Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The heading says it all; are there any lovers of the EBow out there? I keep two of them handy in my pedal board, though I am a bit disappointed that we don't usually play the songs live that I use the EBOW on. I really enjoy those occcasions on which I'm able to use mine. I'm going to bring them to the So. Cal confluence this year just for giggles.

I've found the Ebow to work particularly well with all of my Rickenbackers, even the 12 string. I don't play anything Prog-y. I use my Ebow in a more New wave style. I have both a 2nd generation Ebow(the 1st generation EBows were evidently made of chromed metal) that I bought in the early 90s due to the influence of The Church, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Big Country, as well as one of the newer EBow plus models that has a regular and harmonic setting. On the older models was still possible to get the harmonic sound out of the unit, but it required a bit of technique on the part of the player. I bought the newer unit when I misplaced my oroginal, and had no idea where I had left it after much searching in every nook and cranny. I found the unit of course, but only AFTER I'd bought the new unit. I'm not sure which one I use more-I usually just use the first one within reach in my pedal board. the new one can be confusing as the switch turns on in one direction for the regular setting, off in the middle, and turns on the other way for the harmonic setting. I can never which on direction does what on that thing, so I have to check it for a second. I should just label it with a Sharpie or something I suppose .

Anyone?

There was another thread about the Ebow about 6 or so months ago. I also noticed when watching the Yes Live at Montreux 2003 dvd that Steve Howe used one.

I knew that Steve Howe from Yes used the Ebow. I used the Ebow on a few songs on my group's most recent recording. I usually find a way to get it into one recording or another. I like the way the guys in the Church use the Ebow. "Constant In Opal" is one song that comes to mind, as well as "Under the Milky Way" at the end of the song.

Paul, I found all these references to ebow:

http://www.rickresource.com/phpBB3/sear ... +&start=15

This is the one that got my attention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwq0i6jP ... ed&search=

I watch them on eBay and maybe one of these days I'll catch one that hasn't gotten much interest or a lot of bids and try one.

There is a rumor out there that the Ebow demagnetizes pups. Any truth to that?

I've used one on all my guitars since 2002. No problems at all. I have not got the technique down yet for the 660/12 though. I do use it on all my 6 strings, Rics, Godins and LP. Arpeggios on a Ric at the neck pickup sound remarkably like a bowed violin or cello. Add the use of a glass slide and all kinds of sounds become available. Try playing Sleep Walk with an E-bow and a slide. Very interesting.

teb wrote:This is the one that got my attention.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwq0i6jP ... ed&search=

I watch them on eBay and maybe one of these days I'll catch one that hasn't gotten much interest or a lot of bids and try one.

That's a great clip! Fascinating combination of other effects used to enhance the use of the EBow, but PK is an Ebow master with or without added effects.

Great vid indeed. Listening, I realized how Andy Lattimer of Camel got some of his sounds.

Mike Campbell of the Heartbreakers uses one of these too. He makes a great noise on "Top of the World" off of the Echo release. I'm sure he uses on other tracks too, but I have a dvd with this particular track on it, and you can see the ebow on Benmont Trench's piano, and see Campbell use it for a moment....What a great band that is....and best of all they REGULARLY utilize RIC instruments. I have seen Campbell play an awesome lime green glo RIC mandolin shaped as a 330. Surprised the hell out of me-he's a fantastic player and I believe, sooooooo underrated!

johnallg wrote:Great vid indeed. Listening, I realized how Andy Lattimer of Camel got some of his sounds.

I love the way Lattimer plays and his tone.

I have an Ebow, but haven't really gotten the hang of it. The vid gives me some things to try. I think you need a pretty strong battery all the time to get them to get the strings singing that fast.

I was one of the first people who had a Gizmotron on order, but they never came out for guitar

sharkboy wrote:

johnallg wrote:Great vid indeed. Listening, I realized how Andy Lattimer of Camel got some of his sounds.

I love the way Lattimer plays and his tone.

Me too, Mark. Very underrated guitarist who plays very tasty and melodic parts that highlight the music, not his ego.

I have an old black one with the red logo. Do you think it's worth getting a newer one with the stronger magnet?

Also, I believe you can get more sounds out of them with a side by side Gibson type humbucker (the Rick hbs are stacked and don't seem to react in a special way).

Has anyone tried one on an acoustic guitar, will they work on one?

And, somebody had to say Camel, that sent me into a search mission, and I have a DVD on the way now.

I've long been a fan of Bill Nelson's ebow playing. I've never bought one, though, or had an opportunity to try one.