Sustainers for guitar allow your strings to ring out forever, giving the player the opportunity to mimic violin bows or synth-like effects. How do these little devices work though? Ebow: US: bit.ly/37MnOiT Europe: www.thomann.de/gb/ebow_ebow.htm?offid=1&affid=367 AEON: US: bit.ly/2OPvbxB Europe: www.thomann.de/gb/tc_electronic_aeon_string_sustainer.htm?offid=1&affid=367 More from CSGuitars: Gain access to exclusive content at: www.patreon.com/csguitars Buy CSGuitars Merchandise: www.csguitars.co.uk/store Website: www.csguitars.co.uk Contact: colin@csguitars.co.uk
I usually opted to move the sustainer closer to the 12th fret to prevent the excitation coil from directly exciting the guitar pickup (thus avoiding the square-wave sound). Up there, the string is moving the fastest, and it is easiest for the excitation coil to accelerate. Sometimes you have to move it back, because the string starts bumping into it, or because you're playing higher on the fretboard, but otherwise, you shouldn't have any problems with it.
So, this suggestion is post-punk/psych, and not metal, but "Constant in Opal," an old song by The Church, is a great example of some excellent e-bow technique, if anyone is interested. Peter Koppes still uses the e-bow after all these years, too.
I realise I'm responding to a comment from several years ago which you may have forgotten about: Crickey The Church are a smashing band. I remember my older brother went to see them around the Priest=Aura tour - I wasn't old enough to go unfortunately - and he told me that Peter had a guitar vibrator, that was the first I heard of what I'd learn was an Ebow. I did manage to see them myself about ten years after that. What a great song is Constant in Opal.
(3:52-4:44) that suspense like sound. Fantastic. I was thinking of buying one sustainer. Now I have learned of its function and beauty. I think that will work pretty well together with reverb and shimmer pedal.
On record it’s an Infinite Guitar - one of three customised guitars built by/for Michael Brook (Daniel Lanois has the other one) - it affects all 6 strings, like a Sustainiac or Sustainer system, so you could play chords. Not sure if Edge uses a Sustainiac equipped guitar or an ebow on stage though - he certainly doesn’t take the Infinite Guitar on tour.
I discovered sustainers in your Christmas gifts video, and although it sounded cool, I wasn't sold. But those soundscapes melodies might just change my mind, so dreamy !
**The Guitarist from "Flock of Seagulls" was a Master** A few years ago, he had a stroke. I never purchased a FOS album, but his guitar sound is what shaped their entity.
Everyone’s rightfully pointing out the Rohan quotation, but my ear is particularly drawn to how 3:53 sounds right at home in the Rain World soundtrack. Specifically reminds me of Dustcloud a ton.
I was given one as a gift about 10 years ago and they are perfect for ambient guitar music. I like using it with different length delays or even looping a drone note. Slide works well too for accessing quarter tones and half tones. I would note that these work best with only the neck pickup engaged
Man, I've always dug the sound of these devices, but they rarely show up where I live. Importing it causes it to become way to expensive for what it is. Though you mentioned not being proficient at it, you got some sweet tones with them. The haunting tones were awesome, and I've never seen them used to emulate the breath instruments like you mentioned and ilustrated. Very cool, inspiring sounds indeed.
Thank you. A simple, clear but thorough explanation of these devices. I have an Ed O'Brien Strat w/Fernandes Sustainer (love it). BTW, do you teach? If not, you will always have a second career waiting....
@@ScienceofLoud You are right, it is the "new age" of teaching I guess. I went to teacher's college many moons ago, all classroom-based, so I am "old school" in my thinking. Anyways, your channel is quite different from others, esp. the way you make every word count and, yes, educate.
I had an E-Bow for Christmas last year and I think they're great for getting creative with un-typical guitar playing. What I really enjoy doing is playing it through an ElectroHarmonix Mel 9 pedal, you can get some great E-Bow sounds from that. You can also get some very nice sounds playing an E-Bow through a delay pedal or 2, and delay + Mel 9. In fact most of EHX's "9" pedals sound interesting with an E-Bow, as do a lot of regular guitar effects pedals, especially modulation effects like tremolos, phasers, leslie effects, vibratos and so on. If you've got an E-Bow then a good purchase to go with it is some kind of multi effects unit. 👍
Amazing explications... I understood everything ! As you said "it's the opportunity to mimic" others instruments, but with the character of a guitar. Cool. Thanks.
