How to Get Talk Box Sound Without a Talk Box

The talk box is an effect which allows a guitar to take on vocal qualities and approximate a human voice. It does so by using the guitarist's mouth to shape the sound, allowing the guitar to pronounce words. Unfortunately, consumer talk boxes are somewhat expensive. However, it is fairly simple to construct an apparatus that provides a basic talk-box effect out of readily accessible materials.

• 1

  Drill a hole in the back of the PVC cap for the speaker's wire to run through. Fix the speaker to the PVC cap, facing outwards. Make sure the speaker or compression driver you use isn't larger than the PVC cap or the plunger's mouth. You can use glue or screws to mount the speaker to the cap. Run any cables to the speaker through the hole in the PVC cap, including the 1/4 inch cable.

• 2

  Take the plunger apart. Drill a hole through the plunger in the top, where the handle ordinarily goes. Make sure the hole is large enough to accommodate the vinyl tubing, but small enough to ensure a tight fit. After drilling the hole, fit the vinyl tube into the plunger as if it were the handle, with about 1/2 inch protruding through.

• 3

  Assemble the compression driver's housing. This is done by fitting the PVC cap into the mouth of the plunger. This should be a tight fit, creating a seal that will help direct the sound into the vinyl tubing. Seal up any cracks or breaches with the silicon sealant.

• 4

  To incorporate this apparatus into your setup, plug in the 1/4 inch cable to your designated auxiliary output channel (sometimes these are smaller jacks, check before constructing). The vinyl tubing can be taped to the microphone, protruding 2-3 inches further than the top of the mic, or it can just be held in the mouth. Make sure there are no kinks in the tubing for the best sound.

• 5

  To use the talk box, position the vinyl tubing in your mouth between your molars, using a very slight bite if needed to hold the tube in place. Most musicians prefer the left side of the mouth. When you play your instrument (guitar, keyboard, etc.), the sound runs through the compression driver, and through the vinyl tubing where it is shaped by your mouth. Move your mouth in patterns to create sound textures, or attempt to pronounce words if you like. Keep the opening of your mouth close to the microphone to direct the sound out, where it will be amplified again.