John Anthony Gillis, famously known as Jack White, was born in Detroit, Michigan, on July 9, 1975. Raised in a large Catholic family, his musical journey began with drums around the age of six. As a teenager, his musical horizons broadened to include the blues and early rock, pivotal genres that would shape his distinctive guitar playing. At 15, forming a band with his neighbor Brian Muldoon, Jack initially took on drumming duties. However, with Muldoon already behind the kit, Jack picked up the guitar, a decision that would ultimately define his career. Their band, The Upholsterers, marked his early foray into music before the formation of the band that would catapult him to fame. In 1997, after The Upholsterers disbanded, Jack White formed The White Stripes. This iconic duo featured Jack as guitarist and vocalist and his then-wife Meg White on drums. Despite their marriage ending in 2000, Jack retained Meg’s last name, solidifying his stage persona.
The White Stripes debuted in 1999 with their self-titled album, released by a local Detroit label. However, it was their second album, “De Stijl,” in 2000 that ignited their global popularity, firmly establishing the raw and powerful sound of Jack White’s guitar work. The band went on to release four more albums, culminating in “Icky Thump” in 2007, each showcasing Jack’s evolving yet consistently unique guitar style that became synonymous with The White Stripes.
Beyond The White Stripes, Jack White’s musical ventures are diverse and extensive. He has composed music for films, dabbled in acting, and collaborated with numerous bands, constantly pushing his creative boundaries. His guitar playing, characterized by its raw energy and blues-infused riffs, has garnered acclaim from guitarists across generations. Acknowledging his significant contribution to guitar music, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Jack White at #70 on their list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” a testament to his impact and innovative approach to the instrument, particularly his work with the guitar in The White Stripes.
Jack White’s Electric Guitars: Crafting the White Stripes Guitar Sound
1964 Montgomery Ward JB Hutto Airline: The White Stripes Icon
| The 1964 Montgomery Ward JB Hutto Airline guitar is arguably the most iconic instrument associated with Jack White and the raw, distinctive sound of The White Stripes. This guitar served as Jack’s primary instrument throughout his tenure with the band. Manufactured by Valco, a company known for National and Supro guitars before its closure in 1968, the Airline boasts a hollow Res-O-Glas fiberglass body. It features two Valco single-coil pickups, visually resembling humbuckers, and a steel-reinforced neck without a truss rod. This unique construction contributes to the guitar’s resonant and somewhat unpredictable tonal qualities, a key element in Jack White’s signature White Stripes guitar sound. Interestingly, Jack also owns a white version of this model, gifted to him by a dedicated fan. For a personal account of how Jack acquired his Airline, the story shared by the fan “KNARF003” on whiteswirl.com provides an engaging read: Jack White Airline Story by KNARF003. This guitar is essential to understanding the core Jack White White Stripes Guitar setup. |
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1950s Kay Archtop: Slide Guitar Mastery for White Stripes and Beyond
| The 1950s Kay Archtop is Jack White’s go-to guitar for slide playing, a technique prominently featured in many White Stripes songs and his wider catalog. This guitar is responsible for the slide parts in iconic tracks like “Seven Nation Army,” “Death Letter,” and “Stop Breaking Down.” Jack typically tunes this Kay Archtop to open A, optimizing it for slide performance. Originally finished in a tobacco sunburst, the guitar was covered in kraft paper in 2001. While the kraft paper was ostensibly applied to reduce feedback, it also contributes to the guitar’s distinctive, raw aesthetic, perfectly aligning with The White Stripes’ visual style. In terms of specifications, it features a single DeArmond pickup with a simple on/off switch and no tone or volume controls, a spruce top, maple sides and back, and a floating rosewood bridge. This minimalist setup and resonant construction make the Kay Archtop an ideal tool for Jack White’s expressive slide guitar work within The White Stripes and his other projects. This guitar showcases another facet of the Jack White White Stripes guitar approach. |
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1970s Crestwood Astral II: Early White Stripes Open E Slide
| The 1970s Crestwood Astral II holds a significant place in Jack White’s guitar history, being part of his setup with The White Stripes from as early as 1997. This Japanese-made model was used for very early White Stripes material, including songs like “Let’s Build A Home” and “I Fought Piranhas.” Jack tunes this Crestwood Astral II to open E, specifically for slide guitar playing, much like his Kay Archtop. The guitar features a plywood hollow body, two single-coil pickups, and a tremolo bridge. While perhaps less visually iconic than his Airline, the Crestwood Astral II played a crucial role in shaping the early, raw sound of The White Stripes and demonstrates Jack White’s penchant for unique and sometimes unconventional guitars to achieve his signature tones. This guitar is key to understanding the evolution of the Jack White White Stripes guitar sound. |
