Re: How an Ebow works..addendum

[Charles Zwicky <cazwicky@earthlink.net>]

Title: Re: How an Ebow works..addendum

Hi Andy,

Yes it is true that the Ebow sounds very different on an instrument with a magnetic p/u, the reason for that  I mentioned in my  description:

"The (Ebow's internal) amplifier is not very powerful and is easily driven into square wave clipping, which is plainly audible in an electric instrument when the excitation coil is positioned above the instrument's own pickup."

That squarewave distortion provides much of the characteristic tone associated with the Ebow,

The original Ebow demo tape has some -expert- examples of arpeggios and other techniques.. it's stunning how good that demo still is.

-CZ

> Charles Zwicky wrote:
> > Here's my simple explanation:
> Nice explanation. (especially about the 2 coils, I didn't know
> that)
> I'd add (more explicitly) that the ebow
> sounds very different
> on an instrument with a magnetic p/u.
>
> The output coil in the ebow is 'picked up' directly by the magnetic
> p/u
> in a guitar. That's why you get that heavily distorted tone, and why
> by
> careful positioning of the ebow you can get a very precise control of
> dynamics.
> (either move the ebow along the string, or lift it slightly to vary
> the distance
> from the p/u).
>
> To avoid the distorted tone you can use the ebow over the
> fingerboard,
> but it has to be a long way from the p/u.
> ....obviously piezos are immune.
>
>
> The shape of the ebow, where it contacts the strings, is not only
> to make it easy to position. Drawing the ebow across the strings gives
> a light plucking action
> that can help to start the note. (that's how the arpeggios
> described
> in the manual are possible).
>
>
> andy

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