Interesting stuff. I've been using an ebow since 1991 but never really understand how it works. And you have an excellent accent and perfect teeth too.
@Dave Mendoza And what does the Halo theme, one of the greatest video game themes of all time, with guitar performed by the legendary Steve Vai, have to do with the likes of Bieber?
Aye laddy another fine show. I like how you mix the sustainer with the effects it-kicks it to the next level. ….Very cool…. I got to get me one of those wee sustainers … anyway ,Keep on rockin..
They reminded me of a Talk Box in the sense that after about half hour your either completely done with it or it's all your using for the next 3 years, Lol. It's one of those things that you wished you'd remember to use more often when you sit down to play cause you can get some really cool sounds out of them. Great video, I didn't know someone else had done one other than EBow, Thanks.
Big Country used them, I think The Chameleons did on a few tracks, hell it was even used for Halo's Bungie title on the original Xbox. Cool little piece of kit that I wanna add to my equipment
Check out mick ronson playing heroes with bowie at the freddie mercury tribute concert. I remember seeing that as a kid and thinking he had some magic robot in his hand. I Finally got around 2 getting one.
It’s worth noting that it’s not essential to have a pickup on the guitar. Ebows, and copies, will work on acoustic guitars. Position-wise in roughly the same place along the string, but this is to do with scale length, as is the positioning of pickups on electric guitars. The ‘overtone’ mode is necessary for the high E string on acoustic guitars.
I've got a TATA for you: What are the ins and outs of volume and tone pots, as well as capacitors in guitars? I kinda partially know the answers, but I feel like a CSGuitars breakdown would really clear things up for me and others.
If there were two effects on my wish list, it would be the Game Changer Plus pedal (which I'm trying to justify spending that amount for a single pedal in my mind) and probably an Ebow. I typically use amp feedback to achieve a similar effect, but obviously the Ebow can do more than just feedback alone can. Cool video, though.
Nice work as always, sir! I have two questions: is this much different from using volume knob in order to do volume swells, and if so, how? Plus, what was the second effect in the chain you used to do the spooky music effects? I mean the yellow one. Maybe a flanger? Thank you for your beautiful and always appreciated work!
1. The volume control doesn't give you infinite sustain. You'd have to pluck the string, then swell the volume and the note will die. You'd have to pluck or hammer on every new note. With a sustainer it is vibrating the string so all you need to do is move it to suit the style you need. No plucking, on hammers. 2. Ibanez FL9 Flanger. MIJ sometime in the 80s. All the die cast is stamped with Maxon, so it was manufactured during the era where Ibanez were re-badging Maxon pedals.
I thought it was magic that made it work until you said 9 volt battery...tears flowing now, lol. Seriously though great video, loved Amazing Grace too.
Hi bro how you can change from one string to another one? Every time I do it there is a lot of noise and also the sustain is affected. Maybe fading away from the mic?
I have a friend who has this, and I've tried using it, but it is difficult to get right. I've thought about getting one to try for my bass (my main instrument), but I think I have an answer to that idea.
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Sustainers for guitar allow your strings to ring out forever, giving the player the opportunity to mimic violin bows or synth-like effects. How do these little devices work though?
Ebow:
US: bit.ly/37MnOiT
Europe: www.thomann.de/gb/ebow_ebow.htm?offid=1&affid=367
AEON:
US: bit.ly/2OPvbxB
Europe: www.thomann.de/gb/tc_electronic_aeon_string_sustainer.htm?offid=1&affid=367
More from CSGuitars:
Gain access to exclusive content at: www.patreon.com/csguitars
Buy CSGuitars Merchandise:
www.csguitars.co.uk/store
Website:
www.csguitars.co.uk
Contact:
colin@csguitars.co.uk
CSGuitars which sustainer do you prefer?
Can it be used on a bass??
watched again, never mind... saw my answer
FOR ROHAN!
If you put an ebow over a sustaniac, do you open a portal to another dimension?
Probably. It's the equivalent of dividing by zero.
You can theoretically play the forbidden [REDACTED].
This needs to be done!
