How to Build a Talk Box

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A talk box is a guitar effect that makes your guitar sound like its talking, using the power of your mouth.

Steps

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  1. Step 1 Get a computer speaker.
    [1]
  2. Step 2 Remove the casing of the speaker.
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  3. Step 3 Cut the wire going to the LED light.
  4. Step 4 Flip the Tupperware container upside down.
    The lid should be on the ground.
  5. Step 5 Insert the speaker into the Tupperware container.
    [2] Make sure the circuit board is outside the container, only the wires and the speaker go inside.
  6. Step 6 Make sure the speaker cone is facing the bottom of the Tupperware container, about 2" away from it.
  7. Step 7 Duct Tape the speaker into place.
    Make sure no Duct Tape touches the speaker cone!
  8. Step 8 Take out a...
    Take out a drill with a large bit, a little bit smaller that your tubing width (the tubing should be no more that 1/2"-3/4" wide).
  9. Step 9 Drill a hole in the bottom of the Tupperware.
    Be sure to avoid cutting into the speaker cone.
  10. Step 10 Insert your tubing in the hole.
    [3] The tubing should be 1/2" away from the speaker cone at most. The tube must not touch the speaker cone or it won't work.
  11. Step 11 Duct Tape the tube closed.
    [4] You might want to use some hot glue as well.
  12. Step 12 Stuff some cotton balls behind the speaker until the whole container is full.
    Make sure the cotton balls do not touch the speaker cone.
  13. Step 13 Close the Tupperware lid.
  14. Step 14 Glue the lid down.
  15. Step 15 Insert the Tupperware into an airtight box.
    Put old T-shirt and socks around the Tupperware.
  16. Step 16 Close the box.
  17. Step 17 Drill a hole in the side of the box to let the tubing go through.
  18. Step 18 Drill another hole in the box to let the cable go through.
  19. Step 19 Plug the cable into the CD or external speaker jack on your amp.
    [5]
  20. Step 20 Turn up the volume to 3 o clock.
    Don't worry, no sound will come out of your amplifier
  21. Step 21 Turn the gain up to 3 o clock.
  22. Step 22 Put the tube next to your ear to check for sound.
  23. Step 23 Put the tube in your mouth.
    [6] Make lip movements, but no sound. Pretend your lip syncing. You can say whatever you want.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Why can't I speak while using a talk-box guitar?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    A talk box changes the way the guitar sounds while you play it - like a mouth-controlled wah-wah pedal. It would be difficult to speak, since you have to have the tube in your mouth. You can vocalize and hum.
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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

  • An old computer speaker.
  • an airtight Tupperware container.
  • 6 feet (1.8 m) of clear tubing.
  • Duct Tape
  • Old T-shirts and socks
  • Cotton balls
  • Hot glue gun
  • a 1/8" to 1/4" adapter.
  • A drill.

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLxpHMo4fMs
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cSpjQg_IDQ
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cSpjQg_IDQ
  4. ↑ http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/effects-projects/filters-other/talkbox/building-a-talkbox/
  5. ↑ http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/effects-projects/filters-other/talkbox/building-a-talkbox/
  6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqIqxM-BNp0
  7. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EIQxwotn3k

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 22 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 109,896 times.
34 votes - 77%
Co-authors: 22
Updated: December 28, 2023
Views: 109,896
Categories: Guitar Accessories
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 109,896 times.

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