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Topic: Mysterious guitar string exciting device...< Next Oldest | Next Newest >
a_r_schulz Offline




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Posted: Aug. 22 2005, 07:04

Anyone knows what this might be? It's nothing I've seen Mike using (yet), but on a live show with David Bowie that I recorded recently from TV.
Especially noticable during 'Heroes', the guitar player wasn't picking or strumming, but holding some small device (size of a cigarette box apporox.) against the strings to get these endlessly sustained notes so prominent in this song out of his instrument.  Some kind of feedback-generator, or a small, motor-driven wheel inside, kind of bowing the strings?
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raven4x4x Offline




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Posted: Aug. 22 2005, 08:46

Oh yes, I've noticed that a couple of times during the Reality Tour DVD (which I love, by the way). The guitarist Gerry Leonard (I assume it's the same one) gets some very interesting sounds in a few places, particularly New Killer Star and Hallo Spaceboy for anyone who has the DVD. (He also uses some very nice echo and effects in the intros to Sunday and Heathen, nothing to do with the box thingy but I love them anyway). My guess is something to do with magnets.

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verhfrank Offline




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Posted: Aug. 22 2005, 10:08

The device that is being used is an EBow, which uses a magnetic field to vibrate the strings infinitely. It's the same device used by The Edge on 'With Or Without You' and is heard on many other recordings.
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a_r_schulz Offline




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Posted: Aug. 23 2005, 05:51

Thanks a lot - thought of something like that - it's just much easier to google for something if you know what it's called:
http://www.ebow.com - for the manufaturer's site. Looks cute - maybe I'll get one for my kids (two guitar- and one bass-player...).
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raven4x4x Offline




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Posted: Aug. 23 2005, 06:28

Thanks for the info verhfrank. The more I read and hear about it, the more I want to get one.

And I don't even play the guitar!


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a_r_schulz Offline




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Posted: Aug. 29 2005, 03:17

Now having spotted it once, I've just seen it again used by Steve Hacket in a German TV gig from 1979 I 'disked' last night, and one of our local music stores sells one for 139 Euros..
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5 replies since Aug. 22 2005, 07:04 < Next Oldest | Next Newest >

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