DIY talkbox using a compression horn driver

[fingerace]

Anyone ever attempt this?

I'm thinking whether it would be too complex or bulky to make an active one. Cut the guitar signal going to the guitar amp, put the guitar through the active talkbox, and then use a high impedance mic to get the sound from the tube back to the guitar amp.

How much wattage is usually fed through one of these to create sufficient volume in the tube? It doesn't need to be a good amp driving the talkbox. Some tiny cheap class-D amp, would probably do just fine. Maybe some impedance matching for the guitar signal going into it.

If this proves too expensive or too messy, I'll just make a "traditional" one.

Any thoughts, suggestions? Any particular drivers I should be looking at?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: DIY talkbox using a compression horn driver

Got one downstairs!

You need a bigger amp than you think...tried to power mine with a Champ for a while and it didn't work so well but the other side of things is if you use a 100 watt Marshall it'll kick yer teeth in!!!

 

[fingerace]

Re: DIY talkbox using a compression horn driver

Did you use a particular horn driver? So about 50w then?
There are cheap Chinese power amps and suitable power supplies on ebay. These are little board modules that can probably fit in an enclosure. Adding up the cost of these components still keeps it under 50GBP. It should be a fun audio electronics project.

Did you use any instructions or plans you found online?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: DIY talkbox using a compression horn driver

Find a compression horn that can handle enough power to run whatever amp you want to use with it.

If it is the screw off type simply screw off the plastic (or fiberglass, metal or whatever) horn part...if it is not a screw type get a hacksaw.

Once you have just the driver stuff a plastic hose in the driver and tape it up good and tight.

Connect a set of speaker leads to the driver and then plug that into an amp, make sure the impedance of the amp is correct for the driver you are using.

run the hose up a mic stand and power the mic through a PA system.

Done...

All ya gotta do after that is figure out how to use it, and it ain't as easy as it looks.

 

[fingerace]

Re: DIY talkbox using a compression horn driver

Thank you.

I was hoping that it would be fairly intuitive to use...

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: DIY talkbox using a compression horn driver

Thank you.

I was hoping that it would be fairly intuitive to use...

Not really and some guys will never be able...it's sort of dependent on the size of your mouth. Your mouth has to be big enough for the sound to go in there and allow you to shape the vowel sounds to spit them back into the mic but at the same time if your mouth is too big it's very hard to get the sound back out.

Van Halen for example says he can't use one...

I can make it work and I'd be better at it if I used them more but how often do you really need it??

Also of note you really need to pump the mic up with a PA system...if the mic is not loud enough you'll never hear it.

Last, most situations require muting the guitar amp that your normal signal is running into.

 

[fingerace]

Re: DIY talkbox using a compression horn driver

Not really and some guys will never be able...it's sort of dependent on the size of your mouth. Your mouth has to be big enough for the sound to go in there and allow you to shape the vowel sounds to spit them back into the mic but at the same time if your mouth is too big it's very hard to get the sound back out.

Van Halen for example says he can't use one...

I can make it work and I'd be better at it if I used them more but how often do you really need it??

Also of note you really need to pump the mic up with a PA system...if the mic is not loud enough you'll never hear it.

Last, most situations require muting the guitar amp that your normal signal is running into.

I guess the only way to tell is to try one. I've never tried, but I like the whole idea of it.

If I end up making it an active one, the mic (high impedance) signal will be going into the same guitar amp used for everything else (normal guitar signal).

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: DIY talkbox using a compression horn driver

I guess the only way to tell is to try one. I've never tried, but I like the whole idea of it.

If I end up making it an active one, the mic (high impedance) signal will be going into the same guitar amp used for everything else (normal guitar signal).

I don't know what you mean by "active" but your mic can not run into the guitar amp.

 

[fingerace]

Re: DIY talkbox using a compression horn driver

I will power the talkbox speaker with its own built-in amp. That's why I was looking at class-d amp modules. Then I will use a high impedance mic (similar to the ones harmonica players use) hooked to the main guitar amp.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: DIY talkbox using a compression horn driver

I will power the talkbox speaker with its own built-in amp. That's why I was looking at class-d amp modules. Then I will use a high impedance mic (similar to the ones harmonica players use) hooked to the main guitar amp.

Just know that the guitar signal can not go to the talk bod and your guitar amp at the same time...the effect will be so faint it simply won't be worth doing...

Also keep in mind the classic examples of talk box we all know and love do not come from a clean talk box amp...you need some harmonics and sustain to make it sound "right".