User Guide

Player’s Guide
page 3
near the string to be driven. This allows you to feel when
the EBow is in the correct position. The blue LED shines
directly on the driven string. The EBow does not touch the
driven string. Just holding the EBow in place produces in-
nite sustain. You can feel
the string vibrating under
your ngertips, just as
you can with amplier
feedback.
The EBow should rest
naturally on the strings
with only a light pres-
sure against them. In the
basic position it should
not be tilted, rocked up
on one end or pressed down too hard. Don’t twist or wiggle
the EBow out of alignment with the strings.
Methods of Control
Proximity to the pickup controls volume and tone for bowing
and other effects. Proximity to the string controls the drive,
useful for horn sounds, rock sounds and a quicker response
in the higher registers.
String Activation
When the EBow is placed into position, the string in the
DriveChannel will begin to vibrate. For a faster response,
add more pressure on the EBow (see Pressing). For the
quickest response, tap the fretboard harder with your left
hand or tap the EBow into position (see Spiccato). Mov-
ing the EBow across the strings activates each string as it
leaves the EBow GuideGroove and enters the DriveChan-
nel (see Cross-String Bowing).
Gliding
When the GuideGrooves are
in place on the SupportStrings,
you can glide the EBow to
and from the pickup along the
strings. This controls dynamics
(volume) and creates dramatic
tonal changes.
Only your bass pickup should be on. As you glide the EBow
toward the pickup, the volume increases and the tone
brightens. For mellow sustain, back away from the pickup.
For violin-like bowing strokes, glide the EBow toward the
pickup with each note you play. In the harmonic mode, this
technique creates a wah effect.
Position the EBow at least 2 inches away from the bass
pickup and slowly glide toward it. Notice where the sound
begins to get louder and brighter. This is the beginning
of the basic playing area. Now, glide the EBow over the
pickup until you nd the loudest spot. This is the HotSpot.
Lower your volume if this becomes too loud. A humbucker
(double coil) pickup has two HotSpots with a dead spot in
the middle.
From where the volume starts to increase, up to the
HotSpot, is the basic playing area (about 1 inch). It is im-
portant to become familiar with
your pickup’s playing area for
overall dynamic control.
Gliding the EBow near the
pickup when not playing can
create unwanted noise. To
avoid this, lift the EBow from
the strings.
Pressing
Applying more pressure on the EBow against the Support-
Strings brings the DriveChannel closer to the string being
played and increases the drive. Less pressure decreases
the drive. This light press-and-release action can be used