Not a new concept but...

Rich Arnold · Post by **Rich Arnold** » 12 Feb 2023 6:03 pm

Hi gang,
It's Rich Arnold here. I'm experimenting with a new way of using an old idea. A VERY old idea! In fact talk box goes all the way back to Alvino Rey. Pete Drake used it too.
When I was a little kid I grew up listening to a steel guitar player named Andy Emmert in Upstate NY who used talk box all the time. I grew up thinking that it must be a normal part of the steel guitar sound. After I moved to Nashville I didn't hear it any more. Anyway, some people love it and some hate it. My wife likes it, but my kids leave the room when I start using it. If you like it that's great, if not, I apologize. R.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53iSG06FgqQ

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 12 Feb 2023 8:09 pm

Great phrasing, man.

Dan Barrett · Post by **Dan Barrett** » 14 Feb 2023 10:37 am

Good timing for this, I came across this little article about Pete Drake and the talk box this morning.

https://www.vintag.es/2023/02/pete-drak ... uitar.html

Jack Hanson · Post by **Jack Hanson** » 14 Feb 2023 3:23 pm

Check out pages 93 & 94 of Buddy Emmons Steel Guitar Icon by Steve Fishell for an interesting anecdote about "Pete Drake's" talkbox.

Rich Arnold · Post by **Rich Arnold** » 15 Feb 2023 5:48 am

Yea. I love those guys from years ago who had lots of creative ideas.
I thought that since so little was done with this that someone ought to expound on it. Try some new ideas with the concept.

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 15 Feb 2023 12:27 pm

I thought I'd hate it, but I love it!

Rich Arnold · Post by **Rich Arnold** » 15 Feb 2023 8:36 pm

David Matzenik wrote:I thought I'd hate, but I love it!

I know exactly what you mean.

What a cheap-ass stupid gimmick is a talk box! But think of it this way, people hate the Ford Modle T. Who wants to crank one of those damn things in a rain storm?
But we didn't stop there. Henry Ford just got us started. Like Alvino Rey. But I got thinking....what else can be done with that stupid gadget?
How about swinging jazz improv? Like this...... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EInxyC-CPNg

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 16 Feb 2023 12:45 pm

Rich, I don't know of any other recording using the talk-box that swings and delves into the deceptively tricky realm of skat. Yours is unique, at least to my experience. Congratulations.

Glenn Wilde · Post by **Glenn Wilde** » 16 Feb 2023 5:25 pm

I dig it Rich. There's another pedal called a Vocoder that could be interesting.

Cody Farwell · Post by **Cody Farwell** » 16 Feb 2023 6:09 pm

I really like the talkbox sound !

Here are a couple quick videos I made messing around with a steel connected to a vocoder.

https://youtu.be/DTYYOnXKH8I
https://youtu.be/IBsb3m0Nfew

Rich Arnold · Post by **Rich Arnold** » 16 Feb 2023 7:20 pm

David Matzenik wrote:Rich, I don't know of any other recording using the talk-box that swings and delves into the deceptively tricky realm of skat. Yours is unique, at least to my experience. Congratulations.

I really appreciate that David,

As far back as I can remember I've always had a backwards approach to the steel guitar. As with many players, they noodle around to find things that are useful or that sound good. But I've always tried to play music that is in my mind. I hear in in my head before I can play it. I may have started out noodling, but at some point it all started to run the other way.
So my head and guitar are always in lockstep. I wish to God I could teach this somehow. So the talkbox thing comes naturally. I didn't have to pratice at it.

Rich Arnold · Post by **Rich Arnold** » 16 Feb 2023 7:22 pm

Glenn Wilde wrote:I dig it Rich. There's another pedal called a Vocoder that could be interesting.

Thanks Glenn. I don't think I've ever seen a Vocoder.

Rich Arnold · Post by **Rich Arnold** » 16 Feb 2023 7:26 pm

Cody Farwell wrote:I really like the talkbox sound !

Here are a couple quick videos I made messing around with a steel connected to a vocoder.

https://youtu.be/DTYYOnXKH8I
https://youtu.be/IBsb3m0Nfew

That's a groovy tool! I've always been able to scat what I'm playing but I just don't have a voice like Bobby McFerrin. And probably never will.

So this is a neat tool I dare say!