build your own talkbox...

thesto

hey, i was looking into buying myself a talkbox...but while doing some research on t'internet i realised it is possible to build your own...

http://www.blamepro.com/talkboxG.htm

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9EIQxwotn3k

it seems quite easy to do and relatively cheap...the only problem i see is getting mydelf a horndriver and a footswitch...

just wondering has anyone ever tried this, or any advice on where i could obtain these parts...?

thanks

-steve

Owen

Maplin!

-=al=-

yeah i read those talkbox things ages ago, lol jus buy one

i use the dano onem its aok

thesto

yeh, but making one would be so much cheaper! iv got a serious budget problem, and making your own would give you so much more satisfaction!!

Dord

check out http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum
i think a few guys over there have built talkboxes, you might be able to find some tips and such.

but yeah, building stuff yourself is much better!

Voodu Child

Just buy one of the danelectro ones.

A traditional talkbox like the one you linked to replaces the speaker load - you'll f*ck up your amp if you're not careful.

Not to mention the hassle with running two amps, micing yourself etc.

rcaz

I was looking into this as well, looks sort of dodgy. Like Voodoo Child said, you can blow your amp head if you're not careful, as far as I know, you have to wire it to comply with your amp. All that bit went over my head.

There're the Danelectro ones and the Rocktron ones that you run like a normal pedal and don't risk your amp head, but I've heard they're nowhere near as good as the old Heil ones.

[Edit: Joe Robot: Thank you for the link! ]

-=al=-

nope they dont, but unless ur really into the effect and plan on using it alot, i dont really tihnk its worth it, the extra cost and hassle... rocktron is prob beter than the dano, but both are ok

rcaz

On Musicians Friend, the Rocktron Banshee and Heil are the same price, $149, that's €110. I'm interested in a talk box, too. How big is the risk of blowing the amp with a Heil talkbox?

Voodu Child

El Pr0n wrote:

how big is the risk of blowing the amp with a Heil talkbox?

Its not so much that there is an inherent problem with the Heil talkbox;

A talkbox replaces the speaker load (ie you plug your amp into the talkbox instead of a speaker cab). Any failure in the load (be it speaker, cable, talkbox) will pretty much result in frying your OT. Thats why you never run a valve amp without a load of some kind (ie you never uplug the speaker while it's turned on).

Now a talkbox isnt risky itself. The risk could come from:
a) Making it yourself, and just f*cking up the wiring or something
or
b) Frying the talkbox itself. This is no different to frying a speaker - you never run a 60 watt speaker with a 120watt amp, cos as soon as you start cranking it, you'll blow the speaker, and lose your load (bad idea).
So long as youre careful to not exceed the rating of the horn driver int he talkbox, you should be ok.

punchdrunk

"JOHNNY USED TO WORK ON THE DOCKS!!"

-=al=-

He's dead now

rcaz

voodoo_child wrote:

So long as youre careful to not exceed the rating of the horn driver int he talkbox, you should be ok.

So you shouldn't play it very loud? How do you judge when you're safe, and when you're not? Apart from the lack of music...

</n00b>

Voodu Child

El Pr0n wrote:

So you shouldn't play it very loud? How do you judge when you're safe, and when you're not? Apart from the lack of music...

</n00b>

Well, just have a read up on the talkbox and see what the speaker in it is rated at. If it's any lower than the amp you plan on using it with, i wouldnt take the chance.

Afaik, most guys who use them buy a small amp specifically for the talkbox.

rcaz

Right. Might just stick with the Rocktron