The Dunlop MXR M222 is a classic talkbox, which uses the movement of the player's mouth to form sounds. This legendary effect is perhaps most well-known from Richie Sambora's guitar riff in Bon Jovi's 1986 hit "Livin' On A Prayer", but keyboard players will also be familiar with it from the hook in Daft Punk's 1997 single "Around The World". What makes the MXR M222 special is that it has its own integrated amplifier and speaker driver, which means that an additional amplifier is not required when it is used. The M222 requires a dedicated 18V power supply, which is of course included in the scope of delivery.
The Dunlop MXR Talkbox provides straighforward but nonetheless important options for shaping the sound, with dedicated knobs for gain, output volume, and tone that allow these three parameters to be adjusted independently. Durability is ensured by the Talkbox's robust metal housing, and a blue status LED on the front clearly indicates whether or not the unit is active, even in poor lighting conditions. The Talkbox is also true bypass, so the unprocessed signal is passed directly from the input to the output (both 6.3mm jack sockets) when the unit is switched off, and it can be effortlessly integrated into virtually any setup.
Both guitarists and keyboardists can plug into the Dunlop MXR Talkbox, and players who have experience with vocal microphones will find it especially easy to use. Thanks to the robust construction mentioned above, touring musicians can be sure that it will withstand the everyday rigours of life on the road, and it will prove a realiable companion in the rehearsal room and on small stages as well. And its compact dimensions mean that pedalboard users will easily be able to accommodate it while keeping everything neat and tidy.
American effect pedal specialist MXR was established in Rochester, New York in 1972 and was acquired by Dunlop Manufacturing in 1987, since when it has been headquartered in Benicia, California. Classic effects from MXR include the Phase 90 and the Dyna Comp, and the company also offers reissues of legendary pedals from its past under the MXR Custom Shop label as well as offering bassists their own dedicated line of effects with the MXR Bass Innovations series. MXR endorsers down the years have included legends like Eddie Van Halen, David Gilmour, and Mike Rutherford.
Unlike some other talkboxes, the MXR M222 can be integrated easily into virtually any guitarist's setup and used without a separate rig thanks to its simple cable connections and pedalboard-friendly size. Once the instrument and amplifier have been connected via the input and output, respectively, the only thing that remains is to fit the central element: The voice tube. When the talkbox is switched on, the signal no longer goes to the output but into the internal amp and speaker driver and then through this tube, the upper end of which must therefore be fixed in front of a microphone. By placing this end of the tube in their mouth, the player can then "vocalise" the sounds coming from the instrument by moving their mouth and tongue, so the instrument effectively "talks" into the microphone.