Handheld device used by Mick Ronson on his Tele for "HEROS" song

Modern Morlok · June 4th, 2008, 04:15 PM

I've asked several of my more-knowlageable musician friends what this thing is but no one knows. Hoping someone here will know what this is and how to either get one or make one somehow.

Here's a link to the youtube video of Mick Ronson using it on stage playing "HEROS" with Bowie.

There are several decent closeups of him using this right at the beginning of the video before Bowie starts singing.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Riid4S6SLxw&feature=related

THANKS for any help... it's driving me and my buddies crazy trying to figure it out....

benadrian · June 4th, 2008, 04:18 PM

That's an Ebow

http://www.ebow.com/

Cheers,
Ben Adrian

Modern Morlok · June 4th, 2008, 04:30 PM

wow that was fast!!!

THANK YOU!!

benadrian · June 4th, 2008, 04:36 PM

Good timing. Plus, I've had an ebow for about 15 years.

Ben

ajgus · June 4th, 2008, 04:45 PM

I recall seeing ads for something called a Vibro-something or other in guitar mags when I was a kid. Is that what an ebow is?

alexpigment · June 4th, 2008, 04:54 PM

an e-bow basically uses magnetic pull to keep your strings vibrating without having to pick them. so you get notes that have no beginning or end, no attack. just a long string of fluid notes

IPLAYLOUD · June 4th, 2008, 05:28 PM

I have my EBow for 20+ years. I still use it at times.
Always gets some stares from players. The 19 year old Girl sitting at the Bar has no idea.
I remember seeing Black Oak Arkansas on TV a LONG time ago and there were 3 guys with Les Pauls using them.

The Fernandez Sustainer Pickup System is like a built-in Ebow.

JimiBryant · June 4th, 2008, 05:40 PM

I think Robert Fripp played the original guitar part, using his dual reel-to-reel
set-up aka Frippertronics?

cool Boowee clip, thanks for posting it!

when's this from?? what the heck is Brian May doing in the background??

varakeef · June 5th, 2008, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimiBryant

I think Robert Fripp played the original guitar part, using his dual reel-to-reel
set-up aka Frippertronics

He did indeed.

Quote:

when's this from?? what the heck is Brian May doing in the background??

I'm not 100 % positive but this may well be last live appearence of Mick Ronson in 1993, Freddie Mercury tribute concert. That would explain the Queen guys hanging out there.

Drunkinminer · July 2nd, 2008, 04:35 PM

I'm not 100 % positive but this may well be last live appearence of Mick Ronson in 1993, Freddie Mercury tribute concert. That would explain the Queen guys hanging out there.[/quote]

It was indeed his last live appearence. The concert took place on Apr 20, 92
and Mick passed on May 4 92. he passed 2 days after my birthday and I always remember it by blasting All The Young Dudes from that show by Bowie, Hunter, Mick, Joe Elliot, Phil Collen, and Queen.

atcare · July 2nd, 2008, 06:07 PM

This was Micks last live outing
Sadly missed

tightbidness · July 2nd, 2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drunkinminer

It was indeed his last live appearence. The concert took place on Apr 20, 92
and Mick passed on May 4 92. he passed 2 days after my birthday and I always remember it by blasting All The Young Dudes from that show by Bowie, Hunter, Mick, Joe Elliot, Phil Collen, and Queen.

I think Mick Ronson passed in April of '93. My final weeks of high school.

April 29, 1993 to be exact

Drunkinminer · July 2nd, 2008, 07:10 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Ronson

tightbidness · July 2nd, 2008, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drunkinminer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Ronson

Did you read it? LOL!

Scott V · July 6th, 2008, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by atcare

This was Micks last live outing
Sadly missed

Very much so, Ronno will always be at the top of my list. What a phenominal player he was.

Twanginator · July 6th, 2008, 05:43 PM

I know the lead guitar player for The Good Rats used an Ebow back in the early eighties. They were a big band in the NYC area. I thought it was a cool effect.