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1960s Harmony H73: A White Stripes Mystery Guitar
| The 1960s Harmony H73 remains somewhat of an enigma in Jack White’s guitar collection. While its existence is documented and there are mentions of Jack using it, concrete details and readily available photographs of him playing this particular model are scarce. Despite the lack of visual confirmation, the Harmony H73 is included in discussions of Jack White’s gear due to its reported presence in his collection. Further investigation is needed to fully ascertain the role and significance of the 1960s Harmony H73 in Jack White’s guitar arsenal, particularly within the context of The White Stripes. It represents a potentially lesser-known chapter in the story of the Jack White White Stripes guitar journey. |
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1963 Airline Res-O-Glass: The Precursor to the JB Hutto
| The 1963 Airline Res-O-Glass guitar is Jack White’s second, and lesser-known, Airline model. It can be seen in early White Stripes promotional photos, suggesting it was used before he acquired his more famous 1964 JB Hutto Airline. Sharing similar basic specifications with the JB Hutto model, the 1963 Res-O-Glass differs primarily in its short-scale neck. This earlier Airline likely served as a stepping stone to Jack’s adoption of the JB Hutto as his main White Stripes guitar, showcasing his early affinity for the unique Res-O-Glas Airline sound and aesthetic. It’s an important piece in the puzzle of the Jack White White Stripes guitar history. |
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1957 Gretsch White Penguin: A Luxurious Addition Post-White Stripes Peak
| Jack White acquired the 1957 Gretsch White Penguin in 2007 in Nashville, around the time The White Stripes were recording their album “Icky Thump.” He described the purchase as a considered decision, finally made after persuasion from friends. When comparing the Gretsch White Penguin to his iconic Airline, Jack noted similarities in their unusual nature, describing the Penguin as “a very strange instrument… more like a machine.” He highlighted the “clunky” knobs and unique-sounding pickups, distinct from modern guitar designs. This Gretsch represents a departure from the more budget-friendly and utilitarian guitars often associated with The White Stripes’ early sound, indicating a possible shift in Jack’s gear preferences as the band’s fame grew and his musical horizons expanded. For a deeper dive into Jack’s thoughts on this guitar and his sound, the Guitar Player interview “Jack White Mega Sonic On The Sounds That Drive The White Stripes” offers valuable insights. While acquired later in The White Stripes’ career, it still provides context to Jack White White Stripes guitar evolution. |
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Gretsch Anniversary Jr “The Green Machine”: Customization and Innovation
| The Gretsch Anniversary Jr, dubbed “The Green Machine,” is a testament to Jack White’s penchant for customized and unique instruments. Starting as a standard Gretsch model, Jack entrusted it to guitar luthier Randy Parsons for extensive modifications. Parsons transformed the guitar into a double-cutaway, installed a Bigsby tremolo, added a mute system to dampen strings, and integrated a mini Theremin activated by hand movements near the bridge. Perhaps the most striking feature is the retractable Shure Green Bullet microphone embedded in the guitar’s body, using a vacuum cleaner retractor cord mechanism. Jack occasionally used “The Green Machine” live with The Raconteurs, and it’s featured in the documentary “It Might Get Loud.” This guitar exemplifies Jack White’s innovative approach to guitar modification and his desire to push the boundaries of instrument design, moving beyond the more stripped-down aesthetic typically associated with the Jack White White Stripes guitar image. |
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“Triple Jet” Copper Guitar: A Raconteurs Signature
| The “Triple Jet” Copper Guitar is another creation by Randy Parsons, conceived entirely from copper. Initially, Jack considered simply painting a guitar copper, but Parsons suggested building one from scratch using the metal. This unique instrument features three pickups and an onboard MXR Micro Amp. The Copper Guitar became Jack White’s main guitar with The Raconteurs, extending the copper theme to his microphones and pedals for that project. This guitar represents a bold and visually striking instrument choice, aligning with The Raconteurs’ more sophisticated and less raw sound compared to The White Stripes. It showcases a different facet of Jack White’s guitar personality, distinct from the Jack White White Stripes guitar persona, but equally innovative. |
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Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird: For a Bond Theme Vibe
| The Gretsch Jupiter Thunderbird gained prominence as the guitar Jack White played in the music video for “Another Way To Die,” the James Bond theme song he recorded with Alicia Keys. He maintains this guitar in its original factory condition. Its use in the Bond video further cemented Jack White’s status as a prominent figure in contemporary music and showcased his ability to adapt his guitar style to diverse musical contexts, even within the realm of a high-profile project like a James Bond theme. While not directly tied to The White Stripes, it demonstrates the breadth of Jack White’s guitar work beyond the Jack White White Stripes guitar sound. |
