzz pedal you chose was excellent and close enough. Jack used a big muff pi but it’s modded to keep the treble up.

[@milehigheffects]

You mean when the volume is turned down on the pedal, it retains highs better?

[@deadlegs187]

I bought a guitar when I first heard this album. It sounded easy to play these songs so I gave it a go :) offend in every way was hard as balls

[@Danielallanz]

That's on white blood cells but elephant sat in the can for almost a year as I was recorded only four months after white blood cells

[@spudvader]

After listening to Elephant a million times, it was the second time I ventured back into a bands album catalogue. Was definitely a pivotal point in my guitar playing and music listening, I never really thought about it until now but it really changed everything for me. As for these tones, close but I think it needs more chunk, there is something missing. Is the MXR Micro Amp not cranked all the way up? Great video as usual

[@rickdb8480]

Agreed

[@Danielallanz]

No ball and biscuit??...that's the high piont of the whole record??...I think the playing is too straight especially Death Letter..it swings more..

[@josephmccormick7425]

Love that Silvertone amp. I’ve had one myself for a few years and couldn’t be happier with the sound and feel. You should try jumping the two channels together like you would an old plexi. This gives a lot more head room and tone shaping possiblities. Also it can get stupid loud

[@djkamilo66]

the power "type" changing tone is a myth and makes no sense because the tubes runs on 400v DC regardless off input power being 120v 60hz or 240v 50hz. theres a power transformer and a rectifier on either europe or american versions.

[@lupinkozrout2524]

alternative way: Step 1: Find Jack's house Step 2: Capture Jack step 3: tie him to the pipe in your basement Step 4: Torture him until he tells you all about playing the guitar Step 5: Let him go optional (skip step 5): find Meg and then re-create the white stripes (imposible, Meg is too powerfull)

[@ethanrummel7638]

this is the best jack white tone video I've ever seen, and I've been looking to get some of his tone since is saw him in 2014 at Red Rocks. Seriously well done.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thank you very much! :)

[@Metody89]

Whammy 4 can be glitchy, very good sounds :)

[@dccasey1]

Big muff pi, digitech whammy, close enough That's how you do it if you can't afford all that shit like me! Great video though! 👍

[@al271987]

Sounded really good to me. I too love that album, I think it’s the White Stripes best, personally. Well done, sir! I have been to Norway once, Oslo during an unusually warm summer. It was one of the most beautiful areas of the world that I’ve ever seen. Loved it.

[@ChicagoBulls1984]

Can you do one for the Icky Thump album?! I heard he used a Gretsch White Penguin for the whole thing. It's one of the rarest guitars, but maybe you can find a cheaper version of it like an electromatic.

[@andrecabral3423]

Just what I needed to go listen to the album again

[@NewHopeAudio]

That silvertone amp sounds so dang good. Great video!

[@kurtcummins9067]

I think the part with the micro amp should be done with the big muff fuzz.

[@frusciantegeartone]

I’m impressed at the $ you’ve spent on all that gear 😮

[@SLOWPOKERODRIGUEZ2]

Imagine getting all that gear together, And not getting a big muff. I had to stop watching 🥸👎

[@R3TR0R4V3]

LOVE me some Silvertones! I have a beautiful '66 1482 that I restored, but I'd still like to get a 1484 someday. Great video! Elephant was also a super important album to me back in the day, in high school and whatnot.. Lots of fond memories! ✌️

[@christsatanatl]

Just got a 1484!

[@politonno2499]

You forgot that he uses the octave pedal along with the normal input

[@Danielallanz]

There was a selmar twin zodiac on the record..he didnt ship the supro to England to record the record

[@jacobmalik4056]

“Welcome to the tone dungeon, it’s extremely warm in here!” We can say he has pretty warm tone then

[@particlesandpixels]

Love these videos man! I've been a big White Stripes fan for years and have been attempting to nail these tones and riffs since I picked up the electric guitar. A little trick I've been messing with lately is using the Old Blood Noise Endeavors Signal Blender to achieve what is usually only done in the studio. For example on Dead Leaves intro theres a second layer of cleaner guitar by the second measure (im guessing the Silvertone without the muff) and I layer that on top, then just remove the big muff signal on the verse parts, and vice versa for the chorus. Sounds very close to me. Thanks for taking the time to do these, I'm always learning something new from you!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

that sounds like a neat way to do it!

