Playing with a bow

DumbChild · #1 05-20-2006, 08:32 AM

Well ive seen guitar players use a violin bow on their guitar and ive seen someone use one on a double bass, i was just wondering what the hell kinda sound it makes, i cant ever imagine it on an electric bass but yea. Anyone heard it or anything, just curious

**Pacman** · #2 05-20-2006, 09:33 AM

It's possible, but tone would be nasty. Flatwounds would make it a little more feasable, but remember that the arc violin and double bass strings are set up in. The flat nature of electric bass fingerboard makes bowing anything other than the outermost strings impossible.

BassGod · #3 05-20-2006, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

It's possible, but tone would be nasty. Flatwounds would make it a little more feasable, but remember that the arc violin and double bass strings are set up in. The flat nature of electric bass fingerboard makes bowing anything other than the outermost strings impossible.

If you were to raise the action of the A and D strings (a lot) would that create the necessary arc?

Graeme

BassManPatsFan · #4 05-20-2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassGod

If you were to raise the action of the A and D strings (a lot) would that create the necessary arc?

Graeme

No. First of all, your neck is still relatively flat, so the A and D strings would feel really odd under your fingers. Second of all, the strings on an electric bass are much closer to the body than they are on a DB, so even if you did try it, you'd get rosin from the bow all over your bass not to mention your strings. If you wanna bow a bass, buy (or rent) an upright.
-Alex

Aaron Saunders · #5 05-20-2006, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassManPatsFan

No. First of all, your neck is still relatively flat, so the A and D strings would feel really odd under your fingers. Second of all, the strings on an electric bass are much closer to the body than they are on a DB, so even if you did try it, you'd get rosin from the bow all over your bass not to mention your strings. If you wanna bow a bass, buy (or rent) an upright.
-Alex

Big +1 here. No bass has cutaways deep enough in the sides with the possible exceptions of maybe a BC Rich or two that would allow the bow to pass along the strings and NOT the body as well.

CamMcIntyre · #6 05-20-2006, 04:39 PM

I'd look for an Ebow if you really want to get the sustained type tones. I haven't heard one on bass before, but i did get to see a guy use one for a musical up close [i was about 4 feet from him in the pit]. The tones i dug, i wondered what was used to produce them when listening to the CD of it-and seeing the Ebow made the sense.

I don't know how well an ebow works on bass though.

As a doubler, i would NOT use a bow on my electric bass. Ever.

take it easy.

DumbChild · #7 05-20-2006, 07:40 PM

yea i wasnt really keen on using one, just curious to what it would sound like.. Ill find out one day

agreatheight · #8 05-20-2006, 07:53 PM

I've seen a player bow an electric in the past to interesting effect. It sounded a bit like a metallic whale song. He used the bow with a distorted tone and other effects, like a loop pedal and a Whammy pedal, so got some very cool stuff going. He played mostly single notes on the E string, but also played some chords and was very clever in his muting technique. So it can be done. But he did get rosin all over his bass and had a worn spot on the body as well.

I have used an Ebow in the past on bass and it's tricky. It's a guitar effect and it's not a seemless transition to the bass. First off, the guides on the Ebow are for guitar string spacing so it doesn't really sit well on the bass. Second, bass strings are considerably heavier than guitar so it's no as easy to get them going, especially the E string. But it is a unique way to create interesting sounds, just be ready for a challenge.

ZombieGhosTrain · #9 05-20-2006, 08:48 PM

You could always crank up the delay and "slap" the bow down, hitting all the strings. See the Song Remains the Same dvd, Page did it on his guitar, and it worked pretty well on mine. I don't want rosin on my bass though, so I didn't try it.

GangstaBean · #10 12-15-2011, 07:41 PM

I actually jus experimented playing with a bow. Actually, it sounded pretty sweet, but VERY hard. It also destroyed my strings, it made them feel super old. Now I don't know if that was because of the resin, or the fact that the bow was super cheap. If you solo pickups and cut treble, it sounds pretty awesome.

Also, resurrecting an old thread!

agent77 · #11 12-15-2011, 08:03 PM

I know nothing.....but thought this might help.
Peter Murphy - Cuts You Up (1990) - YouTube

agent77 · #12 12-15-2011, 08:10 PM

Just noticed how old this thread is. Hope you're not still waiting for an answer.

GangstaBean · #13 12-15-2011, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agent77

Just noticed how old this thread is. Hope you're not still waiting for an answer.

DumbChild hasn't been on in over 2 years.

But I think it's pretty neat. And fun. It doesn't sound bad either, after you get the hang of it.

Bard2dbone · #14 12-15-2011, 08:16 PM

I remember Michael Manring using an Ebow and having interesting results.

But really if you want to bow an electric, get an EUB. Otherwise expect to be disappointed.

GangstaBean · #15 12-15-2011, 08:27 PM

I think it sounds very good, like a cello. But my bow I think has plastic hairs, and are melting on my strings

So I may try to get a better bow, to see if it destroys my strings.
It is very difficult though to play on any strings other than G and E or B, but I think with practice, it can be done.
I've seen people do it before, on an electric fretted bass.

**Pacman** · #16 12-15-2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GangstaBean

I think it sounds very good, like a cello. But my bow I think has plastic hairs, and are melting on my strings

So I may try to get a better bow, to see if it destroys my strings.
It is very difficult though to play on any strings other than G and E or B, but I think with practice, it can be done.
I've seen people do it before, on an electric fretted bass.

It's impossible to bow anything other than the outer two strings on an electric, due to the (lack of) curvature to the bridge.

Also, the rosin will destroy a set of roundwound strings in a hurry. And the rosin is the only way bowing will work at all. Try an EUB.

GangstaBean · #17 12-15-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

It's impossible to bow anything other than the outer two strings on an electric, due to the (lack of) curvature to the bridge.

Also, the rosin will destroy a set of roundwound strings in a hurry. And the rosin is the only way bowing will work at all. Try an EUB.

That's what I am afraid, is ruining strings. I saw a guy on YouTube, however, that was able to bow the other strings, but it may have been because of the radius on the neck.
Also, I want to avoid an EUB, because if I do go upright, it'll be an acoustic, and I want to stay with what I'm used to.

lunarpollen · #18 12-15-2011, 10:06 PM

Bowed bass guitar "solo" begins at 1:32, played entirely on G string, and continues playing into the next verse until 2:10, and may be in the background during other parts (it's kind of a chaotic mix)

Pink Floyd Lucifer Sam - YouTube

nataku · #19 12-16-2011, 04:39 PM

The bassist for the band O'Brother uses a bow on an electric with no problem. It's hard to hear what's happening in his signal chain because the music is so thick, but it definitely gets whale song-esque when he pulls the bow out. I wasn't super close up, but it looked like he was just playing whole notes and muting the unused strings with his left hand. I didn't see rosin damage on his bass either, like you usually see on electrics. I know it's possible to bow without rosin, and maybe round wounds make it a bit easier as well.