E-Bow

The E- Bow is an effect unit for electrically amplified guitars, which is held by the guitarist with the batting and added a string electromagnetically vibrated. Much like the bow of a string instrument thereby a long-lasting, uniform tone can be generated. The E -Bow is sold by Heet Sound since the 1970s.

Operation

The vibration of a string is electrically amplified and used to drive a second reel by means of a coil, serving as a pickup. This second coil is close to the string, so that the alternating magnetic field of the second coil can mechanically act on the string. This feedback ensures that the vibration is substantially less than without the E -bow attenuated.

So that the magnetic field of the second coil does not interfere with the pickup, the coils must be arranged a few centimeters apart. The supply of the amplifier runs on a 9 volt block battery.

In newer versions of the device ( or PlusEBow EBow Plus) may be connected via a switch to the so-called harmonic mode can be activated, which amplifies not the basic vibration of the string, but the Obertonschwingung the first octave.

Play

For the function of the E -Bow, it is necessary that both coils are located in the immediate vicinity of the string. To make this possible with the device held in the hand, shallow grooves are provided. These grooves of the E- bow on the strings left and right of the game to be string can rest and is so well positioned. In addition, as will be vibrations of the adjacent strings on which rests the e-bow, is suppressed.

The device already has the tiniest vibrations and converts them into a sustained tone. In an applied E -Bow it is enough to press the corresponding string on the guitar fretboard. By the E -Bow is as far down the strings down, that it touches the vibrating string light, one reminiscent of the sound of a sitar effect can be produced.

Sound Samples

The E -Bow was used by famous bands and guitarists.

  • The song E -Bow the Letter of R.E.M. refers to the E -Bow. Guitarist Peter Buck put him among other things a while solo.
  • Andy Timmons uses it for his title Beautiful, Strange.
  • Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam played his guitar in the piece WishList with the E -Bow.
  • Ed O'Brien of Radiohead uses the e-bow again and again on recordings and live.
  • James Hetfield, guitarist and singer of the heavy metal band Metallica is said to have used an E -Bow, to write the string accompaniment for the song Nothing Else Matters.
  • Martin Gore of Depeche Mode uses an e-bow for the guitar solo from Walking in My Shoes.
  • Jon Hudson of Faith No More is at Strip Search and Midlife Crisis a an E -Bow.
  • Sigur Rós use the song Untitled 6 from untitled album () ( 2002), an E -Bow, although the band usually plays with a cello bow on guitar. The working title of this song is E -Bow.
  • Dark Tranquillity used an E -Bow for the song The Grandest Accusation from the album We Are the Void.
  • Paul Banks of Interpol plays the song Take You On A Cruise an E -Bow.
  • Bassist Michael Manring uses the E -Bow on the electric bass.
  • Noel Gallagher of Oasis uses the E -Bow published their 1996 single Do not Look Back in Anger.
  • The Edge from U2 frequently used an E -Bow with live versions of With or Without You and The Unforgettable Fire.
  • Peter Koppes of The Church used an E -Bow in the song Under the milky way.
  • Stuart Adamson put in some pieces of the band Big Country an E -Bow, including among others at the beginning and at the end of Eiledon from the album The Seer
  • Jochen Arbeit, guitarist of the band Einstürzende Neubauten, often uses an e-bow along with a pitch shifter that adds the sounds of the guitar a previously defined interval.

Others

With the E -Bow also sustained sounds can be produced on a grand piano sustain pedal down.

Electric guitar Fingerboard The Church (band)
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