FrampTone

Dan Hatfield · Post by **Dan Hatfield** » 16 Nov 2005 9:05 pm

I'm just curious to know if anyone has tried the "Framptone" talking guitar gizmo (which is being promoted by Peter Frampton)on steel.
Dan

Howard Tate · Post by **Howard Tate** » 17 Nov 2005 6:47 am

Pete Drake had a big hit years ago using the same type thing. I think the song was "Forever".

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Howard, 'Les Paul Recording, Zum SD12U, Carter D10 8/8, Vegas 400, Boss ME-5, Boss DM-3, DD-3, Fender Steel King, Understanding wife. http://www.Charmedmusic.com

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 17 Nov 2005 7:22 am

You can make one out of an old high frequency driver and a piece of surgical tubing or gas line. I did and it was really fun for about 10 minutes.

Joe Walsh is also pretty good at using one. His solo on Rocky Mountain Way is cool.

I think Buddy Emmons may have used one on Bottle Baby Boogie on his Buddy Emmons Sings Bob Wills record. It might have been a wah pedal but I think maybe it was a talk box
TC

Ray Minich · Post by **Ray Minich** » 17 Nov 2005 8:13 am

Didn't Alvino Ray also play with one of these on the Ed Sullivan show a few decades ago?

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 17 Nov 2005 11:02 am

The FrampTone version is made to the specs of the original version, which has been unavailable for years. They sound considerably better than any of the other ones offered these days, but the price tag is a bit lofty to me, considering the limited useability.

Michael Garnett · Post by **Michael Garnett** » 17 Nov 2005 5:14 pm

Emmons used it on a Cherokee Cowboy album I heard earlier today. And for the life of me I can't remember which song, but it was really weird sounding.

It was the mostly-instrumental album of western swing tunes.

Somebody help me out! Or I can go back to school tomorrow and figure it out on my own.

-MG

Dan Hatfield · Post by **Dan Hatfield** » 17 Nov 2005 6:40 pm

Keith, do you happen to know what the list price is on the unit? It doesn't seem to be posted on the website. Dan

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 18 Nov 2005 9:45 am

The sale price seems to be pretty solid at $400.

Dan Hatfield · Post by **Dan Hatfield** » 18 Nov 2005 2:03 pm

Thanks Keith, that does seem a little steep for something that would probably only be used on one or two songs per gig.

John Lockney · Post by **John Lockney** » 22 Nov 2005 4:49 pm

According to http://www.frampton.com

"...a gadget called the 'TalkBox', that Peter first came across in 1971 when he heard a pedal steel player using it on the sessions for George Harrison's 'All Things Must Pass'."

Danelecro recently released a "budget" version called the "Free speech box" for $99.

You might want to read a bit more about this one. I thought read that it connected directly in the guitar signal, as compared to the original made by Heil where you had to connect it between the amp and speaker which had a potential to blow speakers... ?

Joe Shelby · Post by **Joe Shelby** » 22 Nov 2005 11:03 pm

Michael G--This isn't tommorrow, but in case you're still wondering, the tune on the Cherokee Cowboys ("Western Strings") album is
"Burnt Fingers."

Joe.[This message was edited by Joe Shelby on 22 November 2005 at 11:04 PM.]

Keith Cordell · Post by **Keith Cordell** » 23 Nov 2005 1:52 am

Yeah they are fun to play with but not all that...
The Free Speech box is pretty awful. The reverse delay Dan-o put out, on the other hand, can be a lot of fun![This message was edited by Keith Cordell on 23 November 2005 at 01:53 AM.]

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 24 Nov 2005 10:12 am

I was working a booth at the NAMM show a few years ago, and we were right across the aisle from Framptone. Every 15 minutes Peter Frampton would demo the thing, playing the solo from his one hit.

For 4 days.

Did you know it's really hard to slit your wrists with an "E" string?