for tbone: bowing a bongo

[SharonG]

Have you tried an EBow? I just was given one, and while I can't make any usable sounds with it, I understand there are those who can. It's not really designed to use with a bass, but somebody needs to inform Michael Manring of that fact.

I have one, and have taken a few tries with it. at this point the sounds I am getting are very cool, but very unpredictable. This seems like something that will take a while to get a good feel for. But very fun to play with!!

 

[GreyDad]

Have you tried an EBow? I just was given one, and while I can't make any usable sounds with it, I understand there are those who can. It's not really designed to use with a bass, but somebody needs to inform Michael Manring of that fact.

Funny you should say that, the guy in my little local music store suggested the same thing and he had one in stock. Thing is, it's over £70 (about $130 at the moment) so I wasn't inclined to buy it. What I might do if I get chance, though, is take the Bongo in and try it out at the store.

I'll report back here on my experiment in due course

 

[GreyDad]

Actually, earlier today I called the post office where I left the package, as it showed no movement at all since I left it there saturday. And a good thing I did too, because they eventually found it, still there, behind some other stuff???
Anyway, that's hopefully sorted, and I think that if you track it it'll show up as leaving Sweden tomorrow. I hope...

The reason I asked was I'd checked on the site as well and even in Swedish I could tell there was no apparent westward movement at all

Thanks for chasing it up, your reward will be many beers in a pub one day

 

[GreyDad]

I have one, and have taken a few tries with it. at this point the sounds I am getting are very cool, but very unpredictable. This seems like something that will take a while to get a good feel for. But very fun to play with!!

Sharon do you feel brave enough to post some sound samples?

The wackier the better

 

[SharonG]

I will try once I get my Bongos back - they are with customer service right now......

 

[GreyDad]

Oh yes, sorry I forgot about that - my sympathies

So no-one has sent you a spare one yet then? tsk tsk

Maybe Customer Services could offer a Courtesy-Bongo, like when you take your car in for a service

 

[SharonG]

.........hmm, yes - I'll take a BFR 4 HH Bongo please...........

 

[T-bone]

Funny you should say that, the guy in my little local music store suggested the same thing and he had one in stock. Thing is, it's over £70 (about $130 at the moment) so I wasn't inclined to buy it. What I might do if I get chance, though, is take the Bongo in and try it out at the store.

I'll report back here on my experiment in due course

Ebow schmeebow. One of the reasons I bow my bass is because I saw Jimmy Page bow his guitar back in 1969. Not only did it sound great, but it looked pretty cool, too. Now I'm not saying I look any cooler (it'll take a lot more than a bow to do that) but when I pick up my bow, all eyes and ears are on me. Scary, huh?

tbone

 

[CFA]

Tbone, Do you slap the strings like Page did too?

To be honest, Page is the one that makes me want a bow for my basses/guitars... haven't gotten the courage to buy one yet.

 

[GreyDad]

Ebow schmeebow. One of the reasons I bow my bass is because I saw Jimmy Page bow his guitar back in 1969. Not only did it sound great, but it looked pretty cool, too. Now I'm not saying I look any cooler (it'll take a lot more than a bow to do that) but when I pick up my bow, all eyes and ears are on me. Scary, huh?

tbone

Yep, agreed, I do think the bow looks cool. I'm going to keep trying it, but I'll give the ebow in the shop a whirl anyway just to see what it's like.

Did you try hanging your bass down around your knees like Pagey did with his guitar?

 

[strummer]

Thanks for chasing it up, your reward will be many beers in a pub one day

Yeah you know how much I love drinking beer;-)
It's on its way anyway, finally!

 

[thunder]

Hi tbone,

So I went out and bought a short basic violin bow and had a go using it on my Bongo today. It was interesting, I could get some cool sounds and in particular on the bongo you can bow the harmonics and they come out really well.

However, to get a bow to work it has to be rubbed in rosin, I understand, which was done in the music shop before I left (standard practice for violins etc). Problem is this leaves a sticky white powder all over the bass strings, especially roundwounds! Is this normal? What's the SOP here? I'd like to experiment more but worry my lovely bass will end up a claggy sticky mess and will refuse to function. Just wondered what you do?

Neil

just buy an ebow. and used lighter strings.

 

[GreyDad]

just buy an ebow. and used lighter strings.

But I won't get that thumpy, growly goodness from light strings - my bongo will lose it's... thunder

 

[GreyDad]

Well I tried out the double bass rosin, which is certainly different and doesn't make as much mess. I still have the baby violin bow but I was able to get a better sound out of it this time. Not yet worked out the best way to hold the bow and play yet so need to work on that some more - I also need to figure out something interesting to play using one string I'm sure there are technical exercise I would know if I was a proper musician.

Anyway, more practice to do and I'll also see if I can get time to try the ebow this weekend.

 

[T-bone]

Right On, GreyDad. I used mine earlier tonight at a gig and am loving the sound. Again, I think roundwounds, coupled with a high quality bow make a big difference. And there's plenty of notes on that E string.

tbone

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Silly question, please don't ridicule me but... I know you can get an ebow for guitar, would that not work on a bass? bear in mind I have only heard about these and never tried one...

and after a quick google I have actually found out that Michael Manring has used one in a few songs.

 

[strummer]

The ebow certainly works for bass too, but compared to a bow there are at least two drawbacks as i see it: It is harder to get a predictable result, and it dioes not look at all cool on stage.
Of course there are benefits too, such as less muckyness, less maintenance and so on, but I think the visual element alone means a regular bow would be best

 

[GreyDad]

Thanks tbone, nice to hear you're doing this actively on gigs. Have you got any recorded samples?

GW, the ebow was suggested a page back, I'll try it out when I get chance.

Magnus, agree the bow is more cool, I think the mess can be managed with appropriate practice and technique and the generous use of wonder wipes

 

[strummer]

Magnus, agree the bow is more cool, I think the mess can be managed with appropriate practice and technique and the generous use of wonder wipes

Yep, definitely, and don't be afraid to mess up the BD, I have lots of wonderwipes thanks to the generous BP

 

[GreyDad]

Would you mind if I temporarily swapped the p/g? Thinking black...