Conference napalm::guitar

    My guess is that they are using a 'Talk Box'. In it's simplest form,
    it's a small amplifier, with a small speaker, with a funnel over the
    speaker. On that there is some approximately 1/2 inch plastic tubing
    that is attached to the small end of the funnel, and then taped to the
    microphone stand. The tube ends up in close proximity to a microphone.
    The tube is places in the mouth & the guitar is played thru the
    small amplifier. The sound coming out of the tube gets restructured
    by the operators mouth cavity & is picked up by the microphone & sent
    off to the P.A. system (or where ever you want it). These were quite
    popular in the late 70's (thanks to Peter Frampton) & went for about
    $180.00 (because of the demand). They are easy to use, but tend to be
    over used if you are not careful.

    There are more sophisticated designs but they are generally operating
    from the same principal.

							    Jens
    

    not Steve Via-he phoneticly imitates the speech with the guitar
    and I believe the only effect used is a wah pedal.   JON

    Re: Vai
    
    That's what I thought because I don't see anything in his mouth
    in the videos with David Lee Roth.
    
    Anyone know details of how he uses the Wah pedal to get this effect?
    
    Mike

    That's right.  Steve does it entirely with a guitar and a wah pedal.
    
    What makes him so good at it is that he has perfect pitch to the
    extreme and can hear the "notes" in speech and play them on guitar.
    
    All the other guys (Framton, Beck, Miller, etc) do it with a talk
    box.
    
    	db

    I read somewhere that Vai used to CHART peoples speech.  For a novice
    like myself, this simply boggles the mind!
        
    As to the technique, most of it's done with the guitar.  Vai says
    that he doesn't NEED the wah to do it, it just makes it a little
    more clear.
    
    I played with it a little awhile back (funny, that was just around
    the time DLRs Eat em And Smile album came out).  I didn't use a
    way, but at one point, my girlfriend could actually make out some
    of what I was trying to "say", so I guess it was reasonably successful.
    
    
    Greg

    So how do you actually play words?  What effects are you using?
    
    Mike

    I never used any (of course I wasn't real good at it either...),
    the technique is trying to isolate the tones in a word or phrase,
    then play the tones with articulation to make it sound like the
    original.  The Wah helps with the articulation.
    
    Greg

    
    	Vai did some amazing work on a Zappa song called 'The Jazz
    Discharge Party Hats'. The whole song consists of Zappa muttering
    off the top of his head. Vai transcribed the pitch of Frank's voice,
    then doubled the WHOLE THING on guitar. Amazing. 
    
    	I guess a good way to start would be to take a small phrase,
    record it, listen over and over and try to reproduce it as close
    as possible. 
    
    						Les
    

    
    
                        It's a combination of picking and muting techniques
            along with suttle string bending.  The harder and snappier
            you pick the more high end harmonics you'll bring out of
            the note.  Muting the note will emphasize the low end and
            give you the duration of the note.  
                                     
    
                                                       MITZM_BLEATS 

    If you want to hear a good example of "talking" guitar, just listen to
    B.B. King. He uses all of the techniques mentioned, except the wah
    pedal: string bends, picking and muting. The way you fret and pick the
    note has a lot to do with the voicing. Muting with your non-picking
    fingers or some other part of your hand can be very effective. The
    position of your pick relative to the pickups also has an effect -
    particularly with humbuckers, there is a position not quite directly
    oper the coils on the bridge pickup that has a lot of highs and lows
    and which can be used very expressively. Mostly, I think playing this
    way just takes practice, like everything else. Try spending some time
    making the guitar "talk" instead of "speed".
    
    - Ram

	> So how do you actually play words?  What effects are you
	> using?

	I have an ancient EH Talking Pedal that simulates the vowels when
	you play thru it.  It's like a wahwah, except that the pedal travel
	generates the "ay" "eeh" "aah" "oh" "oo" sounds.  It's lots of
	fun, but as an earlier note said, it's easy to over-use these
	toys.

	Btw, I'm thinking of selling it (along with some other boxes).

	/ravi