Drills

[-Asdfgh-]

Following on from a mention in another thread, how effective are drills or other rotary devices such as Dremel or powered screwdrivers as playing tools, especially for sustaining notes, e.g. as an ebow alternative?

 

[bholder]

Seriously? I think having a motor that close would induce some serious noise.

 

[jthisdell]

I don't think it will help your technique...

 

[Bodeanly]

It could actually work quite well. Just hold your bass at eye level and be sure that the drillbit is long enough to go through the bass and into the part of the brain that made you want to use a drill on your bass.

Spoiler

 

[lz4005]

Seriously? I think having a motor that close would induce some serious noise.

They do. That's part of the fun. Sounds like a jet engine.

OP: If you're talking about putting 3 or 4 picks in a drill like Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan have done, it's more like super-human speed picking rather than sustain.

 

[bholder]

They do. That's part of the fun. Sounds like a jet engine.

OP: If you're talking about putting 3 or 4 picks in a drill like Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan have done, it's more like super-human speed picking rather than sustain.

I guess you could use a felt polishing wheel with rosin on it.

 

[lz4005]

I guess you could use a felt polishing wheel with rosin on it.

So an electric hurdy gurdy?

 

[bholder]

So an electric hurdy gurdy?

It's ok to crank it, but don't go waving it around.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

They do. That's part of the fun. Sounds like a jet engine.

OP: If you're talking about putting 3 or 4 picks in a drill like Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan have done, it's more like super-human speed picking rather than sustain.

I was more thinking a soft pad for sustained sounds, and ideally no motor noise, something like Godley and Creme's Gizmo