[@Tallukeah]

Nailed it. Killer sounds man 💥

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks Luke!

[@randomcommenterurl]

Sounds like orange crush

[@maxigarciavidal]

You are a great guitar player, it sounds so similar to jack white

[@markferguson3745]

The Muff models do vary a lot in basic shape, tone, and harmonic content.Jack W used the common NYC model, which is the same in mini reissue .The Russian mini would be another good choice, as it has wider tonal range. I'd avoid the OpAmp and the Rams Head, which are their own things. There are hundreds of copies and clones that would work well, - it's a popular circuit that is easy to tweak and modify. As always ,sounds great.Seemingly, we have similar taste in music.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks for the good info!

[@anthonylakich1727]

Guy in Video Up Top... tip for you.... DON'T LAY Your GUITAR ON THE FLOOR! you'll throw it out of Tune... Take and Lay the Guitar Strings Faceing your amp or Chair or Love Seat.... cause the Strings well help keep the guitar from falling... YOUR WELCOME :) and good video kid. and yes the Old AIRLINES where JUNK the New Ones are Better.

[@nightpandas7178]

You got the tone but at higher fidelity!

[@emmettyoung7603]

i think above the gear is how you dial it in and play. jack has a really wild way of playing and his fuzz is usually set to be more high end focused. the stereo amps definitely help, the pitch shifter is important, but as long as you get one octave up and one octave down it doesn’t matter which one. i think mostly it’s about the gear, it’s how you use what basics you can get

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Of course

[@marcop1587]

Veldig bra jobb, som vanlig Very good build quality on those Eastwood Airline guitars, I own a white '59 3p DLX which gives me a very good feel especially on the neck...that is once you get used to it and stop messing volume and tone knobs when you strum 😂 Pickups are ok (they are not Humbuckers btw), a very good clean tone in my opinion but a little..."anonimous", I'm about to upgrade the guitar with some SD Vintage Classic filter'trons and go for a Gretsch-ish sound 🤘🏻

[@davidrewit]

You should check Oh Sees out, John Dwyer's got interesting fuzz sounds!

[@TheHuntron3000]

Please do either of the first two Strokes records!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

I might! In the meantime, check out Harry and a Guitar here on KZbin ;)

[@BlueTheChannel]

Insane that you're using slightly different gear and it sounds just like the White Stripes. I think it's the Silvertone amps that do most of the heavy lifting.

[@RJD18437]

Wow you nailed it! And I thought you killed it in your old video with the JHS twin twelve years ago! 🤯 not just the tones but your playing was spot on especially the way he plays button to button live with the bass line! 🙌🤯🤘⚡️🎸🎛📻💥

[@whssy]

Tone was really close but TBH I think that sound can be approximated with so much gear - which was why it was so good in the first place. It sounded like it had always been around - and proved that even in 2003 you could play blues based music in a way that was still innovative. Now, 20 years after Europe discovered the White Stripes - we finally have a worthy potential surrogate - the Courettes from Aalborg Denmark - so nearly Norway.

[@geliasr2562]

Many thanks! Saved in my Music Gear folder

[@SnoW-wc2rw]

Jack white is a great guitarist but tik tok musicians made me hate Seven nation army I’ve heard that song play over and over they think they played the hardest riff in the world

[@UmasPapa]

That's a very good copy, even though the gear is not exactly the same... Great work!

[@nitrogennick123]

Once again, amazing content!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

thanks man!

[@connerdearing]

Could anyone tell me what kind of fuzz pedal that was? I’ve never heard of the brand and I’m not sure how to spell it I also don’t see it in the description lol thanks

[@gerardbuttigieg]

Big Muff - Pi

[@connerdearing]

@@gerardbuttigieg he said he actually didn’t use a big muff he used a cheaper fuzz pedal I don’t have the money for a big muff lol

[@TysonMRox]

@@connerdearing Biyang FZ-7

[@connerdearing]

@@TysonMRox thanks man

[@joehardrocker735]

I always wondered how jack got such a clear sound on a gen 4

[@kurtcummins9067]

Do you have an acoustic guitar?

