Anybody own an E-bow?

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 10 Apr 2006 11:32 am

Ken Rollans played at the Fiske Theater in Oak Grove Saturday, and on one of his songs he used an E-bow. It sounded purty close to a fiddle to me. Anybody else own one of these? if so how do you like it for a fiddle sound?

Terry

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Mullen RP D10 /8x5 / Nashville 112/ American Strat Highway 1 model
pickin for Jesus

Billy Murdoch · Post by **Billy Murdoch** » 10 Apr 2006 11:44 am

Terry,
I bought an e bow many years ago and used it for regular guitar and got a fairly good "bowing" soung,I sold it after a while and believe it or not I bought another about a year ago after watching Sarah Jory using it at the Irish steel show.
You can get some great "Human voice" sounds on the Pedal Steel and if you get the delay set right it is really good.You will only use it now and again however...
Best regards
Billy

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 11 Apr 2006 8:37 am

The E-bow is a great tool. I use mine frequently. I just wish I could get my original two-string model repaired...

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 11 Apr 2006 8:59 am

I didn't realize they ever made a 2-string model.
I like it for 6 string esp- I am not so sure it actually gives much of an actual "bowed fiddle" tone, though it is GREAT for maintaining sustain you wouldn't believe- probably not otherwise possible. For steel, I would think you would at least need a two-string capacity since so much of what's done on steel is harmonic.
I also found it a little more difficult to locate what they call the sweet spot with the steel pickups so far down toward the bridge.

Terry Bethel · Post by **Terry Bethel** » 11 Apr 2006 10:09 am

I also have a two string and a single string model. They are both the original models with the chrome covers. They both work very well, considering there are probably close to 30 years old. I got them when I was with Mel in the middle 70's.

Terry Bethel

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 11 Apr 2006 10:46 am

A Bosstone will give you a closer fiddle sound. I use a Tubeworks tube driver for distortion in the band I play in and do pads using single strings. On the lower strings, it sounds like cellos, and on the higher strings it sounds like violins. I also have an Ebow, but I use it very little, it pretty much limits you to one string unless you're dexterous enough to move it from string to string while you're playing, I'm not.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Darvin Willhoite on 11 April 2006 at 11:50 AM.]</p></FONT>

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 11 Apr 2006 6:59 pm

The 2 string version was made specifically for steel. I have one. I had a spare, but it was in my car when it was stolen, and when it was recovered, everything in the trunk, including a steel and amp, was gone.

Terry Sneed · Post by **Terry Sneed** » 12 Apr 2006 6:43 am

Thanks for the info guys. Sorry for your loss Mike.

Ken told me he placed the E-bow on the 5th or B string when he was making the fiddle sound. Is this where most of you place it to get a fiddle sound, or do you use a smaller string?
It didn't sound exactly like a fiddle, but to my ears it was close enough to make me want one.

Darwin, how much is the Boss tone, and do you have to have the distortion effect to sound like a fiddle?

Terry

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Mullen RP D10 /8x5 / Nashville 112/ American Strat Highway 1 model
pickin for Jesus

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 12 Apr 2006 7:37 am

I should point out that I had all my gear insured, so I was able to replace everything that was stolen, except the 2 string E-bow.

The one I still have works great.

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My web site

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 12 Apr 2006 9:13 am

The two string version for steel was actually the first one they made... mine gave up the ghost years ago, and since all of the guts are potted in hard plastic, there's no way to get in there to monkey with it. Heet sound has told me they are unrepairable. Wish they'd make 'em again- the ability to tip it sideways to bring one or the other string in or out is really cool. You can do a whole lot with the single string version though. A lot of synthish sounds, and very "female vocalish" noises. Check out BE doing "once upon a time in the west"- he totally nails the sound of the (wordless) female vocal on the original movie soundtrack.

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Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 12 Apr 2006 10:03 am

Terry, there is a Bosstone for sale here on the Forum for $100, which is a good deal. I've seen the originals sell for around $200.

I can get a passable cello sound by picking a single string about halfway between the bar and the bridge and using a wide, fast vibrato. The distortion box makes the notes sustain much longer and the overtones makes it sound more "scratchy" or "edgey" like a violin, or violin section does.

Our band has an extra keyboard that is used for string and horn sounds, but the player is usually in the higher registers, so I use the lower strings on my steel to kind of beef up the pads they play. Here is a link to a song that our Praise & Worship band does where I used this effect on the verses and a straight steel sound (with chorus effect) on the choruses. Download it and give it a listen.
click here

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording