Anyone use a bow? (Bass Guitar)

[thesilence]

I was thinking about getting a bow and using it to get some different sounds out of my bass didn't know if this had been done before or is it even possible?

[PJSShearer]

I saw Lee Jackson using a bow with band called Refugee in 1974 (?). Before that he was in a Band called the Nice that broke up when Keith Emerson left to form ELP. Refugee broke up when Patrick Moraz left to join Yes (ouch). He played a few notes in an extended solo...

The problem(s) are :

1. The Rosin goes everywhere and will ruin roundwound strings very quickly.
2. The strings of a Bass guitar are pretty much level with each other so bowing an indvidual string cleanly (apart from the top and bottom ones) is pretty nigh on impossible. Look at the curve of a double bass bridge to see what I'm getting at here.
3. The body will probably get in the way anyway :-).

If you want something to give the effect of a bow on an electric Guitar or Bass, Google "EBOW".

[Rockingbird]

^ What he said, but the ebow doesn't work as well on bass. You need lighter gauge strings which can be a pain for those who like a tight set. However, I fair compromise seems to be the Piranha Guitar Bow.
http://www.piranhaguitarbow.com/
It's small enough that you can use it on all of the strings.

[Stilettoprefer]

Flatwound strings and high action with the Middle strings a lo higher than the top and bottom ones.