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Yes

[@bernardfoshage9901]

Jack White sounds like he plays through the cheapest, oldest, no name SEARS catalog amps and guitars.

[@marzsit9833]

on the early white stripes albums that was true. the silvertone amps were a sears brand name but were made by danelectro, the airline guitar was a montgomery ward brand but was made by valco who also made guitars and amps under the national and supro brands.

[@JButler333]

Is there any cheaper version of getting the same kind of effect of the whammy but like half the price? Lol

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

I think the Ricochet is cheaper!

[@JButler333]

@@LivingroomGearDemos Thanks man! You killed it btw!

[@markferguson3745]

EHX Pitchfork, with a basic expression pedal.It's actually a better pedal than the Digitechs( both models), which are known for breaking down.

[@tactical259]

Been waiting for this video! Awesome as always!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Yay! Thank you!

[@jonathansreynolds]

Twins are amazing when dialed in... terrible when they are not...

[@ryanwilliams8420]

Great album, great job with your tones.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks Ryan!

[@OmnomFruityLexia]

all these gear links, but no info on where you get your straps??

[@911aDay]

🔥Very cool! Sounds just like it!

[@TheNicoscerri]

All very close, other than seven nation army but not gunna recreate that Kay guitar he uses..

[@rockcrusade]

I never loved the twin in the states either. Brutally clean at deafening levels. Overkill at all but the loudest gigs.

[@derekhuntingtonmarti]

Twins are clean, but there is something about their pristine clarity with tubes that works, and they take pedals well, including dirt. A clean amp I did not connect with, but I only played once briefly, was the JC-120.

[@rockcrusade]

See, I actually don’t mind the JC120, but then I love the sound of African blues. I’m glad the Twin makes you happy though!

[@EricLeCrennSanchez]

Plastic. 1960’s plastic.

[@stelisklados]

Hello ! I've been watching your videos for quite some years and you've been very helpful so far, so thank you for that :) Out of context question here, what's the pick that you are using ? Thanks in advance.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks! Ernie Ball Ever-Last 1.14mm 🤟🏻

[@alexm66]

Get a cooling fan, besides all your KZbin fans and amplifiers, it will save your life.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

I have one, but I can't use it when talking in videos. Makes too much noise :/

[@ZGtx]

That Byiang FZ-7 is a RamHead circuit with a cliping diode selector.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

oh, it is? It worked well for the sound I think, but Jack only used regular NYC Big Muffs.

[@matthewswedenburg]

WHAT fuzz did you use in this?

[@marcwolff1921]

How do you combine the Amps? Do you run the Pedals in Front of both of them?

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Lehle splitter and pedals in front of both amps, yes.

[@sstevens18]

Really good playing

[@prOkrEAt]

Do reignwolf

[@dyangordon6151]

Selmer Zodiac.

[@monasteryintibet]

Do you have a video on Nirvana?

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

No. Maybe I should?

[@monasteryintibet]

@@LivingroomGearDemos yea! That b awesome 😎 love the content man!

[@onlyshallot]

try qotsa sound on a boss katana

[@GTRjosh13]

Hey is that an ampeg vt40 in the background!?!?

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Yup

[@GTRjosh13]

@@LivingroomGearDemos I have one too 😁

[@joesjams498]

That’s fantastic. Thanks so much

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Very welcome!

[@filisteudorock]

There's a book with some photos from the session. I don't recall seeing the Silvertone, it was just the Twin and the Selmer, which was probably used for crunch tones, like Ball and Biscuit. As for pedals, he also used a Boss compressor. Although Jack used the Kay live for Seven Nation, in the studio I'd bet the was the Airline. He also brought the Crestwood Astral II.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Interesting! I've seen a photo of him with the Kay and a slide in Toe Rag. I figured that must have been for Seven Nation Army?

[@filisteudorock]

​@@LivingroomGearDemosJack also played slide in I Want To Be The Boy, but for Seven Nation I think he used a different guitar though.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

That was the first slide part I ever learned :) For I Want To Be The Boy. But why do you think he used the Airline for 7NA?