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Gibson SG: Early White Stripes Days
| This white Gibson SG, equipped with a Bigsby B5 tremolo tailpiece, was used by Jack White briefly in the early years of The White Stripes. Since then, it has been rarely seen in his performances or recordings. Its presence in his early gear setup suggests that Jack experimented with various guitars as he developed The White Stripes’ sound, eventually settling on the Airline as his primary instrument. The Gibson SG represents an early, perhaps transitional phase in the evolution of the Jack White White Stripes guitar gear. |
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DiPinto Mach 4: A Gift and a Stage Staple
| Jack White’s association with DiPinto guitars began in 2001 when he purchased a blue Mach IV as a gift for Marcie Bolan of The Von Bondies. Approximately a year later, Chris DiPinto gifted Jack a red Mach IV at a show in Philadelphia. According to Chris DiPinto, Jack was reportedly cheered up by the new guitar despite a less-than-enthusiastic crowd reaction that night. DiPinto guitars, known for their retro-inspired designs, became a part of Jack White’s guitar collection, adding another unique flavor to his diverse instrument arsenal. To explore DiPinto guitars further, their website is www.dipintoguitars.com. These guitars add another layer to understanding the variety within Jack White’s guitar choices, even if not directly a core part of the Jack White White Stripes guitar sound. |
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Fender Highway One Telecaster: Modern Twang with a Twist
| The Fender Highway One Telecaster is a more recent addition to Jack White’s guitar collection. He started playing this Telecaster around the time of recording his “Blunderbuss” album in 2012 and continued using it on subsequent tours. Uniquely, all the hardware, including an added Bigsby tremolo, is coated in white paint, giving it a distinctive look. More recently, Jack modified this Telecaster by removing the bridge pickup and replacing it with a TV Jones Filtertron. This Fender Telecaster represents Jack White embracing a classic guitar model but with his signature modifications and aesthetic touches, showcasing his continued evolution as a guitarist beyond the confines of The White Stripes and demonstrating his willingness to experiment with different guitar styles. While different from the typical Jack White White Stripes guitar, it shows his broader guitar interests. |
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Jack White’s Acoustic Guitars: Rootsy Tones
Gretsch Rancher Falcon “Rita”: Acoustic Bass Powerhouse
| The Gretsch Rancher Falcon acoustic guitar, nicknamed “Rita,” is a custom-built instrument used by Jack White on the “Icky Thump” tour and beyond. It features a double custom-shaped pickguard and a cutaway body. Jack White favors these guitars for live performances due to their exceptional bass response, stating, “They are great for live use because they produce more bass than anything else, and I like a lot of bass in an acoustic guitar.” This Gretsch acoustic demonstrates Jack’s preference for instruments that deliver a powerful and full sound, even in an acoustic setting, reflecting the raw energy of the Jack White White Stripes guitar approach translated to acoustic performance. |
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1915 Gibson L-1: Vintage Acoustic Favorite
| The vintage 1915 Gibson L-1 is Jack White’s second favorite acoustic guitar. He frequently uses it in live performances, and it gained particular recognition after his performance of “Love Interruption” on Saturday Night Live. This vintage Gibson represents Jack White’s appreciation for classic, resonant acoustic instruments, providing a contrast to his often electric and heavily amplified sound. It reveals another dimension of his musicality, rooted in traditional acoustic tones, while still maintaining the raw and emotive delivery characteristic of his Jack White White Stripes guitar work. |
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Jack White’s Guitar Amps: Amplifying the Raw Sound
1960s Sears Silvertone 1485 Six Ten: The White Stripes Amp Core
| The 1960s Sears Silvertone 1485 Six Ten amplifier was Jack White’s main amp during his time with The White Stripes. His setup includes one head and two Sears Silvertone 6×10” cabinets equipped with Jensen speakers. While this amp features a reverb, Jack reportedly prefers the reverb from his Fender amps and typically doesn’t utilize the Silvertone’s built-in reverb. This Sears Silvertone is crucial to recreating the raw, garage rock sound associated with The White Stripes and is a cornerstone of the Jack White White Stripes guitar rig. |
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1960s Fender Twin Reverb “Blackface”: Modern Reverb Choice
| The 1960s Fender Twin Reverb “Blackface” has become Jack White’s primary amplifier in more recent years. He particularly favors its reverb, using it extensively in both live performances and recordings, particularly with Dead Weather and his newer projects. This Fender Twin Reverb offers a cleaner and more versatile tone compared to the Sears Silvertone, reflecting a potential evolution in Jack’s preferred amp sound beyond the more deliberately lo-fi aesthetic of The White Stripes. However, it still remains a vital part of his overall amplified guitar sound, building upon the legacy of the Jack White White Stripes guitar tone. |
