How Do Guitar Sustainers Work? | Ebow and AEON

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  • čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
  • 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?
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Komentáře • 231

  • @ScienceofLoud
    @ScienceofLoud  Před 4 lety +53

    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

    • @chomp_5412
      @chomp_5412 Před 4 lety +1

      CSGuitars which sustainer do you prefer?

    • @JDWheels1
      @JDWheels1 Před 4 lety

      Can it be used on a bass??

    • @JDWheels1
      @JDWheels1 Před 4 lety

      watched again, never mind... saw my answer

    • @lvr3039
      @lvr3039 Před 2 lety +1

      FOR ROHAN!

  • @jjrusy7438
    @jjrusy7438 Před 4 lety +246

    If you put an ebow over a sustaniac, do you open a portal to another dimension?

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  Před 4 lety +89

      Probably. It's the equivalent of dividing by zero.

    • @certifiedpossum8655
      @certifiedpossum8655 Před 4 lety +33

      You can theoretically play the forbidden [REDACTED].

    • @ArmandKarlsen
      @ArmandKarlsen Před 4 lety +3

      This needs to be done!

    • @vipervidsgamingplus5723
      @vipervidsgamingplus5723 Před 4 lety +3

      The dimension is hell

    • @mk_rexx
      @mk_rexx Před 4 lety +4

      You get to sustain more than the time before the 9volt battery dies. So more than infinity..

  • @NahtramMetal
    @NahtramMetal Před 4 lety +89

    Big plus for the Rohan Theme :D

  • @tertin_studio
    @tertin_studio Před 4 lety +29

    0:46 Liked on the Rohan theme . you just made me smile

  • @arvedbohn6133
    @arvedbohn6133 Před 4 lety +118

    Colin: Lighter gauge strings work better
    Me: *cries in 13-74*

  • @isaacrogers9323
    @isaacrogers9323 Před 4 lety +230

    Bro, LOTR music? Love it.

  • @madeinuk01
    @madeinuk01 Před 4 lety +19

    Yet again you have answered a question that I was going to ask about in the TATA series..!

  • @mikrokorg4403
    @mikrokorg4403 Před 4 lety +9

    The woodwind-tone control tip is amazing!

  • @jakethemisanthrope9442
    @jakethemisanthrope9442 Před 4 lety +7

    That ride of the rohirrim theme made my day thank you

  • @Salien1999
    @Salien1999 Před 4 lety +7

    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.

  • @hazrod13
    @hazrod13 Před 4 lety +6

    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 !

  • @robcerasuolo9207
    @robcerasuolo9207 Před 4 lety +2

    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.

  • @hogie1259
    @hogie1259 Před 4 lety

    Awesome video Colin. Probably the best demonstration on how and why these work that I’ve seen.

  • @kenoakee
    @kenoakee Před 4 lety +2

    And now I know!! i have wondered about those for a while now. thanks Collin for your fantastic videos!! keep up the fantastic work.

  • @jakebigcas3069
    @jakebigcas3069 Před 3 lety +2

    (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.

  • @ericgiova1663
    @ericgiova1663 Před 3 lety

    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.

  • @JammyGit
    @JammyGit Před 4 lety +1

    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. 👍

  • @mitchhamburger6024
    @mitchhamburger6024 Před 4 lety

    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

  • @Craighetfield2024
    @Craighetfield2024 Před 4 lety +8

    There’s no iconic e-bow sound than the u2 track with or without you

    • @tonyisyourpal
      @tonyisyourpal Před 4 lety

      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.

  • @R0CKDRIG0
    @R0CKDRIG0 Před rokem +1

    Thanks for the explanation Mike Patton.

  • @Furtheronmusic
    @Furtheronmusic Před 4 lety

    Another really fantastic video. I've had an ebow for years but not done it justice. Your tips might just help rectify that

  • @maryannmoran-smyth3453

    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..

