Electronic Gizmo

[ctgagnon]

Saw Tom Paxton last night playing with the Don Juans and Don was using a gizmo moved over the strings near the sound hole that kinda looked like a small stapler that gave a steel pedal like effect. No cord. Seem to remember this from years ago but can't remember what it's called. Anyone? Bueller?

[jseth]

Sounds like one of those "E-Bows"... battery operated units that cause the strings to vibrate when held over/near them...

[lschwart]

Originally Posted by jseth

Sounds like one of those "E-Bows"... battery operated units that cause the strings to vibrate when held over/near them...

Yup.

Louis

[FrankHudson]

Yes, agreed, sounds like an E-Bow. Neat device. It takes some practice to get a handle on controlling it, but it can produce everything from smooth bowed-string sounds to interesting feedback mayhem.

Magnetic field inside the device vibrates the string. It's somewhat associated with electric guitar, but it works on acoustic guitar strings too. If fact, it'd probably work with slide guitar with careful damping, and I should try that myself soon.

[ctgagnon]

That's it. It's coming back to me now. You know that memory is the second thing to go, right?

[srick]

Originally Posted by ctgagnon

That's it. It's coming back to me now. You know that memory is the second thing to go, right?

I'm sure you've heard this tune: "My Pencil Won't Write No More (Because the lead's all gone)"

[ctgagnon]

Originally Posted by srick

I'm sure you've heard this tune: "My Pencil Won't Write No More (Because the lead's all gone)"

What a hoot! That's new to me. Going into my repertoire, for sure. Thanks!

[wood nacho]

Gizmo eh? Perhaps it was the gizmotron 2.0?

[jseth]

Wasn't the Gizmotron invented by the guitarist in 10cc? Gram Gould or something like that?

I do remember those, although I never did see one or get a chance to mess with one... short-lived but a very cool idea!