10 Talk-Box Tunes | Pedal Playlist

Ever since the electric guitar was invented in 1931, players have been trying to make their instruments “talk” — but some musicians have taken a more literal approach to that concept than others. In 1939, steel guitarist Alvino Rey combined a carbon throat microphone with his electric steel guitar to create a “singing guitar” effect. A quarter-century later, Nashville pedal steel legend Pete Drake achieved a similar effect by running a clear tube into his mouth from a funnel attached to an external speaker powered by his amp, and mouthing specific words while he played. Drake’s invention was only loud enough to work in a studio setting, but the same mouth-tube-speaker concept was soon mimicked by the Kustom Electronics Talk Box (a.k.a. The Bag) and the Heil Talk Box, both of which allowed guitarists to create the same fusion of voice and instrument onstage.

Though its popularity arguably peaked in the 1970s, the talk box continues to be employed by discerning guitarists to this day. Here are ten iconic instances of talk box usage, ranging from late-60s funk to 21st century indie.

Jeff Beck — She’s A Woman

From his Yardbirds days forward, Jeff Beck has always been one of the most expressive guitarists in the game. He upped that innate expressiveness even further on his 1975 LP Blow by Blow, when he used a Kustom Bag to “talk” his way through this reggae-tinged cover of a Lennon/McCartney classic.

Aerosmith — Sweet Emotion

Joe Perry got heavily into the Kustom Bag bag for Aerosmith’s 1975 LP Toys in the Attic, deploying it on both “Walk This Way” and “Sweet Emotion”. Perry’s use of the device on the latter track is especially inspired— combined with Tom Hamilton’s slinky bass line, it beckons the listener into the song with all the smoky allure of the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland offering you a hit from its hookah.

Joe Walsh — Rocky Mountain Way

Walsh, an inveterate tinkerer, used a similar device to Pete Drake’s for his solo on this hard-riffing stoner blues from his 1973 album, The Smoker You Drink, The Player You Get. His inability to make the concept work in a live setting led to him teaming up with friend and fellow ham radio enthusiast Bob Heil to create the Heil Talk Box, which immediately became a key component in Walsh’s effects pedal arsenal — and inspired a number of other guitarists (most notably Peter Frampton) to pick up a Heil Talk Box of their own.

Sly and the Family Stone — Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey

Sly Stone was one of the early adopters of the Kustom Bag, using it on both this track and “Sex Machine” from 1969’s Stand! LP. Unlike the other folks on this list, Sly didn’t run his guitar through the device; instead, he sang and played harmonica through it, lending an extra layer of brash (if unintelligible) dialogue to “Don’t Call Me Nigger, Whitey”’s already-pointed conversation about racism.

Foxy — Get Off

One of the sleaziest jams of the disco era (and we mean that with utmost respect, and even awe), Foxy’s 1978 hit “Get Off” received an extra injection of nasty from leader Ish Ledesma’s gakked-out guitar solo, featured some completely over-the-top talk box action.

Weezer — Beverly Hills

Given Rivers Cuomo’s penchant for irony, one might suppose that his use of a Heil Talk Box for the solo of their 2005 hit was intended ironically. Regardless, it sounds utterly awesome, serving up the sort of summery 70s vibes that would make Peter Frampton proud.

Rufus — Tell Me Something Good

Sly and the Family Stone and Stevie Wonder were both early adopters of the talk box, Rufus guitarist Tony Maiden’s use of the device on 1974’s “Tell Me Something Good” — a song penned by Wonder — may be the funkiest talk box example ever waxed.

Peter Frampton — Show Me the Way

While rock guitarists of the 70s typically used the talk box to add color to their solos, Peter Frampton had the bright idea of using a Heil Talk Box to bring out the main hook of “Show Me the Way,” which had kids everywhere singing along in the summer of 1976.

Alice In Chains — Man in the Box

Jerry Cantrell used a wah pedal for the guitar solo of Alice In Chains’ breakthrough 1991 hit, but he also employed a Heil Talk Box to “sing” harmonies with frontman Layne Staley on the song’s wordless refrain. The result was as haunting as it was hard-hitting.

Pink Floyd — Pigs (Three Different Ones)

The centerpiece of 1977’s Animals marked the first time that David Gilmour had ever recorded with a Heil Talk Box. Plugging his trusty Stratocaster into it, Gilmour both mimicked the sounds of grunting pigs and delivered a quasi-vocal response to Roger Waters’ angry musings on politicians and wealthy businessmen.