  • @kirkbolas4985
    @kirkbolas4985 Před 4 lety +1

    Thanks for explaining that. I didn’t know how it worked and now I do.

  • @MichaelSnidaro
    @MichaelSnidaro Před 4 lety

    Quality content, as always! Thank you!

  • @musoseven8218
    @musoseven8218 Před 11 měsíci

    Cracking video and insights - thank you✌️👍💜😊

  • @Jbsantos54
    @Jbsantos54 Před 2 lety

    Awesome broo
    Amazing grace was realy nice too

  • @kyleparsons145
    @kyleparsons145 Před 4 lety +1

    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

  • @jim.missywyant.kennedy2334

    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.

  • @smithfield06
    @smithfield06 Před 2 lety

    Excellent video 👍

  • @Andresdha
    @Andresdha Před rokem

    This channel is amazing!

  • @formisfunction1861
    @formisfunction1861 Před 2 lety

    Cool! Thanks!

  • @shinjial
    @shinjial Před 4 lety +8

    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.

    • @Jolgeable
      @Jolgeable Před 2 lety

      It is used in the song "Salustiano Song", by Chico Science & Nação Zumbi.

  • @derpimusmaximus8815
    @derpimusmaximus8815 Před 4 lety +1

    Highland Cathedral always hits me right in the feels, you git.

  • @woodchucksquirrel
    @woodchucksquirrel Před 4 lety

    Very informative!

  • @spiralfirst6488
    @spiralfirst6488 Před 8 měsíci

    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.

  • @starwolffan13
    @starwolffan13 Před 4 lety +22

    Sounds like the intro from damage inc on master of puppets or at least I think that's the song where they do that

    • @kalerug
      @kalerug Před 3 lety

      It does sound like that! But Damage Inc. is actually a bunch of volume swells iirc

  • @ZoeSummers1701A
    @ZoeSummers1701A Před 2 lety

    Brilliant!

  • @JamminClemmons
    @JamminClemmons Před 2 lety

    **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.

  • @texanfournow
    @texanfournow Před 4 lety +14

    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
      @ScienceofLoud  Před 4 lety +10

      Is this not technically teaching?
      I consider this channel an education platform, welcome to my lectures.

    • @texanfournow
      @texanfournow Před 4 lety +6

      @@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.

  • @natqevalhiindisguise141
    @natqevalhiindisguise141 Před měsícem +1

    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.

  • @jamietaylor8663
    @jamietaylor8663 Před 4 lety +4

    I’m picking up good vibrations, this ebow gives excitations

  • @erichobbs4042
    @erichobbs4042 Před 4 lety +1

    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.

  • @marks9197
    @marks9197 Před 4 lety +1

    Another awesome video. Well done! I have a question: Can you use the ebow with active pickups?

  • @Aruk02
    @Aruk02 Před 4 lety +3

    The spooky music sounds awesome!

  • @doccarson63
    @doccarson63 Před 3 lety

    Thinking about adding one to the Pedal Steel Guitar

  • @spaceexpireaudio666
    @spaceexpireaudio666 Před 4 lety

    also it`s fun to sweep with E-bow, a bit dirty sound yet cool in a way

  • @micahsnyder7299
    @micahsnyder7299 Před 4 lety +2

    LOVE the spooky horror stuff.
    Sounds PERFECT.

  • @danielforcier565
    @danielforcier565 Před 4 lety +1

    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!

  • @kieranhoare7239
    @kieranhoare7239 Před 4 lety

    I did not know these were a thing. I need one.

  • @josephcooper9043
    @josephcooper9043 Před 4 lety

    Check out the barley jazz ensemble with micheal Manring to see some really good use of an ebow

  • @wilsonsguitarlounge8244
    @wilsonsguitarlounge8244 Před 4 lety +3

    Never thought I’d hear Colin play Amazing Grace, I guess there’s a first time for everything.

    • @rickc2102
      @rickc2102 Před 4 lety +1

      I assumed he was hearing bagpipes in his head.