June 4th, 2008, 04:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Modern Morlok NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 4 9 Photos	Handheld device used by Mick Ronson on his Tele for "HEROS" song I've asked several of my more-knowlageable musician friends what this thing is but no one knows. Hoping someone here will know what this is and how to either get one or make one somehow. Here's a link to the youtube video of Mick Ronson using it on stage playing "HEROS" with Bowie. There are several decent closeups of him using this right at the beginning of the video before Bowie starts singing. http://youtube.com/watch?v=Riid4S6SLxw&feature=related THANKS for any help... it's driving me and my buddies crazy trying to figure it out.... Last edited by Modern Morlok; June 4th, 2008 at 04:16 PM. Reason: spelling oops

June 4th, 2008, 04:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
ajgus Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 2,302	I recall seeing ads for something called a Vibro-something or other in guitar mags when I was a kid. Is that what an ebow is? __________________ "I'm still married to my first wife...and that's my first guitar...she don't talk back to me, she talks for me..." -Stevie ray Vaughan

June 4th, 2008, 04:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
alexpigment Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Austin TX Posts: 333	an e-bow basically uses magnetic pull to keep your strings vibrating without having to pick them. so you get notes that have no beginning or end, no attack. just a long string of fluid notes __________________ 72 Tele Deluxe RI walnut, Powerhouse Strat LPB, Palomino V32, Pathfinder 15 Last edited by TDPRI; June 4th, 2008 at 05:49 PM.

June 4th, 2008, 05:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
IPLAYLOUD Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Posts: 482 1 Photos	I have my EBow for 20+ years. I still use it at times. Always gets some stares from players. The 19 year old Girl sitting at the Bar has no idea. I remember seeing Black Oak Arkansas on TV a LONG time ago and there were 3 guys with Les Pauls using them. The Fernandez Sustainer Pickup System is like a built-in Ebow. __________________ I play an Esquire because I can only afford ONE pickup.

June 4th, 2008, 05:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
JimiBryant Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chicago Chicago that toddlin' town Age: 46 Posts: 1,842	I think Robert Fripp played the original guitar part, using his dual reel-to-reel set-up aka Frippertronics? cool Boowee clip, thanks for posting it! when's this from?? what the heck is Brian May doing in the background?? __________________ *we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun.*

June 4th, 2008, 04:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
benadrian Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: Alameda, CA Age: 33 Posts: 150	That's an Ebow http://www.ebow.com/ Cheers, Ben Adrian

June 4th, 2008, 04:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
Modern Morlok NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 4 9 Photos	wow that was fast!!! THANK YOU!!

June 4th, 2008, 04:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
benadrian Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: Alameda, CA Age: 33 Posts: 150	Good timing. Plus, I've had an ebow for about 15 years. Ben

July 2nd, 2008, 04:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
Drunkinminer Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: winnipeg Posts: 119 12 Photos	I'm not 100 % positive but this may well be last live appearence of Mick Ronson in 1993, Freddie Mercury tribute concert. That would explain the Queen guys hanging out there.[/quote] It was indeed his last live appearence. The concert took place on Apr 20, 92 and Mick passed on May 4 92. he passed 2 days after my birthday and I always remember it by blasting All The Young Dudes from that show by Bowie, Hunter, Mick, Joe Elliot, Phil Collen, and Queen.

July 2nd, 2008, 06:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
atcare TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bonnie Scotland Age: 47 Posts: 74 8 Photos	This was Micks last live outing Sadly missed

July 2nd, 2008, 07:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
Drunkinminer Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: winnipeg Posts: 119 12 Photos	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Ronson

July 6th, 2008, 05:43 PM	#16 (permalink)
Twanginator Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 257	I know the lead guitar player for The Good Rats used an Ebow back in the early eighties. They were a big band in the NYC area. I thought it was a cool effect.