Paul White's Ebow Love

[Ian Shaw]

Totally with Paul White on this one.

I was given my Ebow when I worked as a Saturday boy in a music shop as a teenager. It was taken in as a part exchange & the owner, who was a drummer didn't really know what it did, so gave it to me. I've had it ever since & will dig it out at some point today.

Also intrigued by that & the combo of fretless guitar. I have an old Strat copy somewhere which I am tempted to convert. I was wonder if Paul has documented this anywhere? Interested to learn about recutting the nut. Is this to lower the action?

I've always found the Ebow inspiring & makes me think of the guitar in a different way when I use it. I once did an experiment with small metal beads threaded on the strings of a guitar. If the guitar is laid flat & the bow sat on top the beads will rattle their way up the strings & settle at one of the nodal points usually. Record & repeat this process on different strings tuned to whatever you decide & you have an instant ambient piece. Obvious add lashings on delay & distortion to taste

Now where is that Ebow?

Ian

[The Elf]

I can't play guitar to save my life, but I love the Ebow. There are a few guitarists I work with who groan when I get the thing out and hand it to them, but the results are always worth it!

[Arpangel]

Never did like the Ebow, but this is great...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCtfcS1FisU

[N i g e l]

+1 for the Ebow

Moog made a guitar with built in EBow.
As well as enhancing string sustain it could be switched to kill the sustain instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3SsYQrgcyA

[The Elf]

The Fernandes Sustainer (as used by a certain Mr Hackett) was an earlier (and better, I'm told?) attempt to build sustain into the guitar. I recall Steve having good things to say about it, and relished leaving the EBow back home!

[Sam Spoons]

I assume the Fernandez sustainer system uses the same principle?

https://www.andertons.co.uk/guitar-dept/electric-guitar-accessories/electric-guitar-pickups-electronics/fernandes-sustainer-401-single-coil-sustainer-kit

I have an original E-Bow, it doesn't get much use but there is no other way I've found to get the same sounds.

[FrankF]

Quite apart from the myriad stellar Ebow melodies by Bill Nelson (I'm sure the Gilby Brothers would not disagree ), I'm also fond of Rob Dean's very fine Ebowing on a couple of JAPAN albums, Quiet Life especially, and while we're at it, let's have an honourable mention in dispatches for John Ashton on The Furs' "Mirror Moves".

Schecter do several guitars with a Sustainiac pickup, if anyone's interested. (If anyone's loaded, send me one!)

To my ears and fingers, the Ebow beats all the others gizmos: perhaps it's more moving because it actually moves.

[Luke W]

I've always liked them, not sure why I've never bought one myself to be honest. I toyed with the idea of building a guitar with the Fernandez system, my list of potential projects is quite long though...

[BJG145]

Moog made a guitar with built in EBow. As well as enhancing string sustain it could be switched to kill the sustain instead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3SsYQrgcyA

Yes, the inventor Paul Vo followed it up with "The Wond".

I signed up for one of these centuries ago, it's going to be awesome.

https://voinventions.com/wond-ii-project-blog/

Do you see this?



This thing is going to be so powerful, you'll be able to sustain one of those. Apparently.

[Stratman57]

There's some great Big Country tracks featuring E-Bows.

I have both an E-Bow and a Strat fitted with the Fernandez Sustainer system. Both great fun to play with. The sustainer works great with my Mel 9 pedal. They both definitely need some delay applied to get a really atmospheric sound.

I am quite tempted by Paul's fretless guitar/E-Bow combo.

Regards, Simon.

[shufflebeat]

Do you see this?

That must be one of the very earliest Van Morrison album covers. I like his hat.

[zenguitar]

I recovered my original silver Ebow when I cleared my brother's house, but unfortunately it had been left with a battery inside that had leaked.

It's not clear how to dismantle it, but looking online I discovered that there is still an active Ebow site and they are very helpful. So I emailing them for advice.

Andy

[zenguitar]

They replied already, but confirmed that there's no way to take the old Ebow apart without destroying it. Only option is to splice a new clip on if there's enough of the old lead remaining.

Andy

[Ian Shaw]

They replied already, but confirmed that there's no way to take the old Ebow apart without destroying it. Only option is to splice a new clip on if there's enough of the old lead remaining.

Andy

Worth a go , I reckon. I feel an Ebow renaissance coming on!

[Ian Shaw]

Yay! Just found mine in a tin with old guitar bits. Replaced the battery & it works!

Happy days

[Fishnish]

I love my Ebow, although of course it's easy to overdo it.

It's especially fun on a console steel.

[The Elf]

Ready when you are!

[ManFromGlass]

Yes, the inventor Paul Vo followed it up with "The Wond".

I signed up for one of these centuries ago.

Same here. I’ve almost given up. Can’t afford a Fernandez or the Moog guitar. Almost bought the device that attaches to the bridge and has those rotating disks. (What’s with my memory these days?)
I do have an original and 2nd Gen ebow (love them!) and the Sustainiac Model C (feels like your guitar is alive and vibrating which it is). I also bought the Digitech Freqout (greater control over harmonics). But the Vo Wand would be a wonderful addition. Fingers crossed on that.

[N i g e l]

Almost bought the device that attaches to the bridge and has those rotating disks. (What’s with my memory these days?)

GIZMOTRON II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ka89zhyzSU

[Forum Admin]

Almost bought the device that attaches to the bridge and has those rotating disks.

Gizmo and later Gizmotron - see v2.0 SOS review:
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/gizmotron-20

[Forum Admin]

Ready when you are!

Paul, eBows don't work on the piano keyboard. (even with a fresh battery)

[Stratman57]

I bet it would work on piano strings though.

Regards, Simon.

[Forum Admin]

Quite apart from the myriad stellar Ebow melodies by Bill Nelson (I'm sure the Gilby Brothers would not disagree )...

Totally agree - Bill has done plenty of stunning EBow solos over the decades, but my favourite is the Middle East-flavoured opening/main riff to 'Private View' (The Love That Whirls 80's album) - check it out on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/GAIVe_VeUuU

[Ian Shaw]

Quite apart from the myriad stellar Ebow melodies by Bill Nelson (I'm sure the Gilby Brothers would not disagree )...

Totally agree - Bill has done plenty of stunning EBow solos over the decades, but my favourite is the Middle East-flavoured opening/main riff to 'Private View' (The Love That Whirls 80's album) - check it out on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/GAIVe_VeUuU

Yep, I think Bill Nelson was the main man with the Ebow for a while. He was ahead of his time in a lot of ways. Forgot about that album. Good to hear it again

[The Elf]

I know Steve Hackett was an EBow devotee for some time, but I can't seem to find any examples on YouTube. Odd!