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Zimphire · Oct 31, 2004, 07:40 PM

http://www.ebow.com/

I've owned one for many years. And just recently picked it back up. It's amazing the sounds you can get from this little gadget.

It's basically a electronic "bow" for a guitar.

It's holds a string between a magnetic field and vibrates it giving it unlimited sustain.

There are sound clips hosted on that sight letting you hear what sounds you can get from it.

Very cool.

DeathToWindows · Oct 31, 2004, 09:35 PM

cool

ambush · 02:21 PM

stop being an idiot

mikellanes · Oct 31, 2004, 09:45 PM

The Smashing Pumpkins made use of the ebow often.

On Songs Like Sinfony, Soma, & Drown. _
James used EBows a lot live, on songs like Shame, & Porcelina.

chris v · Oct 31, 2004, 09:54 PM

Are they making them again? I know they've been hard to find/out of production for a while. At least that's what the guitar players in my band tell me.

I want a bass version.

Kilbey · Oct 31, 2004, 10:42 PM

I've used one. I just couldn't find a use for it really. But then I am a serious amateur guitar player.

I saw one of my favorite bands use one in concert. It was used during a very psychedelic tune. Really made the song complete.

MacGorilla · Oct 31, 2004, 10:56 PM

Those sound awesome.

Mr. Blur · Oct 31, 2004, 11:28 PM

i have had one for over 20 years now...awesome little gadget when used sparingly. does not take very long to get the basic technique down either. very cool little invention....of all the players i have heard, bill nelson is probably the best ebow-er...

chris v · Nov 1, 2004, 12:00 AM

Originally posted by Mr. Blur:
i have had one for over 20 years now...awesome little gadget when used sparingly. does not take very long to get the basic technique down either. very cool little invention....of all the players i have heard, bill nelson is probably the best ebow-er...

Been a Bill Nelson fan since the 70s. I'm always surprised when his name comes up.

Mr. Blur · Nov 1, 2004, 12:26 AM

Originally posted by chris v:
Been a Bill Nelson fan since the 70s. I'm always surprised when his name comes up.

me too....been listening since the be bop deluxe days. i do find it hard to keep up with all the stuff he releases though - it seems he always has about 4 albums on the go and of course they are all expensive imports for me so i am a bit selective as to which ones i buy. i love reading his online journal - some really insightful stuff - i really should order myself a copy of his book.

Nov 1, 2004, 07:50 AM

I've had the hardest time trying to find one of these.

Sigur Ros makes great use of this device (when they aren't actually applying bows to the guitar strings).

The sound of an e-bow'd guitar through a mess of distortion and reverb is a wonderful thing.

MilkmanDan · Nov 1, 2004, 08:04 AM

I thought you said elbow. How wrong I was.

Zimphire · Nov 1, 2004, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by chris v:
Are they making them again? I know they've been hard to find/out of production for a while. At least that's what the guitar players in my band tell me.

They have never stopped making them.

When they first came out, they were "Chrome" with a red LED. Then they made a black one with a red LED (The one I have) and now they have a grey one with a Blue LED. (I should hack mine and put a blue LED in it

)

Zimphire · Nov 1, 2004, 02:03 PM

Originally posted by screamingFit:
I've had the hardest time trying to find one of these.

You can get them at most any guitar store.. even online on ebay!!

http://search.ebay.com/ebow_W0QQsoke...ectZ1QQfromZR8

The sound of an e-bow'd guitar through a mess of distortion and reverb is a wonderful thing.

Indeed, a sound of it's own.

I saw Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction using one.

He also had a vibrator he held above his pickups to get a eerie sound.

I tried that once on an ex-Gfs toy. It makes some neato sounds.

Any battery powered motor device will. The good thing about vibrators are, they are multispeed. So you can adjust the "key" in buzzes in.

To hear what this sounds like, listen to the beginning of Ted, just admit it from Jane's Addiction's "Nothing's Shocking" album.

Theremins are nice too.

GoGoReggieXPowars · Nov 1, 2004, 03:12 PM

Great for simulating Robert Fripp's super sustain sounds.

daimoni · 12:16 PM

.

ajprice · Nov 1, 2004, 03:25 PM

REM - E-bow The Letter (the one with Patti Smith) from New Adventures In Hi-Fi uses an...

...I'll let you work it out.