[@guillermoparral1028]

Great work, gotta love those tones! It sounded like the Whammy without rocking the pedal added some character to the distortion, is that so?

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

I don’t think so, but it might be! It’s adds a very little latency though.

[@user-gd7gw2gv6c]

Great video!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jaredcabrera5707]

love this video keep it up

[@donttalktome4696]

Cool video. Very deep dive👍

[@avalonianapples]

Are you using a simple ABY splitter after the pedals on the floor? Thanks

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Yup, it's a Lehle P-Split III

[@avalonianapples]

Great thank you for replying

[@maxlove8894]

This video looks very professional

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks!

[@megachunk6680]

Well done friend you’ve got that tone dialed in

[@paulwiskerchen3447]

Are you attenuating the amps or are you wearing ear plugs because those amps seem to be cranked haha. They sound great.

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

I'm using the master volume on the Hamstead, but it was still loud as shit in there. Haha!

[@paulwiskerchen3447]

@@LivingroomGearDemos hahaha I’m sure it was. Love your videos keep doing what you’re doing!

[@kakigoreng83]

Good video,but i think the intro/talk is bit too long

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

I put tags in the videos so you can skip any part you want. Cheers

[@eumesmo-wv3yl]

Amazing video, keep up with it!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks, will do!

[@thecommondingus]

🍭

[@WatchesnguitarsDK]

You nailed it!

[@manualofalternativemusic]

Great video as always bro!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Appreciate it!

[@sveinpedersenguitar]

THEM TOANZ!!!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Yeeeee

[@taklampa6197]

Eru kansk lit norsk? Bra video

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Jepp!

[@R1GAMBLER]

nailed it.

[@atothek302]

Well done 🤟🏼🤟🏼🤟🏼

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks!

[@fingerstylemelody8139]

Fantástic 😃

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

thanks!

[@benjammin4840]

So sick!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks Ben!

[@malsanders609]

This was awesome 👏

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks!

[@craigswensen434]

Spot on, great job!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Thanks!

[@1234-b6n]

how to become Jack white. Step 1. buy shitty plastic guitar and pretend its good. Step 2 : learn a couple bars cords. Step 3: your done

[@aniquinstark4347]

Also get a shitty drummer that struggles to play in 4/4

[@pokemon2274]

Sweet video man you nailed it for sure! On my rig I use a jhs twin twelve straight into the fx loop of my hot rod deluxe, and I plug into the pedal bypassing the hotrod’s whole pre amp section haha

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

ah, cool! Does that work fine?

[@pokemon2274]

@@LivingroomGearDemos Yeah it’s sweet man, I find it lacks a little mid range so I use a wah before just to flatten out the eq and it makes my fuzz just scream it’s awesome, I want to replace the wah with the haunting mids or maybe the pdf-1x from stone deaf, or the q-boost to get Josh Homme tones too, Your videos on his tone are so good!

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

A Boss EQ would work really well for that as well!

[@VanPerszing]

That was awesome. Thanks for all the tips, love Jack's sound. Elephant was a Nevermind of the 21 st century

[@pokemon2274]

@@LivingroomGearDemos Oh yeah I forgot about maybe I’ll trade me pog to get one thanks man!

[@landendoesyoutube1543]

I actually have a kay archtop, it's from the late 60s and I think his was from the 50s but that fuzzy kay sound is spot on with mine! You turn on that overdrive and it turns into this real grungey fuzzy insane sound especially with a slide! (Also I know for a fact that he actually used a Boss CS-3 Compressor on Elephant on guitar and vocals!)

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

Nice! Aren't they hard to come by?

[@LivingroomGearDemos]

And btw, I did try with a compressor and couldn't get it to work right. But I've seen that about the CS-3 as well. It was a part of his live rig for a while as well.

[@landendoesyoutube1543]

@@LivingroomGearDemos yes! yes they are! I found mine in a local store.

[@cjscala87]

No one really likes a fender twin they are so brutally loud and harsh

[@jaredheld2672]

Speak for yourself!

[@markferguson3745]

Yeah, - That's not true.