Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    That device Frampton turned into a cliche worked on a pretty simple
    principle. The moving air mass in front of a speaker was funneled
    into a tube and routed to his mouth. The 'output' end of the tube
    would have the same pitch as the speaker, and he simply shaped the
    'words' with his mouth.
    
    It's a real easy device to make. No electronics. A piece of plastic
    tubing and a funnel will get you started.
    
    Edd

    I understand that because of the sound levels involved, Mr. Frampton's
    teeth got quite a vibratory workout.
    
    No s**t, Waldo, this is for real.
    
    len.
    

Re: talkbox

    Yeah - I used one of these about 8 years ago - friend of mine had one.
    I strapped on his Les Paul, cranked up his Boogie, and played all the
    Frampton stuff I knew how. 

    After 15 minutes, I had such an intense headache that I couldn't
    see straight.  These suckers'll blow your head off.

brad_who_now_has_dental_insurance_and_two_cracked_front_teeth  8^(

    I played around with that a bit when I was in highschool.  You 
    can make one out of a horn driver, like on those outdoor megaphone
    shaped public address speakers, or midrange horn drivers.  Just
    unscrew the driver from the horn, stick a hose on it, connect to your 
    amp and voila.
    
    If your doing this stuff at home and don't need earth and teeth
    shattering volumes; I used to have this miniature speaker (or was
    it a mike?) and put it in a plastic bag and then in my mouth.
    It works pretty good for recording but its a little different
    sounding than Frampton.
                           
    By the way, I disclaim any responsibility for electrocution! 
                   
    Fredric

    
    re: .1,.2,.3,.4
    
    Vibrating teeth, cracked teeth, headaches, ELECTROCUTION!?  Somebody
    trying to talk me out of this?  If physical punishment brings
    pleasure...
    
         Okay, I've gotten a mild myriad of ways to put one of these
    things together, but I am still lost on a few specifics.  For example,
    I should have stated that my amp is a stereo amp, nix a keyboard
    amp or guitar amp.  The speaker connections are made via exposed
    wire (no plugs), everything else - plugs, i.e., preamp, reel to
    reel, phono, effects etc.  I'm unclear as to where I'm making the
    final connection.  Also this tube that is connected to speaker cone/
    driver is accomplished by taping directly to? How?  Sorry if
    I seem so shallow but I'm an external person (operator vs. software
    specialist), great with finished products, a student at finishing
    products.  Thanks for response.

    
    
    re: .1
    
      If connected to a speaker, which cone? Bass, midrange, tweeter?
    All 3?  This probably means I lose whichever speaker I use for this.

    Start with the mid. You need to move alot of air, which necessitates
    a large cone area. Chances are the tweeter won't cut the cake. 
    
    Edd

    The talkbox my friend had came complete with its own built-in amp and
    speaker. 

    Here's how my friend's talkbox was built (as best as I can recall): 


		!!
		!!
		!! -> clear plastic tube, appx 1" dia
		!!    tube normally strapped/taped to a mic stand
		!!
		!!
		/\
	       /  \ -> inverted clear plastic funnel-like unit
              /    \
	  +----\~~/-----  (this is suppsosed to represent a sloped face)
	  |     --      -
	  |     ^         ? --> stomp on/off footswitch
	  +---  ! ----------!
                !
	    6" driver,
	 sounded midrange


    BTW - the talkbox did not crack my teeth.  8^)=)  See??

8^)

    Can one assume the tube is taped on a mic stand which also has a
    mic on it ?  I've never seen one of these things so I'm assuming
    the mic is what picks up the output of the tube.
    
    Mike
    

    
    
    RE: .9
    
    Oh no! Another question in point.  I was all set to start building
    this thing too.  I am assuming from everything discussed here that
    the tube taped to the mic stand is not attached to the mic but
    continues right on into ones mouth, talking/singing into/around
    it.
    
    re: .8
    
    Thanks, that was much better.  Let you all know if it works or not.
    
    re: .7
    
    Gotcha.

    
    And when I saw Framtpon use hi, he ahad a really neat tube which
    had a roloing neon light effect on it which lit up whenever jhe played
    a solo through it. Now that's real effects !
    
    				Paul

	Caution...do *not* use this thing with a bass...

    1. Use a pa horn driver. They have a small orafice that one
       can attach the tube to. More efficient than the mechanical
       contraption; easier to make.
    
    2. yes, the mike is what picks up the modified sound.
    
    3. The electronic analog measures the amplitude in each of
       [so many] bands of frequencies from the 'control' signal
       (your voice). Each of these amplitudes then controls the
       'sound_you_want_changed' signal thru a bunch more band
       pass filters (amplitude changes, not the F_sub_c). The
       high ticket ones even sense "th" and "s" from your voice
       and impose some voiced noise in the output...(more realism)
    
    The circuitry isnt too complex, but is large as a function of
    the number of bands....
    
    rr
    

    Tube is taped to the mic stand, and extends about 2-3" above mic.
    Put tube in mouth and hold mouth near mic - the sound comes out
    of the tube, into the mouth where it is shaped, out of the mouth,
    and into the mic...
    
    The footswitch should not only kick in the driver/tube combo, but
    should also kill the straight guitar coming out of the guitar amp
    so that all the guitar/voice sound is heard thru the mic/PA...
    
    Todd.

    Hey guys, is PAIA still in business?  They used to make a Pignose
    copy called the Pygmy.  Later when the talk box became popular,
    they offered an accessory kit which consisted of a new spealer bezel
    for the front which fitted a plastic tube to it.  The whole rig
    (amp and tube kit) was maybe $60.  By the way, check out music stores.
     Electro_Harmonix made a talk box called the Golden Throat (2 models,
    I think) and Heil also made a talk box (that's the one that Walsh,
    Frampton and Beck used).
    
    History lesson:  The first recorded talk box use was on Iron Butterfly's
    "Metamorphosis" album. Guitarist Mike Pinera used one in "Butterfly
    Bleu".  I even saw him do it on TV.  He used "the BAG" which was made
    by the Kustom amp people.  The speaker was mounted in a hippie-styled
    handbag thing which you slung over your shoulder and to which the mouth
    tube was attached.           

    ....and....there was a horn driver in the bag.
    
    so to speak...
    
    forget the speaker! 
    
    rr
    

    
    Use a *full range* horn driver if you can find one, that's why
    I suggested one from a Public Address horn.  Midrange drivers,
    may be easier to find though.  
    
    I would guess that if you use a normal speaker, the sound from it 
    might be kinda loud to try to hear the mouth tube over.
    __                                                      
    
    Or you can get a little speaker (or a little mike element will work)
    from Radio Shack to put in a baggie and into your mouth.  I would
    reccomend using a battery powered amp (radio shack has em too) so
    as to avoid getting zapped, though I don't know how likely that
    is anyway (I didn't).
    
    Fredric_my_head's_still_buzzin!

    
    
    re: .13, .17
    
         You sold me on the PA horn driver *full range*.  I'll utilize
    that.  Thanx.