Ebow Arpeggio
Herbert Meister
just got an Ebow yesterday. I know it will take a while to handle this
thing but I wonder how to get a faster response of my strings. I have to
rest the ebow on one string to get a louder tone.
Is there a difference between normal batteries and rechargeables? I use
rechargeables at the moment because I only use my effects at home at the
moment. I also thought my strings are too thin but even at the first E
or A string I have to put it exactly onto the string to get a faster
response but far away from how it looks on the videos that can be found
at youtube. I checked different positions to the pickup and even on the
hotspot an arpeggio seems to be impossible.
When I look at videos like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knv_TnlXRFE
it looks like the sound has to come much faster than on my equipment.
Last reason it may be is that I tried it only on my PodXT. My amplifier
isn't here at home at the moment.
Any ideas?
Rufus
A guess - you may need to adjust the height of your pickups - remember,
the E-Bow works by supplying an oscillating magnetic field, and your
pickups provide a magnetic field, so if the two are interacting/working
against each other because you like your pickups set higher...
...or, you could try it using the E-Bow futher up the neck first...MMV.
--
- Rufus
Elmo' 7#9
> Is there a difference between normal batteries and rechargeables?
No, both work equally well.
The Ebow performs even with relatively flat batteries (and makes great sound
effects in the last 2 minutes of battery life).
> Any ideas?
To balance with regular picking...
I have my guitar volume on 2 for regular ebow playing over the sweet spot on
the Rhythm pickup.
To play arpeggios, I turn up to 5 or 6 and, if i want to sustain a note,
pull sharply away from the sweet spot to save my hearing!
I've had the Ebow for about 15 years now and I'm STILL finding new quirks.
Elmo' 7#9
Elmo' 7#9
volume.
Herbert Meister
be but the strings are only vibrating if I put the Ebow on the strings
nearby. If I hold it some millimeters higher it takes a long time until
I can hear a tone. Either my Ebow has a problem or my batteries are
broken. I also tried different guitars (Yamaha SG 700S, Hohner Rockwood
LX250G and the Line6 Variax - well no regular pickups at the last one).
I can get some kind of arpeggio on the Yamaha when hitting the strings
with the sides of the Ebow. But as I understand I shouldn't hit the
strings for that.
I guess I go to the shop tomorrow and let them check what the problem is.
Rufus
You might also try different string sets, if my magnetic theory is
actually at all valid.
But yeah - check/change the batteries first and try again. And then you
might try taking it to a store and just trying it on different guitars
in the store to see if it works better with one sort of stings or another.
--
- Rufus
Fount
"Elmo' 7#9" <Elmo_Macdonald@_NO_KNOB_ENLARGEMENT_EMAIL_PLEASE_hotmail.com>
wrote in message news:lrjEm.68102$4G3....@newsfe06.ams2...
> And applying compression or fuzz REALLY helps even out the giant leaps in
> volume.
>
>
I don't have an ebow, but the other guitarist I play with does. What he
says makes a difference is whether the pickups have plastic or metal covers.
He gets great seagull sounds but only apparently with the metal covers. I
don't know if it makes a huge difference to the sound in general, but just
some ebow trivia I suppose.
Elmo' 7#9
> says makes a difference is whether the pickups have plastic or metal
covers.
> He gets great seagull sounds but only apparently with the metal covers. I
> don't know if it makes a huge difference to the sound in general, but just
> some ebow trivia I suppose.
>
circuit of the ebow instead of the strings?
You can get the same effect by "bowing" the tremolo arm.
Elmo' 7#9
Fount
"Elmo' 7#9" <Elmo_Macdonald@_NO_KNOB_ENLARGEMENT_EMAIL_PLEASE_hotmail.com>
wrote in message news:eN8Fm.56944$mz7....@newsfe07.ams2...
