JohnKenn
Max Output Level: -58.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1659
- Joined: 2008/10/26 13:51:52
- Status: offline
E-Bow anybody?
Anyone use an E-Bow. After a 30 year break, decided to do some new stuff and add an E-Bow.
What a nightmare...
The thing is brilliant but about impossible to control. Starting a note is my main issue. Strings not equally responsive. You can slam the E and B strings and maybe get a response. Must depend also on the guitar. Single coils deliver too much garbage artifacts.
They went thru several upgrades and I got the latest as well as the vintage when they shipped the thing in a thick leather holster..
Problem was going broke replacing 9v transistor batteries, so have a bastardized older version on a home made 9v wall supply. Filtered it out as much as possible to get rid of 60hz hum.
Coolest invention since the pick, just hard to get it to play right.
John
|
bitman
Max Output Level: -34 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4105
- Joined: 2003/11/06 14:11:54
- Location: Keystone Colorado
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/06 01:42:14
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby tlw 2017/08/07 04:51:54
When I was a kid we used to play with them in the music stores along with all the rest of the gear. Swore when I grew up I'd get one for myself. Never did though.
If I had one I'd find some use somewhere on a song sometime for sure.
|
smallstonefan
Max Output Level: -48 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2724
- Joined: 2003/11/20 11:41:35
- Location: Papillion, Nebraska
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/06 03:27:51
(permalink)
I like to play with one occasionally. Here's what I like to do - play around and see if it isn't fun...
1. Use high-gain. I like a Tube Driver - more singing distortion than piercing or crunchy distortion. High flying notes baby!
2. Delay. I love to play with delays and create Rhythmic Rhythms (note, good album name). I played around with delay like this with the ebow on and the high gain. If it's a bit longer of a delay you get some fun "follow" as you move up an down the fretboard.
3. Use vibrato of your picking hand when holding a single note with the ebow
4. slide a bunch - with the longer delays it is fun. :)
5. to start it, hammer on a note. This should be #1 but I'm too lazy (or too high) to renumber. ;)
6. Use the little switch on the ebow - the two settings sound different and never assume one is going to sound better than the other.
7. Try different pickup selections, and for each position move the ebow closer and farther from the active pickup. You are looking for two things. A) the sweet spot to move your fret hand around and B) you can create interesting rythms with the delay by moving the ebow closer and farther from the pickup in time with the delay. This can be loads of fun.
My ride is here, peace out.
|
jamesg1213
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 21760
- Joined: 2006/04/18 14:42:48
- Location: SW Scotland
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/06 06:12:19
(permalink)
Loves my EBow. I find it works best on the 3rd & 4th strings.
Jyemz Thrombold's Patented Brisk Weather Pantaloonettes with Inclementometer
|
joakes
Max Output Level: -72 dBFS
- Total Posts : 905
- Joined: 2006/12/05 15:51:24
- Location: 465 Km South West of Paris
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/06 07:25:21
(permalink)
Use the neck pick up and hold the e-Bow behind it. B, G, D i find to be the easiest. Hammering on with the left hand starts it off.
Have fun, its a great tool.
Jerry
Built by yours truely : I7-2600@3.4GHz, Asus P67Z68, W10x64 Creator Edition, 32GB RAM, 3 HD's, nVidia 760 GT, Focusrite 18i20 2,d Gen + Ti FW, Oxygen 61 iv Gen, and Edirol SD-20 (yes it works), CbB, Teles, Strats, LP's, Epi Riviera, etc
|
JohnKenn
Max Output Level: -58.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1659
- Joined: 2008/10/26 13:51:52
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/06 15:36:40
(permalink)
Appreciate the advice guys.
Getting it a bit more managed, but still using the old version (only one mode) and using the wall power which doesn't burn out batteries, but not the cleanest sound.
They claim that the new models have stronger drive but I can't tell much difference.
