Jack's Instruments:
Guitars:
1964 JB Hutto Model Montgomery Airline
Late 1950s Kay Hollowbody covered in paper (tuned to an Open A)
1960s Domino Dawson
Amps:
100-watt Silvertone 6x10 combo
1970s Fender Twin Reverb
Effects:
Electro-Harmonix Big Muff
Digitech Whammy
Electro-Harmonix Pitch Shifter
Quotes:
Jack: [on the Silvertone Amp] "The Silvertone is really rare. It took me five years to find it, and now I have two.
The Silvertone gives me the crunch - and the crunch that comes from those six Jensen speakers is amazing -
and the Twin gives me reverb. I run both amps all the way up. I sed to get upset because of that theory you
get from sound guys - you know, 'Turn it down onstage and we'll pump you through the monitors.' I don't trust that.
I need my amps pointed at me full blast. That's a weakness of mine, but I have to have it. I mean,
it's just me and Meg up there, so the guitar has to be strong.
Jack: "I would never buy a brand new guitar off the rack. I always want something that has some soul to it.
Jack: [regarding the Digitech Whammy] "I use that pedal because when I was in the Go,
I'd watch other bands, and Id get upset when a solo didn't jump above the band.
Going to a higher octave is a great way to stand out.
I've had the Whammy since the beginning of the band, and I used to on our very first 45.
The stuff that sounds like bass on Elephant is also the Whammy - just down an octave."
Jack: I don't want people to think that the gear is all it takes to get my sound.
I also didn't want people to think I'm precious or retro simply because I don't use brand-new equipment."
Jack: [on his 64 Airline] "Playing that guitar makes me feel like I have to take something that's broken
and make it work. It's hollow, it's made of plastic, and it feels like it's going to fall apart.
The front pickup is broken, but the treble pickup has an amazing bite. I've never had it refretted or anything.
It's pretty much the way I found it, except for new tuners.
"Airline Guitars:As for some of the history on the Airline brand, here's a snippet from Mojo.
"During its heyday, Montgomery Ward was mail-order giant Sears' biggest competitor, and sold thousand of guitars
through the Chicago-based Valco factory. An offshoot of National-Dobro, during the 1960s, Valco cranked out
Airlines and Silvertones by the truckload. But department store guitars weren't set up properly, so most kids
vainly banged away with the strings an inch and a half off the fretboard."
Why does he cover his Harmony in paper?Jack has stated very briefly that he does it for personal
reasons and wishes not to speak about it.
Where can I find a guitar like Jack's?
I would not consider even trying to pick up an Airline like Jack's or even an Airline in general.
Since the Strips have become big they've been selling at a ridiculous rate.
The Airline guitars are probably worth about $300 max - but if you want one that's like Jack's expect
to pay anywhere from $2,000. At that price you can get any other beautiful guitar.
My advice is to find another brand of vintage guitar that is just as unique and interesting as an Airline.
I own an Airline and the pickups suck, the action is high and they are generally shitty guitars.
The Harmony guitars can be found at reasonable prices and are really cool instruments as well.
If you can't find one of those look at the Kay line.
Meg's Instruments
Paiste symbols
Zildjian Dipsticks
Other than that - we really can't seem to find anything so any help would be appreciated.
Come on dad, gimme the car tonight...