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1970s Fender Twin Reverb “Silverface”: Backup and Stereo Setup
| Jack White also utilizes a 1970s Fender Twin Reverb “Silverface” amplifier, his second Twin Reverb. He uses it in conjunction with his “Blackface” Twin Reverb, either in parallel for a wider stereo sound or as a backup amplifier. Having a second Twin Reverb provides redundancy and flexibility in his amp setup, ensuring consistent tone and reliability for both live and studio work. This highlights the importance of the Fender Twin Reverb in Jack White’s amplified guitar sound, both in his current setup and in the broader context of the Jack White White Stripes guitar sound evolution. |
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Sonic Machine Factory 15W: Small Show Power
| Jack White owns two Sonic Machine Factory 15W amplifiers, which he uses for smaller, more intimate shows. These smaller wattage amps are ideal for venues where high volume isn’t necessary or desired, while still providing a quality tube amp sound. They demonstrate Jack’s adaptability to different performance environments and his consideration for the specific sonic needs of various venues, while maintaining a core element of tube amp warmth that is part of his overall guitar sound, including the Jack White White Stripes guitar approach. |
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Jack White’s Guitar Effects: Shaping the Sonic Landscape
– Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi: (Amazon Link) The Electro Harmonix Big Muff Pi is arguably Jack White’s most essential effects pedal. It has been a mainstay in his rig since the early days of The White Stripes, providing the thick, fuzzy distortion that is a hallmark of his guitar sound. The Big Muff is crucial for achieving the signature fuzz tones heard in many White Stripes tracks, making it an indispensable part of the Jack White White Stripes guitar effects chain.
– Digitech Whammy WH-4: (Amazon Link) The Digitech Whammy WH-4 is Jack White’s second most-used effect. Its pitch-shifting capabilities are evident in numerous songs, most famously on “Seven Nation Army,” where it’s used to create the iconic bass line-like guitar riff. The Whammy pedal is key to Jack’s creative use of pitch effects, adding another layer of sonic experimentation to his guitar playing, particularly within the context of the Jack White White Stripes guitar sound.
– Electro-Harmonix Poly Octave Generator (POG): (Amazon Link) Jack White first incorporated the Electro-Harmonix Poly Octave Generator (POG) into his setup for the song “Blue Orchid.” He continues to use it for both older and newer material. The POG allows him to add octave-up and octave-down harmonies to his guitar signal, creating thick, organ-like textures and expanding his sonic palette. It represents another tool in Jack’s arsenal for sonic exploration, contributing to the evolving nature of his guitar sound beyond the raw simplicity of the early Jack White White Stripes guitar days.
– MXR Micro Amp: (Amazon Link) The MXR Micro Amp serves a straightforward but crucial purpose in Jack White’s rig: sound boosting. He uses it to increase his signal level for solos or to push his amp harder for added gain and sustain. This simple boost pedal is essential for dynamics and highlighting specific guitar parts in his performances, a fundamental aspect of effective guitar playing in any genre, including the raw and dynamic style of the Jack White White Stripes guitar sound.
Jack White’s Guitar Strings: No String Preferences
Interestingly, Jack White is known for not having specific preferences regarding guitar strings. He reportedly leaves the choice of strings to his guitar technician. This detail underscores Jack’s focus on the broader aspects of his guitar sound and performance, perhaps prioritizing instrument choice, amplification, and effects over the nuances of string brands or gauges. It’s a somewhat unconventional approach for a guitarist of his stature, suggesting a practical and perhaps less gear-obsessive mindset, focusing instead on the overall musical outcome, regardless of string specifics, within the Jack White White Stripes guitar philosophy.
Jack White’s Guitar Picks: Heavy Gauge Preference
While Jack White frequently employs fingerpicking techniques, when he uses a pick, he typically opts for a heavy gauge. He currently uses custom-made picks from Dunlop. The use of heavy gauge picks aligns with his aggressive and dynamic guitar playing style, allowing for strong attack and control, particularly when playing the raw, energetic riffs associated with The White Stripes. This choice of pick complements his overall guitar gear and technique, contributing to the powerful and distinctive Jack White White Stripes guitar sound.
Conclusion:
Jack White’s guitar gear, particularly his iconic Airline guitar and Sears Silvertone amp, are integral to the raw and powerful sound of The White Stripes. His eclectic collection of instruments, ranging from vintage finds to custom creations, and his carefully selected effects pedals, all contribute to his unique and influential guitar style. From the minimalist setup of The White Stripes to his more expansive rigs with other projects, Jack White remains a constantly evolving and innovative guitarist, always pushing sonic boundaries while staying true to his rootsy, blues-infused foundation. His gear choices, especially in the context of The White Stripes, offer a fascinating study for guitarists seeking to understand and emulate his signature sound.