You may be right, but it is nothing like any sound you would get from the
tremolo arm. Its really *does* sound like seagulls. As I said, just a bit
of trivia. I've never learnt to drive an ebow. I just bought a
theremin...now that's a slippery eel I can tell ya!
Elmo' 7#9
> tremolo arm. Its really *does* sound like seagulls.
If you E-bow the tremolo arm *instead of the strings*, the E-bow self
oscillates,
with the pitch changing with proximity to the metal.
Naturally, this is louder if the arm is over the currently selected pickup.
E-bowing *completely slack* strings has the same effect
(just less loud, as there's less mass).
Elmo' 7#9
Elmo' 7#9
as it can usually drive steel strings on an acoustic guitar
without the need of a pickup's magnetic field.
Elmo' 7#9
Herbert Meister
> You might also try different string sets, if my magnetic theory is
> actually at all valid.
Yes different strings may be better. I use coated Elixier strings and
the the heavy ones.
> But yeah - check/change the batteries first and try again. And then you
> might try taking it to a store and just trying it on different guitars
> in the store to see if it works better with one sort of stings or another.
I was in the store and the young guy tried my Ebow. He told me that it
works like every other Ebow. But he never heard about the arpeggio
playing and he wasn't able to play it too. After several times of
explaining him the problem he told me I can change it to another one.
Got new batteries and took it home but it works the same.
One questing for understanding this. I took again a look at the video
and I am not sure if the moves the Ebow above the strings or he is
constantly hitting the strings and just moves the Ebow with contact to
the strings. This works with mine but I get some sounds when moving the
Ebow and hitting the next strings. Do you hit the strings with the Ebow
when playing arpeggios?
If you do than it might be just my thinner strings. Or it may be
different when playing over an amplifier. Maybe the pickups get more
power then?
Rufus
I can't tell from the video if the guitar he's using has covered
pickups, or open coils...which could make a difference. No, I don't
think he's hitting the stings with the E-Bow - it's too smooth and
organic sounding for that.
Your coated stings could make a difference, like open or covered coils.
And then there's the gauge of strings you use. I've read that past a
point the magnetic field of a pickup can actually damp the strings and
kill sustain if the pickup is set too close - so we're back to the setup
of your guitar and interaction of magnetic fields coupled with your
technique again. Notice also that he's playing up close on the neck...
Never did catch what kind of guitar you're trying this on - did you try
it at the shop, say on a Strat or Tele or something like that with it's
stock non-coated strings?
It could also be that he's sitting in the sweet spot in front of his
amp, and has gain set high enough to drive some feedback (even though
he's not that loud) - then the E-Bow wouldn't have to work as hard.
Keep experimenting...
--
- Rufus
eric weasel
My guess is that he's got the gain turned up pretty high on his amp so
that it picks up the minutest sound made by the ebow. Notice also that
he's placing the ebow directly over the pickups, where the response is
strongest and fastest.
my .02
eric
Herbert Meister
> Herbert Meister wrote:
>> Yes different strings may be better. I use coated Elixier strings and
>> the the heavy ones.
I meant 'NOT the heavy ones'. sorry
> I can't tell from the video if the guitar he's using has covered
> pickups, or open coils...which could make a difference. No, I don't
> think he's hitting the stings with the E-Bow - it's too smooth and
> organic sounding for that.
I like this one too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Ut_QliyhQ
Later in the video he is getting quite fast here. Might be a combination
with light touching the strings, loud amp and guitar set to low volume.
> Never did catch what kind of guitar you're trying this on - did you try
> it at the shop, say on a Strat or Tele or something like that with it's
> stock non-coated strings?
I use a Yamaha SG750 (tried my others listed in my first answer). You
can switch the type of pickup you want to use on this one. I did not
take the time to try one in the shop. I haven't tried my old Strat copy now.
> Keep experimenting...
I will. I will try some recordings and headphones to hear the sound
separately w/o hearing the non amplified sound. Maybe hitting the
strings a bit at the right volume setting gives satisfying results.