My first one went dead in the late 70's and I thought, now I can take the thing apart and see how it works. The inside was a solid block of black epoxy. You could barely see the top of a computer chip. Since then there are schematics on the web, but too much of a project for me. Had the idea of making one that covered two strings.
|
jamesg1213
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 21760
- Joined: 2006/04/18 14:42:48
- Location: SW Scotland
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/06 16:16:09
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby kennywtelejazz 2017/08/07 18:55:01
Just to inspire annoy you...
Jyemz Thrombold's Patented Brisk Weather Pantaloonettes with Inclementometer
|
smallstonefan
Max Output Level: -48 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2724
- Joined: 2003/11/20 11:41:35
- Location: Papillion, Nebraska
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/06 20:21:50
(permalink)
|
JohnKenn
Max Output Level: -58.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1659
- Joined: 2008/10/26 13:51:52
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/06 20:28:48
(permalink)
Ironic...
That was the video I watched a couple months ago that inspired me to shake the dust off the E-Bow. Just thought I could bounce back quicker.
Funny as an aside how little info was available before YouTube and the internet. Not knowing who played what in a band by the pictures on an LP cover. Arguing with band mates over what the garbled lyrics were because there were no lyric sites..
One thing the video brought me up to date on was Phil's missing finger. Was a big fan of Glass Harp and was said how he could accomplish his great riffs missing a finger. I always assumed as did most that it was on his left fretting hand. Looks like it is actually absent on his picking hand. Makes it not so much a challenge, but still a great guitarist.
John
|
Bajan Blue
Max Output Level: -55 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2029
- Joined: 2005/09/15 20:54:56
- Location: Barbados & Cape Town
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/07 02:52:00
(permalink)
Hi John - been using one for many years now - I find it works best with certain guitars - good neck pickup, high Gain and I like high strings (like a slide guitar) - then it's just a lot of practice!!!!
Hope all goes well
Nigel
|
tlw
Max Output Level: -49.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2567
- Joined: 2008/10/11 22:06:32
- Location: West Midlands, UK
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/07 04:58:28
(permalink)
I fought an ebow for a while, then decided life is too short for me to master it, and switched to Syd Barrett/Steve Hillage/Daevid Allen style glissando guitar which works better. For me at least.
I'd love to be able to get the ebow to work, but the technique just won't happen right for me. Though I remember it was much easier on the guitars I have set up for slide with heavy strings and moderately high action. The open chord tunings also made my slips, bumps against strings I didn't intend to play etc. a bit less horrible than in standard tuning. :-)
Sonar Platinum 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro 64bit, I7 3770K Ivybridge, 16GB Ram, Gigabyte Z77-D3H m/board, ATI 7750 graphics+ 1GB RAM, 2xIntel 520 series 220GB SSDs, 1 TB Samsung F3 + 1 TB WD HDDs, Seasonic fanless 460W psu, RME Fireface UFX, Focusrite Octopre. Assorted real synths, guitars, mandolins, diatonic accordions, percussion, fx and other stuff.
|
Moshkito
Max Output Level: -37.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 3765
- Joined: 2015/01/26 13:29:07
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/07 06:54:16
(permalink)
tlw
I fought an ebow for a while, then decided life is too short for me to master it, and switched to Syd Barrett/Steve Hillage/Daevid Allen style glissando guitar which works better. For me at least.
... http://pedrosena.com/photos.htm Loved the stuff that both Daevid and Stiv have gotten out of the glissando. Also special is the couple of CD's of more than one person playing the glissando ... sort of like an orchestra ... really special stuff. I'm curious to find out how many of the ECM folks played around with the Ebow ... Egberto Gismonti sure sounds like he plays with it some, but I can not tell for sure. Eberhard Weber and Charlie Haden come to mind, but I think Charlie was a bit more about his touch than anything else, at least this is what is visible in the videos of him with Gismonti and Garbarek.
