Customer Reviews

Rocktron Banshee Talk Box

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this talkbox from Musicians friend here in Kansas city and I must say I love it. No tricky set up. You just simply plug in and play your instrument. I am a keyboard player and it makes my Yamaha DX100 sound amazingly great. I like the effects that you can do with the box. In the manual it is also explained very well about setting up. If you were to read the Rocktron description, it says that you can't distroy the driver. I have even spoken to a gentlemen at the company and he has said that he has turned up his box to the maximum volume. There is one let down in this review I do want to mention. I understand that guitarists have been using this effect. That's fine. I have no problem with that. But what about us keyboardists? Professional, and or hobbiests? Everyone is looking at this and saying that this can only be hooked up to a guitar, or bass. Wrong wrong wrong! This is also a talkbox for a keyboard. I mean sure, Roger Troutman, and Roger Troutman II have had different talkbox sounds, but, Roger Troutman II used the Rocktron when he recorded the second coming in 2000. So, don't look at this box just for guitarists, look at this box for keyboardists too!

This is one of the BEST Stompboxes I have ever used!
Forget every Wah Pedal, 'cause you can do some really impossible things!

Not like the Heil Talkbox or the Framtone Talkbox, the Rocktron is Active wich means you can use it like a Stompbox and you don't have to plug it between your amp and your Cab!

With a little bit of practice and training you will be able to change your Guitar/Keyboard sound by 100%!!!!

I purchased the talk box for my son and it was a great buy. I knew nothing about the different brands but this is perfect. We had it out of the box and working in minutes. It brings the sound needed when playing a Frampton song or others from that era and adds to some of his bands originals. If this is something you are looking for I would go with the Rocktron Banshee.

Well, while I did say "east to use" it does require a little practice to get the hang of having to move your mouth around the tube. And also to get the the words to sound intelligible. But to a large degree that also depends on the effect you use. I use my microKORG with my Banshee so its very easy to tweak the settings as I go to get the sound I'm looking for. Also as a little side note I will say this, if you turn the gain up on the Banshee you will get a very prominant hissing that leaks out of the tube. But if you play with the volume knobs on both the talkbox and the input device its really not a problem that can't be tamed.

This is a great utility for anyone willing to perform talkbox related effects. It is easy to set it up and it really delivers.

Say that 10 times real fast.

I bought this talk box shortly after trying to make my own out of an old PC speaker I was no longer using, a Maxwell coffee container lid, a large sized oil funnel, duct tape, and a tube. Only spent about 20 bucks and spent a couple hours to make it, but when I went to use it the sound wasn't as good as all those video you see of people using talk boxes.

Specifically, the videos I've seen were people using this product. That's when I finally decided to spend the money on this bad boy.

Whenever I buy music products its always the demo videos I see online of people using the product that sucker me in. The same thing happened with this. I have no doubt this talk box can produce amazing sounds, but it honestly sounded the same as the one that I built myself.
That's when I finally realized that buying a talk box is not going to magically give you that polished robotic, ear tingly, beautiful sound that you hear other people making. Just like any other instrument, you have to learn how to `play' this thing.

Coming from a talk box newbie, you definitely are going to have to put the time and effort into making words intelligible and clear sounding.

The way a talk box works is by forcing the sound/air into your mouth and then you have to shape that sound as all that air exit's you mouth. That being said, I'm still new to the talk box world and I have to mention that it seems to knock the wind out of me in a way. Who knows though, maybe it's just because I have asthma.

The actual tube that you place in your mouth has some weight to it and can be annoying keeping in your mouth. I'd say you are better off strapping it to a microphone stand to hold it up to your mouth. Trust me, you will save yourself some neck ache's by doing this.

I'd say if you are capable of building you own talk box and want to save some money, then go for it. There are a few videos on you tube on how to do it. Its really not that hard.

But if you just want to save time and own a good, reliable and solid talk box then I'd recommend picking one of these up. In the end, it is definitely more pleasing to the eye compared to the talk box I made myself. Lol.

If you are looking for an easy to use talkbox, this is it. Literally just plug in your instrument and plug out to your amp, then start having fun! You don't have to worry with the output and your pre-amp/amp like other brands- which gives you great peace of mind.
I initially got it to play one song in a setlist but it won me over, I am keeping it!

This product came as described, on time and is a great value. My son loves it! It is a very professional, well made piece of equipment that arrived in perfect condition.

Choosing between this model and others of greater cost. Several weeks later, the sound of this device seems to do what he needed. Frampton sound is good and many others. Warm tone thru small, built-in tube amp. He uses it for small practice amp that puts sound at ear level. Stomp switch works well to switch between his amp and this effect. Allows him to have Wah expression over any solo - saving another pedal. Don't know about lasting durability yet, but features seem to be good enough to withstand packing to and from shows if put in a case. I would choose this product again, knowing what I know about it.

I bought this for my son, who is an extreme Peter Frampton fan.

Within minutes of unpacking, he was sounding like he had been using it for months.

It's not hard to set up, surprising simple in its execution. Definitely a bargain at the price!