Talking Steel Guitars

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

A recent discussion pretty well covered this item but I submit for those who might care. Hopefully, the rest of you will forgive me for rehashing it at this point in time.
Jerry Byrd told me 1997 that it was indeed, Alvino Rey, that did it first; and, Pete Drake that did it second. Was it Smiley Roberts that did it fourth, after Wendall Myrick? Or something like that?

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Ray,
You're correct about Alvino & Pete. To the best of my knowledge,I don't believe WELDON Myrick ever used the "talk-box". Buddy Emmons used it on "Burnt Fingers",which is on the "Ray Price Presents The Cherokee Cowboys" album,on Columbia. I built my "talk-box" in '67 or '68,after hearing Pete do it, mainly,'cause I couldn't afford one of Pete's. ($100.00) I,still,have it,after all these years,& it still works,although,I now use the Digitech "Talker",which,by the way,is out of production. You might find one in a pawn shop somewhere. They sold,new,for around $250.00.
"Rockers",Peter Frampton,& Joe Walsh,used them for a while. It used to (& still does) really piss me off that,everybody would give them credit for the "talk-box",& not to Alvino or Pete.
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  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


       www.ntsga.com

[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 24 March 2004 at 12:37 AM.]

Neil Flanz · From: Austin, Texas (deceased)

I believe that Buddy was the first to begin experimentng with the talking steel as we know it. He collaborated with a friend (Neil Wilburn) and they and at first tried using a speaker and an attachment that didn't work too well which eventually led them to try using a speaker driver and a plastic tube. He first used it on Anita Bryant's recording of "Hey Good Looking". Pete picked up on the idea.

[This message was edited by Neil Flanz on 24 March 2004 at 01:55 AM.]

[This message was edited by Neil Flanz on 24 March 2004 at 01:57 AM.]

Buddy Emmons · From: Hermitage, TN USA * R.I.P.

Thanks Neil.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I just watched an old video with Myrick playing with "the box" and Ralph Emery was asking him the questions. I don't recall if it was just a TV SHOW of Ralphs' or if it was actually at one of the conventions.
Smiley, I lack a date on the video and therefore you and BUDDY could very well have been the pioneers......I've heard you're both getting up in years or something like that.

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Ahaa! Thanx from me too Neil. Ya learn somethin' new,everyday,on this forum. My apologies to the "E". Where does Bill West,(Dottie's ex) fit into the picture?

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


       www.ntsga.com

Al Marcus · From: Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)

Alvino Rey did his talking guitar thing, around 1938. I saw him use it and I was 16 years old at the time.

He did a lot of new things with electronics back then. Besides being a fine muscian, he was an inventor. His big chord style playing was a great influence on my career in music....al....

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Musicians Friend is selling a unit called the Metavox which is a Vocoder,The steel guitar goes in one input a mic goes in the second input then you talk while you play.They were bowing them out for $50.00 a few weeks ago,they listed for $130.00.Stu

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Whoooops!It's made by Alesis Metavox.
Stu

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

If you go on e-bay, they usually have a Digitech Talker for sale on there. I picked one up a while ago but haven't tried it out yet. From the general opinion, this seems to be the prefered talk unit.
Erv

Buddy Emmons · From: Hermitage, TN USA * R.I.P.

Smiley,
The first attempt ever using the talking tube was on an album Shot Jackson and I recorded at the Starday studio. The tube and box with a six inch speaker was a product of Neil Wilburn, a potential Sho~Bud amp builder at the time. Pete was doing all the Starday studio work, so when he heard we would be there he showed up, grabbed a seat, and took it all in.

I tried using the talking tube on Danny Boy but the results I got were less than ideal to my ear so I decided to scrap it until we could improve the sound. In the meantime Pete went to Bill West, who dabbled in electronics, and asked him to build something similar to what I had used only less prone to distortion. That’s where the speaker driver came in.

Chapter two was when I arrived at an Anita Bryant session with my talking tube and one of the Jordanaires said, “I see you’ve got one of those Pete Drake boxes.” Pete had been wearing it out on sessions by that time so it was over for me as far as credit due so I just shook my head and used it on “Hey Good Lookin’”. The only other song I ever recorded with the sound was “Burnt Fingers” sung by Wade Ray.

To add an interesting twist to the end, a few months later I was told Pete wanted to see me in his office. I’d heard he might build a few boxes and thought his conscience had taken a turn and he was going to cut me in on it. Instead, I walked into his office, where his steel was five feet from the door. “I heard you wanted to see me,” I said. Pete said, “Yeah, would you sit down at my guitar and show me where to find the second chord to “Forever.” I sat down, showed him, and walked out… end of story.

[This message was edited by Buddy Emmons on 26 March 2004 at 03:32 PM.]

Tracy Sheehan · From: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

I recall a beer commercial on radio back in the forties.At the end the talking steel guitar said Blue Ribbon Beer.Think it was Alvino Rey.Al Marcus or anyone else,do you remember this?Tracy

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