Doc Juansinn · Nov 1, 2004, 03:31 PM

The Ebow is a very cool device. The first player I heard use one was Mike Campbell of the Heartbreakers, and he used it tastefully.

I had a blast at the last winter NAMM talking with the guys at the Ebow booth and listening to them demo it.

Chris v: I might be wrong on this, but I did ask them if it would work on a bass and I believe they said it would, but you'd have to hold it closer to the bridge. I'm only partially sure of this as my main question to them was whether I could use the Ebow on my 8-string mandocello. Just pop into a music store and give it a try.

skalie · Nov 1, 2004, 03:32 PM

Think 10cc used to use them as well.

Dammit, now I want one, would make a change from using a beer bottle for those "special effects".

Zimphire · Nov 1, 2004, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by skalie:
Think 10cc used to use them as well.

Dammit, now I want one, would make a change from using a beer bottle for those "special effects".

And probably less cuts.

I'd love to get a schematic for one. They have the electronics wrapped up in epoxy.

skalie · Nov 1, 2004, 03:50 PM

This thread cost some Frenchman $10.

heh

Zimphire · Nov 1, 2004, 03:57 PM

Originally posted by skalie:
This thread cost some Frenchman $10.

heh

$10?

GoGoReggieXPowars · Nov 1, 2004, 03:58 PM

Originally posted by daimoni:
Another complete and utter ebow whore is Robin Guthrie from the Cocteau Twins. Check out their early 4AD recordings... ebow city.

Sigh. I kinda miss the early 80s (music-wise).

Dif Juz

skalie · Nov 1, 2004, 04:00 PM

Originally posted by Zimphire:
$10?

Yeah, I just bid on an ebay ebow, had nine minutes left, he pipped me at the post.

philzilla · Nov 1, 2004, 04:55 PM

Originally posted by Zimphire:
I saw Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction using one.

He also had a vibrator he held above his pickups to get a eerie sound.

that would be this Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction, standing in front of his vibrator (stuck on the Marshall with velcro), at the Marquee in London, UK, 4th March, '91

met him before hand, he's a top geezer. he was being cool that night, so here's a few more pics he posed for us.

the rest of the pictures i have from that gig are just as awesome, but it bored me to tears just scanning 5

AKcrab · Nov 1, 2004, 05:46 PM

I'm just curious; is it bow like "bow down" or bow like "bow and arrow"?

skalie · Nov 1, 2004, 05:56 PM

Like "violin" bow.

Zimphire · Nov 1, 2004, 06:11 PM

Originally posted by philzilla:
that would be this Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction, standing in front of his vibrator (stuck on the Marshall with velcro), at the Marquee in London, UK,

met him before hand, he's a top geezer. he was being cool that night, so here's a few more pics he posed for us.

That was in 91, I remember that tour. He was still using Ibanez's back then. Most of them are destroyed. BTW "top geezer" ? That is English slang for.. ?

I met him and Perry once. Briefly. They both acted annoyed. Probably waiting for a fix.

Rollins however was a lot nicer that day.

the rest of the pictures i have from that gig are just as awesome, but it bored me to tears just scanning 5

Heh, you should post the rest.

skalie · Nov 1, 2004, 06:15 PM

Originally posted by Zimphire:
BTW "top geezer" ? That is English slang for.. ?

Quality person, male.

Mr. Blur · Nov 1, 2004, 10:59 PM

Originally posted by daimoni:
Both of you get extra credit for mentioning Bill Nelson.

Another complete and utter ebow whore is Robin Guthrie from the Cocteau Twins. Check out their early 4AD recordings... ebow city.

yeah, i should have mentioned him too - i love his stuff - there is some nice work on his "imperial" cd too.

Zimphire · Nov 2, 2004, 10:26 PM

Originally posted by skalie:
Quality person, male.

Ah thanks!

Zimphire · Nov 4, 2004, 07:52 PM

Come on Phil, post more of that concert.

You know you love me.

SOLIDAge · Nov 5, 2004, 03:57 AM

I love my Ebow
my frist EP was recorded on a four track with a Piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and an ebow, those were the primary instruments.
The sounds are amazing, and yes The Smashing Pumpkins used it alot, and i think really put it on the map. Hell, in Zwan, David Pajo played just the ebow on almost every one of their songs when they performed live...it's really awesome.