13th Floor Elevators Popping Sound

May 26, 2007 9:30 PM

Just about every 13th Floor Elevators song has a really cool effect going on in the background. Sort of like a really fast bubble machine sound. A popping sound, maybe. What created it? Has anybody else ripped it off in this day of everything old is new again?
posted by NoMich to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

I haven't heard this band, but if you're hearing this same effect all through their music, the first question would be: are you listening to low-quality mp3s? "A really fast bubble machine sound" sounds like a great description of the high-range audio artifacts usually heard in a file after it's gone through heavy mp3 compression. (Disregard this question if you're listening to a CD.)
posted by sparrows at 9:44 PM on May 26, 2007

This video shows some guy blowing through a... lampshade? It might give you a clue.
posted by spiderskull at 9:47 PM on May 26, 2007

That instrument is something that the band called the "electric jug." It was played by Tommy Hall and it was reported to be little more than a regular old jug that Tommy blew into that they mic'd and distorted with guitar and amp effects.

Pictured here, on the left.
posted by Pinwheel at 9:47 PM on May 26, 2007

Yeah, it's a jug. Haven't heard anyone do it lately, though.
posted by mike_bling at 7:06 AM on May 27, 2007

Response by poster: Then what effects are being used to create this sound?
posted by NoMich at 8:29 AM on May 27, 2007

Best answer: It's definitely a jug. From Jim DeRogatis' book Kaleidoscope Eyes:

"The jug had been a staple of the folk and bluegrass combos of the early '60s. Hall amplified his by holding a microphone close to the opening, but it's likely that as much of the sound came from his voice as the jug."

That seems about right since even early jug band recordings from the beginning of the 20th century seem to rely more on the voice than the instrument. On "You're Gonna Miss Me" and a few other songs, it sounds like they probably ran it through a tremolo. The rest just sounds like Hall's voice.
posted by sleepy pete at 6:29 AM on May 28, 2007

Response by poster: A tremolo, hey? Nifty.
posted by NoMich at 7:21 AM on May 28, 2007