Boowah and Chatter?

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

after some searching here I think I understand what you guys call "boowah". If I am correct its a tone swell? that train whistle sound? is this any diffferent than a bar slam?

My fender champ 6 string lap needs the volume pot replaced or cleaned, I was wondering if maybe i should replace the tone pot as well? do some pots provide a better tone sweep for this "boowah" effect or are the stock fender pots from the 60's acceptable?

I dont understand what you guys call "chatter". Is that the volume cutting on and off real quick like a helicopter type sound? sounds like a toggle switch flipped back and forth real quick with one of the volume pots off on a two pickup guitar or doubleneck? Is that what it is and how it is done? Can anyone point me to a sound sample of "chatter"?

Thanks for your patience with my questions, I did search for this info before asking. Cheers.

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

chatter in my understanding is the sound of a bar touching a vibrating string.

Todd Clinesmith · From: Lone Rock Free State Oregon

Ben,
Yes the " Boowah" is a tone swell. Some instruments like the Fender customs have tone close enough to grab with your pinky for tone swells. The champ maybe accesible as well. I have a Fender tone/volume pedal that works great for the Boowah. The pedal has Tone swivel left and volume up and down. They come up on ebay pretty often from $175 and up.
Todd

Mike McBride · From: Indiana

I'm a Speedy fan. Could you use a Wah-Wah pedal to achieve that Boowah sound?

John Ummel · From: Arlington, WA.

I've always seen "boowah" used to refer to the lowering of the 10th string on the C6th neck from C down to A-----boo.....wah....then you have a dom7#9 chord on top of it.

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

Just my opinion:
Bass to Treble = Wah–Wah!
C Drop to A = Boo–Waaah!
If you say that to me, I’ll understand you!

------------------
“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Thanks guys. I have since learned that chatter is not a desirable technique...hehe...unfortunately it is about the only "technique" I excel at at this early stage of my development

what then is all this talk of a Boowah "button"? is that some mythical concept like Sasquatch or did it really exist and if so what the heck was it?

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

Ben, suggest you look in the archives as this topic was explained and discussed in detail; lots of accurate talk and a lot of inaccurate speculation by those that don't know. On Jerry Byrd's web site there is a section that talks about Jerry's preferred TONE POT and it works fabulously.
Speedy used the TONE KNOB on the right end of his triple-8 Bigsby while banging the bar up the neck. NOT the pedal...........

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Gotcha Ray. I did search a bit, but Chatter was still unclear from what i got. I found this on the JB site at your suggestion
"Jerry used a 500 Meg, audio taper "pot".
So if I slap one of those pots in my Champ....hmmm.

again sorry for the ignorance. i am not actually TRYING to be stupid

and now i have discovered Jerry Byrd if nothing else.

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

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