bowing your bass?

[fly]

off topic but,it has to do with basses so......

i bow my MM's from time to time,a bit of a clean up of the strings 'cuz of the resin........but fun none the less.

so......i scored a none MM fretless bass with flats on it......sounds pretty cool with the bow but,i was wondering,has anyone of you guys bowed your basses before? and if so.....what are the best strings to use?

 

[oli@bass]

Cool idea! But.... how can you bow an electric bass, isn't the fretboard radius (and thus the string height difference) much to flat for bowing? Can you use "any" bow?

Would love to try that on my 'Rays....

 

[Powman]

I tried it and was able to bow the E string, but thats about it. Sounded pretty cool!

 

[bovinehost]

That 11" plus radius seems a bit flat for bowing to me.

 

[fly]

i either get my E string or my G string......so yes,you are limited.

i'm gonna mess with this fretless and try and "round" out the radius.....it's not easy but,adds a different sound that's for sure.

so yeah E and G is what you get........

and as far as i know oli,it's your standard violin bow i have........rosin that baby up and man,cool sounds.........


any idea on the ideal strings for something like this?

 

[T-bone]

I like the rounds cause they create more friction.

tbone

 

[fly]

thanks T-bone.........awesome pic man.

 

[gsmithbass]

Ebow?

Has anyone tried using the Ebow on their electric bass with much success?

 

[fly]

just searched an Ebow out.......very cool little unit.

but,i've only used a violin bow on my gear........might grab an Ebow though,nice sustain from them.

here's a link to the Ebow if anyone is interested.

http://www.ebow.com/home.php

 

[funkymofo]

I am sitting next to my girlfriends cello and this is really tempting me. Only issue is her bow is worth about 3 times as much as a stingray so i think I may try it with something cheaper first!

 

[fly]

I am sitting next to my girlfriends cello and this is really tempting me. Only issue is her bow is worth about 3 times as much as a stingray so i think I may try it with something cheaper first!

a buddy gave me my bow........i baby it more than my Basses and guitars......about 300 bucks.....

they are not cheap.........if you do try it.........warm water on a cotton cloth,and wipe your strings in the bowed area right after playing too.......that's why i'm good with playing with my cheap bass.....not worried about it,the strings can get sticky,it's gonna be my bowed bass......

glad there are peeps who are interested,it's damn fun i tell ya'..........

 

[oli@bass]

Just checked out the prices for bass and cello bows...

Looks like I'm going to try the EBow. Always wanted to be able to fade notes and and have them sustain forever. A pity that they don't make a bass model.

 

[kamakazee]

I use an Ebow playing around the house sometimes. The bass's strings are much heavier than a guitar, with the added tension, makes the Ebow a challenge. It works best if I have my blend dialed towards the neck humbucker. The Ebow likes humbuckers better. Due to the distortion the Ebow generates, its hard to manage but it can be done. The EQ really helps alot. It takes a while of getting used to the Ebow and mastering its techniques, which I'm far from. Sounds great on the A D and G.

P.S. Your Ebow will need an almost new battery for the best effect.

 

[gsmithbass]

Ebow

Glad to hear that someone has had some success with the EBOW. Thanks for the tips and I am anxious to try it out again.

 

[2ndBassGuitar]

I am sitting next to my girlfriends cello and this is really tempting me. Only issue is her bow is worth about 3 times as much as a stingray so i think I may try it with something cheaper first!

Are you saying she is worth 3 times what you are?

 

[funkymofo]

Are you saying she is worth 3 times what you are?

And then some