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johnny's metal thing

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you know that thing johnny uses at the end of amsterdam?

its like a metal thingamabob

what is that?

and whats the metal tube or whatever at the end of his left hand (so its going up and down the fret board)

its like magnetic thing in right hand and metal tube in left hand

anyone?

I have no idea, but I'd like to know too.

 

:D

Yeah, I know the metal tube thing your talking about. Seems to me like he uses it so he can get the sound that he wants. Because when you see him use it on the DVD he pulls it down along the strings of the guitar. But I'm not sure about the magnetic thing your talking about.

Someone in here's gotta play the guitar and would know. :confused:

do you mean a slide? :huh: i know it's like this tube that your finger goes in and you slide it on the frets....not sure what that thing he sticks in the hole in the guitar....i don't know. :/

  • Author

yeah slide thats prolly it

for the magnetic thing:

everyone watch amsterdam its that noise or whatever he makes

i cant even explain it

just watch amsterdam on the dvd

Its called an e-bow and it it battery powered - it makes all the strings vibrate continuously so he doesn't have to strum when he uses the slide :)

:idea2: thanx

 

I like your sig (the purple one) :D

Are there many guitarists that uses that e-bow thing? :huh:

  • Author

i've never seen anyone use it before

i remember seeing the slide before

but that e-bow ive never heard of

Me too. The slide thing is rather common I think...

e.g. the e-bow is used to start Spies on the Parachutes album. there are loads of other bands that use them. if you hear similar effects on other albums its probably this method

do you mean a slide?

that e-bow thing?

 

Hmm well i know what a slide is, but i've never heard of an e-bow, sounds cool though. Watch some videos with Tim Reynolds He is awesome with the guitar slide!

Hey There,

 

An e-bow is an amazing tool - you'll find a lot of bands use it, radiohead, coldplay (;)), sigur ros are just a few off the top of my head.

 

It works by using alternate magnets each side of a string (only works on one string at a time) and as the magnets alternate, they vibrate the string ever so slightly, creating a humming noise :)

 

Regards,

 

Jee

  • 4 weeks later...
Its called an e-bow and it it battery powered - it makes all the strings vibrate continuously so he doesn't have to strum when he uses the slide :)

where can i get one? :D :P

cant believe i didnt see this thread...

 

the metal tube that you use on your finger for the hand that you fret with is indeed a slide. It comes standard in brass and glass. They cost around $12. Glass is more used for electrics, and brass is more used for acoustics, because acoustic guitarists using slides tend to use more force, and glass slides can break. Use it by placing the slide on the strings and gently push down, but without the strings touching the fretboard. the slide causes the string to play the pitch relative to where the slide is on the string.

 

As for ebows, those buggers are incredible. I really want one, but they're uncommon at guitar stores. Its a small electronic device that you hold in the hand that you normally strum/pick with, and it has a notch on it. Place a string in the notch, and the walls of the notch have magnets in it that reverberate and slowly cause the string to vibrate. This changes the attack on the note. With a pick, the attack is instant, but with an ebow, its gradual, as if you were picking it at zero volume, and turning the volume up gradually. It sounds incredible with reverb and delay. And also, it only plays one string, the other strings stay silent. If you cant find an ebow, some guitarists try using reverb and delay, and turning the volume knob all the way down, then pick the note, and turn the volume up right after picking it. It gives the same effect, but an ebow makes everything less complicated.

As for ebows, those buggers are incredible. I really want one, but they're uncommon at guitar stores. Its a small electronic device that you hold in the hand that you normally strum/pick with, and it has a notch on it. Place a string in the notch, and the walls of the notch have magnets in it that reverberate and slowly cause the string to vibrate. This changes the attack on the note. With a pick, the attack is instant, but with an ebow, its gradual, as if you were picking it at zero volume, and turning the volume up gradually. It sounds incredible with reverb and delay. And also, it only plays one string, the other strings stay silent. If you cant find an ebow, some guitarists try using reverb and delay, and turning the volume knob all the way down, then pick the note, and turn the volume up right after picking it. It gives the same effect, but an ebow makes everything less complicated.

 

If you're in the US you can order one fromMusician's Friend. I don't think the magnets themselves actually physically reverberate; IIRC it's alternating electromagnets which make the string vibrate. As well as fading in/out, it causes the string to vibrate indefinitely, which means you can emulate other instruments (with a lot of practice). I got one for Christmas, it's fairly easy to learn the basics. I was playing Coldplay stuff and My Iron Lung within a couple of hours :P

I call it a bottleneck, but it's also called slide..... he uses it in daylight too... maybe i'm wrong

$80 for an e-bow! Yikes... Oh well *makes birthday list*

  • Author

yeah he uses it in daylight

ive never heard of it referred to as a bottleneck but whatever

he uses a slide AND an ebow in amsterdam too

i didnt know the ebow was used only on one string but i guess it would sound messed up with all the strings

I've heard of an ebow for two strings, but its mainly for country music, one is good enough. if you want all the strings, get an actual bow. The guitarist of Sigur Ros plays with a bow, and it sounds awesome. Jimmy Page used one too. its rough on the horse hairs, and leaves rosin on the strings, so its quite an upkeep.

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