The dimension is hell
You get to sustain more than the time before the 9volt battery dies. So more than infinity..
Big plus for the Rohan Theme :D
I LOVE YOUR MUSIC!!!!
@@nooralamgir3703 Thanks! :)
0:46 Liked on the Rohan theme . you just made me smile
Bro, LOTR music? Love it.
Goosebumps, right?
@@lukaslmguitarcorner god yes
Colin: Lighter gauge strings work better
Me: *cries in 13-74*
I know! I was thinking this would be cool for some doom/drone metal
You have it easy. I'm crying in bass (32-130).
Baritone?
*Laughs in 9-46*
Nicolás Reveco Campos laughs even harder in 9-42
Yet again you have answered a question that I was going to ask about in the TATA series..!
The woodwind-tone control tip is amazing!
I usually opted to move the sustainer closer to the 12th fret to prevent the excitation coil from directly exciting the guitar pickup (thus avoiding the square-wave sound). Up there, the string is moving the fastest, and it is easiest for the excitation coil to accelerate. Sometimes you have to move it back, because the string starts bumping into it, or because you're playing higher on the fretboard, but otherwise, you shouldn't have any problems with it.
That ride of the rohirrim theme made my day thank you
So, this suggestion is post-punk/psych, and not metal, but "Constant in Opal," an old song by The Church, is a great example of some excellent e-bow technique, if anyone is interested. Peter Koppes still uses the e-bow after all these years, too.
I realise I'm responding to a comment from several years ago which you may have forgotten about:
Crickey The Church are a smashing band. I remember my older brother went to see them around the Priest=Aura tour - I wasn't old enough to go unfortunately - and he told me that Peter had a guitar vibrator, that was the first I heard of what I'd learn was an Ebow.
I did manage to see them myself about ten years after that.
What a great song is Constant in Opal.
@@pabcrane Blasts from the pasts! 😆
(3:52-4:44) that suspense like sound. Fantastic. I was thinking of buying one sustainer. Now I have learned of its function and beauty. I think that will work pretty well together with reverb and shimmer pedal.
There’s no iconic e-bow sound than the u2 track with or without you
On record it’s an Infinite Guitar - one of three customised guitars built by/for Michael Brook (Daniel Lanois has the other one) - it affects all 6 strings, like a Sustainiac or Sustainer system, so you could play chords. Not sure if Edge uses a Sustainiac equipped guitar or an ebow on stage though - he certainly doesn’t take the Infinite Guitar on tour.
I discovered sustainers in your Christmas gifts video, and although it sounded cool, I wasn't sold.
But those soundscapes melodies might just change my mind, so dreamy !
**The Guitarist from "Flock of Seagulls" was a Master**
A few years ago, he had a stroke. I never purchased a FOS album, but his guitar sound is what shaped their entity.
Everyone’s rightfully pointing out the Rohan quotation, but my ear is particularly drawn to how 3:53 sounds right at home in the Rain World soundtrack. Specifically reminds me of Dustcloud a ton.
I was given one as a gift about 10 years ago and they are perfect for ambient guitar music. I like using it with different length delays or even looping a drone note. Slide works well too for accessing quarter tones and half tones. I would note that these work best with only the neck pickup engaged
Man, I've always dug the sound of these devices, but they rarely show up where I live. Importing it causes it to become way to expensive for what it is.
Though you mentioned not being proficient at it, you got some sweet tones with them. The haunting tones were awesome, and I've never seen them used to emulate the breath instruments like you mentioned and ilustrated. Very cool, inspiring sounds indeed.
It is used in the song "Salustiano Song", by Chico Science & Nação Zumbi.
I've had a Fernandes guitar with a sustainer for years. Just sent off for my Ibanez baritone to have a sustainiac fitted. I love infinite sustain
Thank you. A simple, clear but thorough explanation of these devices. I have an Ed O'Brien Strat w/Fernandes Sustainer (love it). BTW, do you teach? If not, you will always have a second career waiting....
Is this not technically teaching?
I consider this channel an education platform, welcome to my lectures.
@@ScienceofLoud You are right, it is the "new age" of teaching I guess. I went to teacher's college many moons ago, all classroom-based, so I am "old school" in my thinking. Anyways, your channel is quite different from others, esp. the way you make every word count and, yes, educate.
