The Talk BoxThe Talk Box

By Alex BowersBy Alex Bowers

Background/HistoryBackground/History

Device which enables individual to Device which enables individual to manipulate the sound of an instrument by manipulate the sound of an instrument by changing the shape of the mouth.changing the shape of the mouth.– Produces classic “talking guitar sound”Produces classic “talking guitar sound”

Ex. Peter Frampton, Frampton Comes Alive Ex. Peter Frampton, Frampton Comes Alive Created by Bill West in 1971 for Joe Walsh to Created by Bill West in 1971 for Joe Walsh to

play "Rocky Mountain Way" live play "Rocky Mountain Way" live Later patented by Bob Heil of Heil SoundLater patented by Bob Heil of Heil Sound 1973: Heil gave his talk box to Peter 1973: Heil gave his talk box to Peter

Frampton as a Christmas present Frampton as a Christmas present 1988, Heil sold the manufacturing rights to 1988, Heil sold the manufacturing rights to

Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc.Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. Peter Frampton also sells his own line of Peter Frampton also sells his own line of

“Framptone” products“Framptone” products

HistoryHistory

Created by Bill West in 1971 for Joe Created by Bill West in 1971 for Joe Walsh to play "Rocky Mountain Way" live Walsh to play "Rocky Mountain Way" live

Later patented by Bob Heil of Heil SoundLater patented by Bob Heil of Heil Sound 1973: Heil gave his talk box to Peter 1973: Heil gave his talk box to Peter

Frampton as a Christmas present Frampton as a Christmas present 1988, Heil sold the manufacturing rights 1988, Heil sold the manufacturing rights

to Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc.to Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. Peter Frampton also sells his own line of “Peter Frampton also sells his own line of “

FramptoneFramptone” products” products

Other ModelsOther Models

Danelectro Free Speech Danelectro Free Speech TalkboxTalkbox

Rocktron Banshee Rocktron Banshee Heil Sound TalkboxHeil Sound Talkbox Electro-Harmonix (E-H) Electro-Harmonix (E-H)

Golden Throat Golden Throat – 1970s, first to include 1970s, first to include

integrated ampintegrated amp Kustom Bag Kustom Bag

– 1970s, enclosed 1970s, enclosed compression in suede compression in suede pouch worn over shoulder, pouch worn over shoulder, looked like strange looked like strange bagpipe/water bongbagpipe/water bong

Famous Talk Famous Talk Box UsersBox Users Peter FramptonPeter Frampton – "Do You Feel Like We – "Do You Feel Like We

Do", "Show Me the Way"Do", "Show Me the Way" Bon Jovi (Richie Sambora)Bon Jovi (Richie Sambora) – "It's My Life", – "It's My Life",

"Livin' on a Prayer“"Livin' on a Prayer“ SlashSlash – "Lower", "Anything Goes", "Dust n' – "Lower", "Anything Goes", "Dust n'

Bones", "Rocket Queen" (Live) Bones", "Rocket Queen" (Live) Aerosmith (Joe Perry)Aerosmith (Joe Perry) – "Sweet Emotion", – "Sweet Emotion",

"Walk this way“"Walk this way“ Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl)Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl) – –

"Generator" "Generator" The Flaming LipsThe Flaming Lips – –

"The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song", "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song", "The Wizard Turns On...”"The Wizard Turns On...”

Stevie WonderStevie Wonder

Talk Box in ActionTalk Box in Action

Stevie WonderStevie Wonder Stevie Wonder 2Stevie Wonder 2 Peter FramptonPeter Frampton Peter Frampton 2Peter Frampton 2 Random DudeRandom Dude

How it WorksHow it Works

Instrument signal Instrument signal into ampinto amp

Amplified signal Amplified signal sent to horn driversent to horn driver

Sound sent Sound sent through tubing through tubing into mouthinto mouth

Mouth-shape Mouth-shape modifies soundmodifies sound

Picked up by micPicked up by mic

Source –Source –Filter ModelFilter Model

Vocal chords (folds) create Vocal chords (folds) create periodic signal of pressure periodic signal of pressure pulses, high harmonic contentpulses, high harmonic content

Vocal tract operates like a Vocal tract operates like a variable filter variable filter – Response different for Response different for

different frequenciesdifferent frequencies– Shape of tract changes Shape of tract changes

frequency responsefrequency response Gain of tract sampled at Gain of tract sampled at

multiples of the fundamental multiples of the fundamental frequencyfrequency

Resonances can be estimated Resonances can be estimated from the peaks in the from the peaks in the envelope of the sound envelope of the sound spectrum. spectrum. – FormantsFormants– Easier to determine for low Easier to determine for low

fundamental, i.e. man’s voicefundamental, i.e. man’s voice

FormantsFormants

Vocal tract acts as a Vocal tract acts as a closed open pipe w/ closed open pipe w/ nodes and anti-nodes and anti-nodesnodes

When tract (pipe) is When tract (pipe) is constrained at node, constrained at node, the resonant the resonant frequency (formant) frequency (formant) decreases, when decreases, when expanded, rises.expanded, rises.

Opposite is true for Opposite is true for anti-nodesanti-nodes