Guitar~Voicebox/Talker

[Buck62]

I'm curious if anybody on this forum has ever used or owns one of those guitar~voicebox talkers, like the ones used by Peter Frampton and Joe Walsh. There are two models out there that I know of... the Dunlop Heil Talk Box, which uses a long plastic tube... and the Digitech Guitar Talker which is newer and more expensive, and has extra features (and no tube)... I'm thinking of asking for one from the wife for X-mas... Any comments or suggestions???

 

[Brad]

Hey Buck,
I have longed for one of those boxes for some time. I just never felt compelled to shell out the dough for it.
Here is something cool though---
I asked my fiance for a DOD VoTec for my birthday and got one. I was looking for that "radio" or "telephone" sound on some of my vocals. Well, while tinkering around with the thing, I found a sound that came really close to the talk box. With the distortion and modulation just right, and taking careful steps to enunciate (sp?) all of the "OW" sounds I could, it came really close to a talk box. Of course, the VoTec is 20 smackers more than the Dunlop talk box, but you get added vocal effects. I am not pimpin' this thing. I am really just messing with it at this point, but I am happy that my lady got it for me. She encourages me to stay in the studio...
Hmmmm, maybe I should see what she is up to once in a while...

 

[Slackmaster2K]

I've seen a lot of "How to make your own Talkbox" links on various DIY music sites. I realize that you're talking about a christmas present here, but it might be a fun project.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[S8-N]

Make you own out of a little practice amp and some plastic tubing... You should be able to put the whole thing together for less than $50.

S8-N

 

[CMiller]

I've got the Heil Talk Box that I got for Xmas about ten years ago. Back then, it was a lot less expensive, but it has resurfaced on so many recordings that they feel they can jack the price and call it a "vintage" effect. It's a great little toy that is fun to use. I've only had one problem with it...the vibrations it gives off combined with having to stick a tube in your mouth makes me drool when I use it. I've also heard that prolonged use at high volumes can loosen dental work. I haven't had that problem yet.

I can tell you just about anything you want to know about it, anything specific?

 

[loudnaybor]

Absolutely!!! Make your own.
Back when these things were popular the first time, most of the guys that I knew used home-made ones, including myself.
All you need is the driver out of horn speaker, like you'd see at a high school football stadium, some 1/2" I.D. rubber tube, an old stomp box with a foot switch that you don't mind giving up and about 1 sq. foot of heavy plastic.
You have to do a little wiring, stapling and general Mickey Rigging, but it works great.

 

[Buck62]

Well guys, I bought the Heil Talk-Box. I know I could have slapped one together, but I don't have the time or patience to do it. Besides, it's an early Christmas gift from the wife and it only cost a hundred bucks. Thanx for all the responses. I really like this thing! I was playing Peter Frampton and Joe Walsh riffs for hours, amongst other stuff. I also hooked it up to my keyboard, and WOW, does it sound great! It didn't make me drool, either... only Faith Hill has that effect on me (hubba hubba). I can't wait to use it on one of my new songs. It's one of those effects that you don't hear very often these days.