I had an E-Bow for Christmas last year and I think they're great for getting creative with un-typical guitar playing. What I really enjoy doing is playing it through an ElectroHarmonix Mel 9 pedal, you can get some great E-Bow sounds from that. You can also get some very nice sounds playing an E-Bow through a delay pedal or 2, and delay + Mel 9. In fact most of EHX's "9" pedals sound interesting with an E-Bow, as do a lot of regular guitar effects pedals, especially modulation effects like tremolos, phasers, leslie effects, vibratos and so on. If you've got an E-Bow then a good purchase to go with it is some kind of multi effects unit. 👍
I’m picking up good vibrations, this ebow gives excitations
Sounds like the intro from damage inc on master of puppets or at least I think that's the song where they do that
It does sound like that! But Damage Inc. is actually a bunch of volume swells iirc
Thanks for explaining that. I didn’t know how it worked and now I do.
Amazing explications... I understood everything !
As you said "it's the opportunity to mimic" others instruments, but with the character of a guitar. Cool. Thanks.
Interesting stuff. I've been using an ebow since 1991 but never really understand how it works. And you have an excellent accent and perfect teeth too.
Highland Cathedral always hits me right in the feels, you git.
I thought the theme to Halo was coming when you started playing!
The first thing I did when I bought an E-Bow was record myself playing the Halo theme, it’s just perfect for playing that song.
@@wilsonsguitarlounge8244 I believe Vai used a Fernandes sustainer (very similar to the sustaniac), so it's not far off at all.
@Dave Mendoza Uh... Who are you talking to?
@Dave Mendoza And what does the Halo theme, one of the greatest video game themes of all time, with guitar performed by the legendary Steve Vai, have to do with the likes of Bieber?
@@VoidSixx I think the totally unprovoked troll has retreated to his cave, not sure how my comment offended him, not that I care tbh..!
And now I know!! i have wondered about those for a while now. thanks Collin for your fantastic videos!! keep up the fantastic work.
Listening to Colin play around with this effect, I was half expecting to hear Geddy Lee and Niel Peart come in for the rest of Cygnus X1 book II.
Awesome video Colin. Probably the best demonstration on how and why these work that I’ve seen.
Aye laddy another fine show. I like how you mix the sustainer with the effects it-kicks it to the next level. ….Very cool…. I got to get me one of those wee sustainers … anyway ,Keep on rockin..
Never thought I’d hear Colin play Amazing Grace, I guess there’s a first time for everything.
I assumed he was hearing bagpipes in his head.
They reminded me of a Talk Box in the sense that after about half hour your either completely done with it or it's all your using for the next 3 years, Lol. It's one of those things that you wished you'd remember to use more often when you sit down to play cause you can get some really cool sounds out of them. Great video, I didn't know someone else had done one other than EBow, Thanks.
you can strum chords with hopd over pup at 89 degree angle to strum direction
This channel is amazing!
I'm getting such a Malcolm Jones vibe from these things. Wish it'd work better on basses. maybe with a stronger exciter coil and amp?
Thanks for the explanation Mike Patton.
The spooky music sounds awesome!
Awesome broo
Amazing grace was realy nice too
The best use of the Ebow was done by Stuart Adamson of Big Country.
4:00 Dark Knight soundtrack in a shell
Thinking about adding one to the Pedal Steel Guitar
Cracking video and insights - thank you✌️👍💜😊
also it`s fun to sweep with E-bow, a bit dirty sound yet cool in a way
Excellent video 👍
Another really fantastic video. I've had an ebow for years but not done it justice. Your tips might just help rectify that
Big Country used them, I think The Chameleons did on a few tracks, hell it was even used for Halo's Bungie title on the original Xbox. Cool little piece of kit that I wanna add to my equipment
Check out mick ronson playing heroes with bowie at the freddie mercury tribute concert. I remember seeing that as a kid and thinking he had some magic robot in his hand. I Finally got around 2 getting one.
It’s worth noting that it’s not essential to have a pickup on the guitar.
Ebows, and copies, will work on acoustic guitars.
Position-wise in roughly the same place along the string, but this is to do with scale length, as is the positioning of pickups on electric guitars.