  • @arachnenet2244
    @arachnenet2244 Před 4 lety +1

    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?

  • @reverendayglow
    @reverendayglow Před 3 lety

    I did always wonder!

  • @danieltaylor9970
    @danieltaylor9970 Před 4 lety +24

    I thought the theme to Halo was coming when you started playing!

    • @wilsonsguitarlounge8244
      @wilsonsguitarlounge8244 Před 4 lety

      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.

    • @VoidSixx
      @VoidSixx Před 4 lety

      @@wilsonsguitarlounge8244 I believe Vai used a Fernandes sustainer (very similar to the sustaniac), so it's not far off at all.

    • @VoidSixx
      @VoidSixx Před 4 lety

      @Dave Mendoza Uh... Who are you talking to?

    • @VoidSixx
      @VoidSixx Před 4 lety

      @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?

    • @danieltaylor9970
      @danieltaylor9970 Před 4 lety

      @@VoidSixx I think the totally unprovoked troll has retreated to his cave, not sure how my comment offended him, not that I care tbh..!

  • @megacahh870
    @megacahh870 Před 4 lety

    Holy shit! I didn't know this thing could do massive things! Prob getting one when buying my gears!

  • @onevoiceinc
    @onevoiceinc Před 4 lety

    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.

  • @ruassmarkt
    @ruassmarkt Před 4 lety

    I love the video where Evan Kale built his own version of a sustainer from spare electric components

  • @ughleegamer5598
    @ughleegamer5598 Před 3 lety

    good vid

  • @andrewmuelleranantababaji8073

    you can strum chords with hopd over pup at 89 degree angle to strum direction

  • @voidiara5181
    @voidiara5181 Před 4 lety

    I heed this!!! Right NOW

  • @pvpv5582
    @pvpv5582 Před 4 lety +4

    4:00 Dark Knight soundtrack in a shell

  • @oncameramastery
    @oncameramastery Před 4 lety +1

    Loving the Howard Shore vibes!

  • @victorymansions
    @victorymansions Před 3 lety

    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

  • @5BBassist4Christ
    @5BBassist4Christ Před 4 lety

    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.

  • @Tommyhearnsrighthand
    @Tommyhearnsrighthand Před 3 lety

    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.

  • @DragonofLimerick
    @DragonofLimerick Před 4 lety

    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.

  • @bpabustan
    @bpabustan Před 4 lety +1

    Never heard Amazing Grace played that sweet in a while.

  • @brningpyre
    @brningpyre Před 4 lety

    Can you run some batteries in series to push more power into it to work better with bass strings?

  • @mrbaiser4133
    @mrbaiser4133 Před 3 lety

    Do you have a wiring scheme for the earliest version of the Fernandes Sustainer?

  • @micheledirocco4994
    @micheledirocco4994 Před 4 lety +2

    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!

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  Před 4 lety +4

      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.

    • @micheledirocco4994
      @micheledirocco4994 Před 4 lety +1

      @@ScienceofLoud Nice! Thank you again!

  • @sydmichel
    @sydmichel Před 4 lety +1

    cool. You're a hero, just for one day.

  • @bjornarnols5905
    @bjornarnols5905 Před 4 lety

    Doesnt the pickup sense the signal from the output coil hence the distortion? Otherwise your string would have to output a square wave.

  • @mikebuildsum
    @mikebuildsum Před 4 lety

    Whats your view on iron gear pups (e.g hot slag and rolling mill combo)

  • @jordanlake471
    @jordanlake471 Před 4 lety

    Mike Campbell of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers was among the first to receive an EBOW in 1976-77

  • @gjbpark8061
    @gjbpark8061 Před 4 lety +1

    Do some more hear collection videos

  • @dogehellkitty2926
    @dogehellkitty2926 Před 4 lety

    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.

  • @XenoTravis
    @XenoTravis Před 4 lety +2

    Tom fountainhead Geldschläger uses this ebow really well. If you want to see someone playing it a lot better check out his CZcams!