Music is not about notes and chords! My poem is not about the computer or monitor or letters! It's about how I was able to translate it from my insides!
|
JohnKenn
Max Output Level: -58.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1659
- Joined: 2008/10/26 13:51:52
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/07 16:25:29
(permalink)
Higher action. This has got to be a big part of it. Many thanks for the reminder. All my guitars are set up almost too low.
|
kennywtelejazz
Max Output Level: -3.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 7151
- Joined: 2005/10/22 06:27:02
- Location: The Planet Tele..X..
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/07 18:57:05
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby craigb 2017/08/12 07:33:33
jamesg1213
Just to inspire annoy you...
Inspired  Kenny PS now I want to buy an E Bow...good thing I bought Duke his bag of food first this month
|
tlw
Max Output Level: -49.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 2567
- Joined: 2008/10/11 22:06:32
- Location: West Midlands, UK
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/07 20:02:46
(permalink)
☄ Helpfulby kennywtelejazz 2017/08/07 22:45:34
Moshkito
I'm curious to find out how many of the ECM folks played around with the Ebow ...
Given that selling ebows has kept the makers in business for decades there are surprisingly few recorded or live examples of it being used. I think out of the possibly hundreds of guitarists I've seen on stages I've only seen three or maybe four use an ebow.
Sonar Platinum 64bit, Windows 8.1 Pro 64bit, I7 3770K Ivybridge, 16GB Ram, Gigabyte Z77-D3H m/board, ATI 7750 graphics+ 1GB RAM, 2xIntel 520 series 220GB SSDs, 1 TB Samsung F3 + 1 TB WD HDDs, Seasonic fanless 460W psu, RME Fireface UFX, Focusrite Octopre. Assorted real synths, guitars, mandolins, diatonic accordions, percussion, fx and other stuff.
|
kennywtelejazz
Max Output Level: -3.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 7151
- Joined: 2005/10/22 06:27:02
- Location: The Planet Tele..X..
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/07 22:48:59
(permalink)
tlw
Moshkito
I'm curious to find out how many of the ECM folks played around with the Ebow ...
Given that selling ebows has kept the makers in business for decades there are surprisingly few recorded or live examples of it being used. I think out of the possibly hundreds of guitarists I've seen on stages I've only seen three or maybe four use an ebow.
It takes a lot of skill to use an E Bow correctly .Some guitar players may not want to put the work into it getting good with using one .Also , a lot can go wrong while playing live on stage . At least in some of the dumps I've played  Kenny
|
Slugbaby
Max Output Level: -33.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4172
- Joined: 2004/10/01 13:57:37
- Location: Toronto, Canada
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/08 12:54:51
(permalink)
I love my e-bow, and it's on at least 50% of the songs I write & record. As mentioned above, Delay is a great effect to smooth it out. I don't usually need high gain, but HB pickups will help. My only problem is that I can never change strings smoothly. I don't know how others do it so well. I sometimes use a slide with the E-bow. It almost makes it sound like a Thermin - there's no attack or decay, and the notes flow, because you're bypassing the frets. I thought i was innovative, but here's a clip of someone else doing it (it's really only noticeable in video at around 0:10, but it's a solid atmospheric treatment): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGaz7Ff0WvM
|
space_cowboy
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 9813
- Joined: 2007/07/20 14:49:31
- Location: Front and center behind these monitors
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/08 15:57:17
(permalink)
tlw
I fought an ebow for a while, then decided life is too short for me to master it, and switched to Syd Barrett/Steve Hillage/Daevid Allen style glissando guitar which works better. For me at least.
I'd love to be able to get the ebow to work, but the technique just won't happen right for me. Though I remember it was much easier on the guitars I have set up for slide with heavy strings and moderately high action. The open chord tunings also made my slips, bumps against strings I didn't intend to play etc. a bit less horrible than in standard tuning. :-)
Huge Hillage fan here. I also got the chance to see Gong with Daevid Allen in maybe 97-98 at Hammersmith Palais in London. I think I was the only person there not on LDS.
