Dude builds a talkbox from an amp, a plastic bowl and some stickers

This page is a wonderful account of one man's twenty year quest to build himself a talkbox* to recreate Zapp's 'More Bounce to the Ounce': "The first time I heard that computer voice come out of my mouth, I almost cried tears of joy. I called everyone and explained that I’d finally gotten a Talkbox. Whether they wanted to hear it or not I demonstrated the sound until they either hung up or became irate."
Alongside full instructions on how to build yourself a talkbox, there's a 'Top 20 Dopest Talkbox Songs', including The Eagles, Peter Frampton, Nazareth and Dr Dre. Then there's the 'Top 7 Worst Talkbox Songs', including Bon Jovi, obviously.
*The coolest and least hygenic guitar effect ever, which pumps the guitar/synth sound up a rubber tube, into your mouth, and out to a microphone.

Posted by Tom Whitwell.

Comments:

Can't forget Stevie Wonder's 123 sesame street song! Talkbox + Arp 2600 = HUGE!

# posted by

Anonymous : 6:40 pm

Or Close To You by Stevie
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VX5v-S_jGD4

# posted by

Anonymous : 8:26 pm

Much easier to use a Large piezo tweeter than a speaker.

# posted by

Anonymous : 10:59 pm

Yeah, Stevie rocks the talk box. Try LOVE HAVING YOU AROUND on Music of My Mind and BLACK MAN from Songs in the Key of Life!

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:06 am

It was my reverence for Roger Troutman that made me buy a Heil Talkbox (even though I know RT built his own). Considering how small the thing is, it weighs a ton! And I've only ever used the bugger on one record in the 11 years I've had it!

(oh, and thanks for the link, Tom!)

# posted by

Mikey : 12:43 pm

Of recent note, Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips uses talkbox most notably on 'Free Radicals'. He uses as well for buzzy-growling noises.

# posted by

raytubes : 5:57 pm