Talk Box...better? best??

  • Thread starter Thread starter GtarLover
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GtarLover

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I am thinking of grabbing a talk box and wanted to hear from a few who have tried them.

Which are better? Is there a big difference between models or manufacturers?

Thanks in advance
 
My friend had the dunlop one ( believe). It is fun for a little while, but keep in mind that it needs a PA to be heard. If you are not aware, they process your guitar and have their own internal speaker (a pretty heavy duty one at that). The sound from that speaker travels up the tube to your mouth. The sound you make with your mouth must be amplified with a microphone through a pa.

In any case, it's fun for a while to do the Frampton and Bon Jovi tunes, but pretty soon they become a novelty that is rarely used. Just my .02.
 
Best is the Heil. Second...I'd go MXR for the ease of use.
 
Been using the Rocktron Banshee for over 10 years...works great.
 
I use the Heil but it's a PITA for the most part. It definitely sounds better to me than the Rocktron, but not enough so to justify the extra hassle IMO.
 
What about a Boss SE70 or SE50 ? They have stereo ins and outs, and I know that on the 70 you can plug a Mic into one of the inputs and use it as a vocoder. If it's in the loop of your amp, the whole amp will sound like a talkbox. Eliminates the need of the PA entirely. I THINK the SE50 does this too...and they're cheap...if you can find one.
 
Great ideas, thanks.

I do like the possibility of NOT having to run it through the mic, yet if it's just hooking the tube to my mic stand, no big deal.
That said, it sounds like there isn't a ton of difference, personal preference aside.
Heil, Rocktron, Dunlop, Boss...

Is there a specific advantage to any particular model choice? Better tube, better box on the floor, ease of use, etc?
Just trying to get clear before pulling the trigger.

Thanks again for the input.
 
The Heil unit is essentially indestructible...it's housed in a very heavy all metal enclosure.
 
To use the Heil, you really want to use a separate amp to run it. I've seen and heard too many horror stories of it blowing fuses in amps, including mine years ago.

The rocktron and mxr each have their own built in 5 watt amps. There's no need to rely on your amp to amplify it and it will bypass your amp signal when engaged. It's safer, cheaper and nobody in the audience is going to hear the difference. See my video below and you'll hear the rocktron.
 
Well, the vocoder thing is what Def Leppard used on "Love Bites" at the begining...not sure if it's a guitar or a keyboard they used with it. A lot of rap songs use a vocoder with keyboards when the dude can't sing...that song "California" from the 90's (sorry, not up on my rap) has vocoder all over it.
 
Looks like the Rocktron is the best bet for ease of set-up and ease of use.

Thanks to all who gave input...I'll let you know how it works out.
 
I have the Banshee 2. It will feed the tube as well as the amp at the same time.

Also, it's loud enough to use at home as long as your amp isn't too loud.

Oddly enough, while I did have big plans for it, it basically sits here unused, lol, however it seems to work really well.
 
The only one worth a crap in my opinion is the Framptone but be prepared for sticker shock.
I got one when Mark Snyder was still working on them, it is a prototype SN 16 and went back to Mark for a re-work there were a couple design changes, I already had an Amp Switcher from them. Best there was at the time. Frampton Autographed it. Also SN 16

I have used and blown up a couple heils (Dunlop) But you can replace that craptastic driver with a much better one at least if you can get one to fit in there, the threads are universal. I have never blown up an amp but the drivers rated at 100W couldn't handle 50 or less.... I like the Framptone I haven't blown it up yet. it is a 100W Driver. The Switching system is heavy duty but I have always ran it with a separate amp because it requires some grunt to run and when you normal through to a speaker cab it just about takes your head off!
It is the White Pyramid looking box with the hose in the top. Keeley makes them these days.
Guitarstuff006.jpg

I recently got it all hooked back up and running through a Jet City 2112RC 20W and it SCREAMS.
I didn't have a clip handy so I just threw one together.
This is with the EQ FLAT at 5 across the board and Gain dimed with the Volume on 4...
Presence and Reverb are also on 5. Not exactly on my game with this one but here you go.
Just sort of a "WahWah" to be honest.

http://s30.photobucket.com/user/AFSOC/media/Talkboxmovie_zps786c94af.mp4.html
 
craftm1":12uql9fn said:
Rocktron Banshee here no issues and easy to use!!!
Click to expand...


+1

And I use it with an ab y box so I its out of my signal chain and I can use it with my regular guitar tone.
 
jcm800x4":t74s0h7b said:
craftm1":t74s0h7b said:
Rocktron Banshee here no issues and easy to use!!!
Click to expand...


+1

And I use it with an ab y box so I its out of my signal chain and I can use it with my regular guitar tone.
Click to expand...


Thanks, that's a great tip. I ordered it and will see what happens...I thought it was true bypass, so no need for ABY, but like I said, we'll see when it arrives.
 
Thanks for the input Kerry.

I went with the Banshee...I had a Framptone 3-Banger, liked it, but sold it.
Framptone does make decent stuff.

The Rocktron Banshee II is the one I'm getting...gonna give it a try.
 
Another vote for the Rocktron Banshee II. Sounds great, easy to set up/use, and far smaller than the Framptone.
 
And another vote for the Banshee.
Jovi/Aerosmith/It's My Life/Sweet Emotion/Living On A Prayer, maybe not the best sounding but pretty good for a covers band and so easy to use. :cheers:
 
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