The Harley Benton Talk Box for electric guitar and keyboard is based on one of the classic effects that helped shape the sound of the 1970s. This little box amplifies a guitar or keyboard signal with an integrated amp, which then passes through a tube, or “hose”, into the mouth. There, the sound can be modulated by movements of the mouth and tongue. In this way, the guitar or keyboard sound is "vocalised" using a, e, i, o, and u sounds. In order to use the talk box, a microphone will be needed to pick up the modulated sound from the mouth. With a footprint of about the same size as an A4 sheet of paper, the Talk Box doesn't take up too much space on stage or in the rehearsal room. And at 1.7 kg, it can also be transported fairly comfortably. What's more, the wood/metal look of the Talk Box screams 70s retro flair!
The Harley Benton Talk Box is true bypass, which means it will have no effect on your signal when not engaged. A green LED indicates when the Talk Box is in this mode. However, when the Talk Box effect is activated, the pedal no longer sends the signal to the amplifier connected to its output. Instead, it goes through the "Amplified Talk Box", which has a built-in 8 W amplifier and its own drive, tone, and output level, which can be adjusted using the three potentiometers with vintage-style knobs. The input and output of the device use 6.3 mm (1/4”) jack connections and should work with all standard instrument cables. Included with the pedal is a 12 V power supply, as well as the required talk box tube.
Setting up the Talk Box is easy. If you want a classic talk box sound, the effect needs to be placed in the signal chain between the amp and the speaker cabinet and use a microphone to pick up the modulated sound from your mouth. With combo amplifiers, however, switching between the amp and loudspeaker is usually not possible. Those using the Harley Benton Talk Box needn’t worry about that, though, as the Talk Box has its own integrated amplifier and is connected directly between the guitar and amp and can therefore also be used with combo amplifiers. That's why this talk box is perfect for players with smaller amp setups.
Since 1998, the Harley Benton brand has been catering for the needs of numerous guitarists and bassists. In addition to an extensive range of stringed instruments, Thomann's house brand also offers a wide choice of amplifiers, speakers, effect pedals, and other accessories. In total, the range includes over 1,500 products. Built by established names in the industry, all Harley Benton products combine quality and reliability at attractive and affordable prices. The continuous expansion of the range ensures that Harley Benton always provides new, exciting, and innovative products that keep players perfectly in tune with the musical world, day after day.
With the Harley Benton Talk Box, guitarists can recreate one of the typical sonic flavours of the 70s – synonymous with genres including Funk, Rock, and Psychedelia. But this effect is not only for guitarists, as it also lends itself well to contemporary keyboard and synthesizer sounds. If you want to use the talk box effect live, or in the rehearsal room within a set of several songs, you can attach the tube to a microphone stand with a clamp or tape. That doesn’t mean the Talk Box has to always be engaged though, because as a stompbox, it can easily be switched on and off with a push of the built-in footswitch.