Can you use...

[Cornfedapache]

An ebow with a bass or are the strings just too damn chunky?

[beerdragon]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqymltJZ_ss&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqymltJZ_ss...feature=related[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCrnjrAsbWI&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCrnjrAsbWI...feature=related[/url]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXoEnrqFBWg&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXoEnrqFBWg...feature=related[/url]

[BottomEndian]

The only problem is the string spacing. The grooves on the bottom of the Ebow are spaced such that -- on guitar -- they sit on the strings either side of the one you're playing. Easy.

On bass, where the strings are further apart, you have to improvise a solution that works for you, in terms of finding a position where the string you're playing sits in the sweet spot between the grooves. Not impossible. Not even [i]that[/i] hard, but probably twice as hard as using Ebow on guitar. YMMV.

[RhysP]

It's a lot harder & more hit & miss than using one on guitar.
The Ebow's magnetic field isn't really powerful enough to get bass strings vibrating successfully (especially the lower ones and, as others have said, it's a bit of a balancing act getting the string in the right place on the Ebows "foot".
It's also one of those things that becomes really clichéd very quickly.
It can be done though....

[bythesea]

Hi CFA

I have a DVD of Michael Manring where he uses one and explains how it works and how he uses it. I'll bring it in for you to have a look.

[BottomEndian]

[quote name='bythesea' post='569990' date='Aug 15 2009, 03:32 PM']I have a DVD of Michael Manring where he uses one and explains how it works and how he uses it.[/quote]
Bear in mind that Michael Manring uses silly string gauges like 20-52 or something (piccolo strings tuned to standard bass pitch), so it's much easier for him to get them vibrating than it is for us mere mortals.

(As a side note, where'd you get the MM DVD from? Sounds interesting...)

[bythesea]

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='569997' date='Aug 15 2009, 03:37 PM']Bear in mind that Michael Manring uses silly string gauges like 20-52 or something (piccolo strings tuned to standard bass pitch), so it's much easier for him to get them vibrating than it is for us mere mortals.

(As a side note, where'd you get the MM DVD from? Sounds interesting...)[/quote]
Very true about the strings - discusses those as well. The DVD was from [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Manring-Bass-Guitar-DVD/dp/B000CPH9UW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1250347247&sr=8-3"]Amazon[/url] - it says 2005 but it's a DVD version of an older release, not too long after he got the hyperbass I think. Shows how to use two ebows, and how to play three Zons at once

[RhysP]

[quote name='bythesea' post='570004' date='Aug 15 2009, 03:44 PM'].......and how to play three Zons at once [/quote]

The lucky bastard.

[BottomEndian]

[quote name='bythesea' post='570004' date='Aug 15 2009, 03:44 PM']Very true about the strings - discusses those as well. The DVD was from [url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Michael-Manring-Bass-Guitar-DVD/dp/B000CPH9UW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1250347247&sr=8-3"]Amazon[/url] - it says 2005 but it's a DVD version of an older release, not too long after he got the hyperbass I think. Shows how to use two ebows, and how to play three Zons at once [/quote]
Ordered! Cheers for the link.

[Cornfedapache]

[quote name='bythesea' post='569990' date='Aug 15 2009, 03:32 PM']Hi CFA

I have a DVD of Michael Manring where he uses one and explains how it works and how he uses it. I'll bring it in for you to have a look.[/quote]

Cracking - thanks!

[rbatts2000]

[quote name='Cornfedapache' post='569932' date='Aug 15 2009, 02:16 PM']An ebow with a bass or are the strings just too damn chunky?[/quote]
Ha ha - I read [i]elbow [/i]instead of ebow. It's still too early for me ...