Talk Box

The Talk Box is an effects device that directs amplified guitar signal through a tube into the player's mouth, allowing them to shape the tone using mouth movements and articulate vowel sounds through a microphone. Joe Walsh was one of the earliest and most influential users of the Talk Box, employing it memorably on Rocky Mountain Way to create the talking guitar effect that became his signature. The device requires considerable technique — the player must form words and shapes with their mouth while the guitar signal resonates through their oral cavity. Walsh's innovative use of the Talk Box inspired Peter Frampton, Bon Jovi, and countless others.