Having fun with E Bows

[TelePaul]

Anybody else use one? They're awesome.

 

[scrubs]

Fun toy.

 

[Anfontan]

I've used them on recordings over the years, they seem to give the same sound to you're guitar regardless of whether its single coil or humbucker. But then again it is a pure feedback sound and is cool in the right place in the right song. I used one on the intro of a collaboration tune called Sail Away with 60's guy, Gorty, True, Dogman, Nicole Rose, and Mad Audio-with 5 guitar players it was a good effect for sounding a bit different.

 

[TelePaul]

Cool story Tony. I used one today, very happy with the reuslt.

 

[true-eurt]

Hmmmm....something to check into.

 

[robin watson]

I always associate the ebow with Steve Hackett - he used it extensively in a lot of his Genesis/ solo stuff. Never used one myself.

 

[ofajen]

Anybody else use one? They're awesome.

I've had one for about twelve years. I use it a lot. If I'd gotten it 25 years ago, I might have skipped buying synthesizers. In my experience, you can develop techniques and adjustments to give a very wide range of tones, and of course, there are a gazillion ways to alter that tone with signal processing.

For me, the big deal is the ability to play the slow attack, sustained, evolving tones you can get from a synth, but which are otherwise hard to get from a guitar, even with a volume pedal, but with the added character that comes from playing a real electrified instrument, usually into a real amp.

Cheers,

Otto

 

[gcapel]

I use one. An ebow paired with a ernie ball volume pedal, and your good to go.

 

[laststartoshine]

any body have a sample?

 

[rayc]

I've always looked at them on Ebay & wanted one but figured it was a0 non essential & b) my playing could justify it. After getting a 'cello 12 years ago I have even less justification.
Still, looks cool, sounds excellent & I still WANT one.

 

[TelePaul]

any body have a sample?

I posted something in the mp3 clinic which has extensive but sloppy e bow playing.

 

[Valley Arts Kid]

A Must-Have

I use my E-bow a lot. They sound great w/ delay and distortion, as a subtle element in a mix. The newer ones with the two settings are sweet.

 

[TelePaul]

I use my E-bow a lot. They sound great w/ delay and distortion, as a subtle element in a mix. The newer ones with the two settings are sweet.

Agreed, some sweet overtones available alright.

 

[punkin]

Someone walked off with mine this thread makes me miss it. A couple years ago I got sucked into the Fernandez Sustainer. That was a hard habbit to kick

 

[timthetortoise]

Using a real bow also gets some pretty nice sounds. I'm tuned fairly low (B), and on the low strings it sounds basically like a cello. On the highs, an electric violin. Cool stuff.

 

[60's guy]

Anybody else use one? They're awesome.

Ha! You said E-Bow?

It’s a cool sounding toy, fun to play around with, and I wish I was proficient enough with it to do some fast arpeggio things, but I'm not. I love that Elanor Rigby sample on the tape that came with it.

I have a few tunes that I used an E-Bow on, in a slower vein, though.

My first attempt was on a cover of Wayland The Rabbit, originally recorded by Seals and Crofts.

I also used the E-Bow quite a bit on my original recording of Blue

 

[MadAudio]

I have the original E-Bow, but I want to get the E-Bow II which supposedly can create overtones that the original can't.

It takes a lot of practice to get it to sound like more than just, well, that "E-Bow sound."

 

[whyseye]

Using a real bow also gets some pretty nice sounds. I'm tuned fairly low (B), and on the low strings it sounds basically like a cello. On the highs, an electric violin. Cool stuff.

Anybody else use a real bow on electric bass? What are the pros and cons?

 

[MadAudio]

Anybody else use a real bow on electric bass? What are the pros and cons?

I've tried it, but it doesn't really work so well. I imagine the mass of the strings is just a little too much for it to handle.

 

[Wireneck]

I've got both versions. The newer with 2 setting is better IMHO. You can get the really gainy harmonic high tone or the slightly muffled, thick swell tone on the newer one. I often use it for harmonies, one setting for the main part and the other for the harmony. It tends to blend pretty well this way.