The ‘overtone’ mode is necessary for the high E string on acoustic guitars.
very interesting, thank you!
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers was among the first to receive an EBOW in 1976-77
LOVE the spooky horror stuff.
Sounds PERFECT.
Loving the Howard Shore vibes!
Can you explain what the “ground/lift” switch on my amp does more in depth? Google gives me a bit of a vague answer. Great video by the way!
I've got a TATA for you: What are the ins and outs of volume and tone pots, as well as capacitors in guitars? I kinda partially know the answers, but I feel like a CSGuitars breakdown would really clear things up for me and others.
Are you looking for an introduction to guitar electronics course?
Check out the barley jazz ensemble with micheal Manring to see some really good use of an ebow
Tom fountainhead Geldschläger uses this ebow really well. If you want to see someone playing it a lot better check out his TH-cam!
I did not know these were a thing. I need one.
Quality content, as always! Thank you!
Never heard Amazing Grace played that sweet in a while.
If there were two effects on my wish list, it would be the Game Changer Plus pedal (which I'm trying to justify spending that amount for a single pedal in my mind) and probably an Ebow. I typically use amp feedback to achieve a similar effect, but obviously the Ebow can do more than just feedback alone can. Cool video, though.
Nice work as always, sir! I have two questions: is this much different from using volume knob in order to do volume swells, and if so, how? Plus, what was the second effect in the chain you used to do the spooky music effects? I mean the yellow one. Maybe a flanger? Thank you for your beautiful and always appreciated work!
1. The volume control doesn't give you infinite sustain. You'd have to pluck the string, then swell the volume and the note will die.
You'd have to pluck or hammer on every new note.
With a sustainer it is vibrating the string so all you need to do is move it to suit the style you need.
No plucking, on hammers.
2. Ibanez FL9 Flanger. MIJ sometime in the 80s. All the die cast is stamped with Maxon, so it was manufactured during the era where Ibanez were re-badging Maxon pedals.
@@ScienceofLoud Nice! Thank you again!
Just got my Sound Stone sustainer - only cost me 35 bucks !
Can you run some batteries in series to push more power into it to work better with bass strings?
Another awesome video. Well done! I have a question: Can you use the ebow with active pickups?
Cool! Thanks!
I love the video where Evan Kale built his own version of a sustainer from spare electric components
Very informative!
Do you have a wiring scheme for the earliest version of the Fernandes Sustainer?
I thought it was magic that made it work until you said 9 volt battery...tears flowing now, lol. Seriously though great video, loved Amazing Grace too.
cool. You're a hero, just for one day.
Holy shit! I didn't know this thing could do massive things! Prob getting one when buying my gears!
Do some more hear collection videos
I personally love the idea. I play a lot of ambient stoner stuff. I get more use out of my volume pedal than anything else.
Brilliant!
I did always wonder!
Tidy. Liked the rendition of Amazing Grace.
Just bought an Aeon.
Late to the party but it would be cool to hear one of these with slide guitar
I have a ebow its pretty expensive but fun to use.
What is the different between E-bow and AEON ?.. thanks from Nellkey of Philippines
4:00 in is Amazing
Wow awesome!!!
Now play Free bird.
Nice road to Rohan tune
Did not expect to march into battle with a sustainer
This is support for acoustic-electric guitar too?
I heed this!!! Right NOW
witch one do you like better?
Whats your view on iron gear pups (e.g hot slag and rolling mill combo)
I want to hear a game of thrones cover with this
Doesnt the pickup sense the signal from the output coil hence the distortion? Otherwise your string would have to output a square wave.
I was getting LOTR vibes from that first example 🎸
Got me quite excited and gave some clever ideas to use it on my bass... untill 6:55 😕
It WILL work on bass, its just a good bit trickier. The Aeon has a more powerful excitation, so that's the one I'd go for if trying this with bass.
Dinosaurs on the valve amp? This video spared no expense.
Hi bro how you can change from one string to another one? Every time I do it there is a lot of noise and also the sustain is affected. Maybe fading away from the mic?
Does it work for tremolo style picking?
Seems perfect for slide
Instant "Drapery Falls" vibes
I have a friend who has this, and I've tried using it, but it is difficult to get right. I've thought about getting one to try for my bass (my main instrument), but I think I have an answer to that idea.