  • @MaxxDoberman
    @MaxxDoberman Před rokem

    The best use of the Ebow was done by Stuart Adamson of Big Country.

  • @AcidTripwire
    @AcidTripwire Před 4 lety

    Would this be how they got that long wailing note in the beginning of Station To Station by David Bowie?

  • @thulsa_doom
    @thulsa_doom Před 4 lety

    Great video! Do you have any experience with this e-bow on a bass? I've just bought one, and can't manage to make it work on my bass. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong.

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  Před 4 lety

      The thickness of the strings is what's wrong.
      The ebow simply doesn't have the power to make that amount of mass vibrate.

  • @swissarmyknight4306
    @swissarmyknight4306 Před 4 lety

    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.

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  Před 4 lety

      Are you looking for an introduction to guitar electronics course?

  • @Nobody-xf5zq
    @Nobody-xf5zq Před 10 měsíci

    What is the different between E-bow and AEON ?.. thanks from Nellkey of Philippines

  • @DrCarlosMusic
    @DrCarlosMusic Před 2 lety

    Does it work for tremolo style picking?

  • @666warschau666
    @666warschau666 Před 4 lety

    witch one do you like better?

  • @aristidesvillegas7167
    @aristidesvillegas7167 Před 3 lety

    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?

  • @waynejones3428
    @waynejones3428 Před 4 lety

    Yeah !!👏 😯

  • @DrowningTimeOfficially

    what's the main difference from acoustic and electric steel guitar strings

  • @andreaswahyudi7283
    @andreaswahyudi7283 Před 3 lety

    This is support for acoustic-electric guitar too?

  • @hifijohn
    @hifijohn Před 2 lety

    I have a ebow its pretty expensive but fun to use.

  • @christopherderycke3603

    Just bought an Aeon.

  • @subtropicrecords7674
    @subtropicrecords7674 Před 4 lety +2

    Just got my Sound Stone sustainer - only cost me 35 bucks !

  • @flyingrobotpig
    @flyingrobotpig Před 3 lety

    Where was gondor when the westfold fell?

  • @hobonickel840
    @hobonickel840 Před 6 měsíci

    Late to the party but it would be cool to hear one of these with slide guitar

  • @detlevcohrs4319
    @detlevcohrs4319 Před 4 lety

    Nice a good Video. LG Detlev

  • @CastToVoid
    @CastToVoid Před 4 lety

    I asked for this TATA! Awesome! Thanks! On the subject of bass: I always hammer on the note in order to get the vibrations going for the sustainer. It's really pretty, almost cello like.

    • @ScienceofLoud
      @ScienceofLoud  Před 4 lety +1

      I was certain someone had asked for this as a TATA, but after searching for ages I couldn't find the original comment.
      Glad to know it was you all along and I wasn't going crazy.

  • @5urg3x
    @5urg3x Před 4 lety

    Spletting Peckups in reveerse in doontoon glasgow

  • @michaelsnydermusic
    @michaelsnydermusic Před 4 lety

    Question: David Gilmore used one of these (I believe) in later years but it sounded like something very unique. Almost like a nylon string fretless guitar. He did this on Division Bell and The Endless River Floyd album. Anyone know what he did?

    • @rickc2102
      @rickc2102 Před 4 lety

      Ebow + slide?

    • @michaelsnydermusic
      @michaelsnydermusic Před 4 lety

      Rick C good call. What’s odd is you can sometimes here the frets almost bottoming out. Like it’s super low action. It’s so hard to describe honestly.

  • @dicecard921
    @dicecard921 Před 4 lety

    Instant "Drapery Falls" vibes

  • @JoshuaC923
    @JoshuaC923 Před 4 lety

    Did not expect to march into battle with a sustainer

  • @dogehellkitty2926
    @dogehellkitty2926 Před 4 lety

    4:00 in is Amazing