Jimbo Jones at Hullabalooza: “Dood, his guitar is talking.”
Seriously, what is that? Frampton used it again Wednesday on the Colbert Report’s Shred-off. What’s it called? Is it connected to his guitar in any way?
Pretty sure it’s a Talk Box.
Yep. A google search on “frampton mouth thing” agrees.
It was a Heil Talk Box. It’s essentially a little amplifier with a plastic tube connected to it. The guitar plugs into the box, which sends the sound through the tube into the player’s mouth. By changing the shape of his mouth, he shapes the sound.
I just saw a local (Bay Area) band using one of these just last Sunday, and I think it’s the first time I’ve seen one used onstage since I saw Frampton in '76…
Biffy: I’m actually in a Bay Area band…who was it, outta curiosity?
Oh, and OP: If you like that sort of sound, Vocoders are fairly similar but it gives a synth effect to a voice, rather than a vocal effect to a guitar.
It was Mobius Donut. Saw them at the Hotel Utah in SF playing alongside my pals the Groovy Judy band.
Mmmm. I love the Utah. I hope you got some Shepard’s Pie.
Is an example of many things:
- usage of a talk box
- why Sesame Street used to be so cool
- A song that gets stuck in your head.
- A strong desire to rock out with the kid on the balcony
- Why Stevie Wonder is awesome.
Hey, my shoes are talking, too!
Peter continues to use the “Framptone”–I don’t think I’ve ever seen him NOT play a gig with it. There’s sort of a running gag that goes along with it, as a matter of fact.
Joe Walsh and Jeff Beck put it to good use in live shows, too.