Some people call me Maurice SPLAT Pro lifetime, ADK 6 core 3.6Ghz with 32 GB RAM, SSD 1TB system drive, 3 3TB regular drives for samples, recordings and misc. Behringer X Touch, UAD Apollo Quad. 2 UAD2 Quads PCI (i think - inside the box whatever that is), Console 1. More guitars (40??) and synths (hard and soft) than talent. Zendrum!!!
|
Zargg
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 10666
- Joined: 2014/09/28 04:20:14
- Location: Norway
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/08 18:34:22
(permalink)
Hi. I've wanted an E-bow since I saw it the 1st time, a long time ago.
I've never tried one, but always thought I'd have fun with one.
Perhaps some time in the future.
All the best.
Ken Nilsen ZarggBBZWin 10 Pro X64, Cakewalk by Bandlab, SPlat X64, AMD AM3+ fx-8320, 16Gb RAM, RME Ucx (+ ARC), Tascam FW 1884, M-Audio Keystation 61es, *AKAI MPK Pro 25, *Softube Console1, Alesis DM6 USB, Maschine MkII Laptop setup: Win 10 X64, i5 2.4ghz, 8gb RAM, 320gb 7200 RPM HD, Focusrite Solo, + *
|
JohnKenn
Max Output Level: -58.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1659
- Joined: 2008/10/26 13:51:52
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/08 21:33:29
(permalink)
Raised the action on one axe and it helps. Macho practice ahead.
Another factor maybe?
I'll never be Phil, but I can't get anywhere near the response of his Yamaha. The skating across strings is more than just technique. I can at least understand that the axe is about as important as the bow. It takes time to hammer a string into response.
My guitar collection, probably 20 or more doesn't have a single hollow body. Forgot how many I have. (sob...can't believe I got rid of my two vintage Rickenbackers and Gibson 335).
Anybody have an opinion about hollow bodies being more suited to resonating with an E-Bow?
John
|
JohnKenn
Max Output Level: -58.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1659
- Joined: 2008/10/26 13:51:52
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/09 00:02:28
(permalink)
Jeez, Starting to get a glimmer of what was child's play decades ago. Have a Jackson 3/4 midget guitar given to me from a friend. Never thought I'd find a use for it. Raised up the action and can now very minimum jump between the strings (except for the hi and lo E...still taking too long to vibrate) almost like a ****ed pick style. Someone said practice. Black fingers, but seeing the Light within the extent of my limitations. John (edit) ... uh...removed my profane tirade against the dingbat auto censor. Don't want to offend virgin ears
post edited by JohnKenn - 2017/08/09 00:23:33
|
Slugbaby
Max Output Level: -33.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 4172
- Joined: 2004/10/01 13:57:37
- Location: Toronto, Canada
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/09 12:50:28
(permalink)
JohnKenn
... and can now very minimum jump between the strings (except for the hi and lo E...still taking too long to vibrate) almost like a ****ed pick style.
Someone said practice. Black fingers, but seeing the Light within the extent of my limitations.
John
(edit) ... uh...removed my profane tirade against the dingbat auto censor. Don't want to offend virgin ears
I was trying to guess what was behind the stars.
|
JohnKenn
Max Output Level: -58.5 dBFS
- Total Posts : 1659
- Joined: 2008/10/26 13:51:52
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/09 16:24:14
(permalink)
I was trying to guess too. Memory going faster than I am.
I thought I had put something like "muted". Whatever was clean and proper. Figured it was seen as politically incorrect and might offend people who can't talk.
Did reply about what a ****ed up crock of bull ***t the censor was, but went back and edited that out.
|
craigb
Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
- Total Posts : 41704
- Joined: 2009/01/28 23:13:04
- Location: The Pacific Northwestshire
- Status: offline
Re: E-Bow anybody?
2017/08/12 07:40:52
(permalink)
 I used to enjoy (the only reason I play) making noise on this with an e-bow and a slide. A Fouke's Lap Steel.
Time for all of you to head over to Beyond My DAW!
|