Talking Steel Guitar
Author: Facemelter | Posted: 04/22/09 2:29 pmAlvino Rey’s ‘Talking Steel Guitar’ could actually talk, giving Rey’s orchestra its distinctive sound (some of Rey’s critics called it a ‘gimmick’). Rey played with virtuosic skill, demonstrating his guitar’s ’singing’ quality by manipulating the tone and volume controls. ‘Stringy’ (the guitar’s nickname) was able to sound as if ‘HE’ were saying words. Of course ‘Stringy’ wasn’t, but Luise King, Rey’s wife was. In something that describes like a sexual fetish, Luise stood backstage with a small plastic tube connected between her mouth and Rey’s amplifier, forming words with her lips and throat muscles. Rey would make her make ‘IT’ say his name as he glided the steel bar along the strings of his steel guitar, all while playing, perfectly dressed in a perfect tuxedo.
With the device, Rey and Luise were able to create eerie vocal sounds in four- or five-part harmony, which seemed to mysteriously emanate from the steel guitar.
