Bowing on the Electric

[Bassplayer222]

I have a lot of solo compositions that use a lot of chording on the A D and G, among other things that I think would sound good using a bow. I've never used a bow, but I saw that segment everyone talks about with Jimmy Page using one that's been around a long time and I started thinking about how much more useful it would be on a bass.

Perhaps a hairband towards the nut and, effectively muting non fretted notes? Would I use a cello bow, a violin bow?

Thoughts?

[AmadeusXeno]

I tried learning cello before. I wasn't any good at it so I gave up on that. You need to use rosin for the bow to work which will make a mess on your bass and make your strings sticky. If you play finger style then you will get the rosin on your hand as well.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Bassplayer222

Perhaps a hairband towards the nut and, effectively muting non fretted notes? Would I use a cello bow, a violin bow?

Thoughts?

You need a curved bridge and a curved fretboard if you're not just looking for a novelty effect, for starters.

[FretlessMainly]

This question has come up before - my overall take is that while it's not impossible, the logistics are such that it's highly impractical. The lack of proper fingerboard radius and typical bass body design prevent you from accessing the strings properly, which typically results in a cacophanous maelstrom not unlike that which might ensue after chucking a bag of kittens into a roaring fireplace. Sorry for the analogy, but it's apt.

I say this a both a classical/jazz double bass player and electric bass player.

If however, you insist on trying this, use a French style double bass bow. The width of the hair on a 'cello or violin bow isn't likely sufficient to get those bass strings vibrating.

[twocargar]

40 seconds in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmHxYx74MTg

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Bassplayer222]

I can see what you guys mean about the difficulties. And my neck is set pretty flat. My action is very high, comparable to the feel of a dbl bass (the fingerboard). I think I'm going to still try this. I think it's going to be pretty impossible to accurately bow just the strings I want, but I'm up for a challenge. Left hand muting at it's finest?

[FretlessMainly]

The issue with left hand muting is that the bow will still elicit a fair bit of, err, something or other related to noise from the muted strings. If you mess around enough, you may be able to isolate some overtones from the muted strings that don't sound like crap.

High action will help you isolate the G and the E strings a bit (the body will get in the way soon enough, however). Lastly, as mentioned, the rosin residue will indeed make a mess of your bass. Isopropanol will clean up the strings, but careful of the finish.

[ShredderMaximus]

you could always try an Ebow, though I'm not sure how they work on bass.

[FretlessMainly]

ebows can be used on bass, but as of a year ago or so, they have not been designed for the string spacing of a bass, which is particularly important for their ease of use. Not to mention that you don't really get a bowed sound, you get more of a drone sound. But, it's an alternative to the train wreck that is bowing an electric bass.

[Bassplayer222]

I've seen E-bows. Cool little things, but something I can't really see myself using on a bass. The people I've seen who can use them well seem fairly limited in their movement from string to string

[Ukiah Bass]

You might be able to bow the E or G strings provided the bowing action is done above where the neck meets the body. Otherwise, the body will block bowing action of either of those two strings. And without the accentuated radius you find on an upright bass, your bowing action will be restricted to bowing all four strings at once. Probably more hassle than it's worth. Get an upright if you want to bow.

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Bassplayer222

I can see what you guys mean about the difficulties. And my neck is set pretty flat. My action is very high, comparable to the feel of a dbl bass (the fingerboard). I think I'm going to still try this. I think it's going to be pretty impossible to accurately bow just the strings I want, but I'm up for a challenge. Left hand muting at it's finest?

Take a look at the TB threads on slide bass. You can use the slide somewhat like a bow, with your picking hand. I like soft brass bars for doing this.

[Bassplayer222]

Would that only work on roundwounds?

[Passinwind]

Originally Posted by Bassplayer222

Would that only work on roundwounds?

Works fine for me on halfrounds. Check out this tune. , although it's not really trying to do the faux bowing thing so much.

[JimmyM]

You'll notice that Jimmy Page didn't do a whole lot with a bow...

Charlie, that was total badassness! Totally was not expecting that!