I have never used one, but I think it would work well in the songs I play from time to time. Does anyone have one I can borrow/rent for a few weeks before I purchase to make sure I make sure it is a wise purchase?
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E=Bow Request
- Thread starter amosjones
- Start date
you can probably test one at guitar center
they're fun but useless to me.. michael manring does a lot of cool stuff with one, though
they're fun but useless to me.. michael manring does a lot of cool stuff with one, though
+10 if their going to squash the little guys with walmart marketing then we have a duty to use their policies to our advantage!
Yeah, I haven't had much luck myself on a 4-string. I don't know if the unit doesn't provide enough power to move the larger strings, or that it's just difficult to get it into a position that vibrates the strings, or what, but it doesn't really work for me.
It kills on a Bass VI, though.
Volume pedals work for swells, or if you want something more automated, you might try a Slow Gear-type of pedal. Mooer makes one (Slow Engine), so does VFE (Bumblebee and Bumblebee Jr.) and Malekko (A.D.), and there's even a cheapo Behringer if you just want to see if it works.
Agreed, even with the ebow on a C string you will probably still want to couple it with a volume pedal for good results. Unless it is a wide open part of the arrangement, it can be tricky to hear the ebow start resonating the string in a full band setting... an attack pedal is a really good way to go!
I've never had a problem getting an eBow to "move the larger strings" but it definitely can be a chore to get it into the right position. I think Heet Industries or whoever makes it these days could sell a few more units if they offered a Bass eBow that was identical to the current model but was designed around 17mm string spacing (and then made a 19mm model also).
OT: if you ever want to have a crapton of fun, gather as many eBows as you can borrow and get inside a grand piano.
OT: if you ever want to have a crapton of fun, gather as many eBows as you can borrow and get inside a grand piano.
That sounds like the perfect ending to a great party or the perfect start to a great orgy.
Michael Manring uses super light gauge strings and has mastered the quick movement and sort of "pre-vibration" of the string that helps the E-bow do its thing. Without a lot of practice or writing parts around the quirks of the tool I think it might be a pretty frustrating thing to depend on for most of us non-virtuosos!
"pre-vibration" isn't that hard, nor mysterious. A light hammer-on, or vibrato-like wiggling of the string is enough to get it started.
I have spent some time E-bowing my bass. The most important part is placement with respect to the magnets of the pick up. when I get it just right it doesn't need any help creating a nice feedback loop. What is difficult to do on the bass as opposed to guitar is to rapidly switch strings. once you get one string going you can fret up-and-down that string and maintain a nice feedback loop. When you switch strings it usually takes a second or so for the next string to get going.
I wasn't claiming it to be either, but it does require a degree of subtlety that might be tough for less than subtle players (like myself and most bassists I know). I was just trying to point out that it is harder than someone like Manring makes it look!
Yup, I've been using an e-bow for a while now and I highly recommend buying one - fantastic fun, especially with a fretless.
A volume pedal, delay and/or reverb effects, good string spacing, and a fretless bass are what I recommend for maximum E-bow function. Practicing technique is very important too and not easy at first.
