10 Stupidly Fun Toys Every Musician Needs

9. E-Bow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oSXlB2Q4us Another one for the guitarists here, the E-bow is a fantastic little toy that can generate some very unique sounds. The E-bow is actually a little electromagnet that pulses above the strings. When held above a string and moved up and down it simulates the effect a bow has with a violin, causing a smooth, drawn out note to sound. It works by creating a magnetic resonance between the E-bow and the guitar's pickup allowing for long, glissando notes to be played without using a pick or finger. This has the added benefit of removing the sharp pick sound from the note, meaning you can play long smooth passages with it. The added effect of the E-bow is near on infinite sustain. You can hold a note almost indefinitely as long as you keep moving it up and down the string. A lot of players find it useful for atmospheric effects. Combine it with reverb or delay and you can create a somewhat synth-pad like sound, perfect for the background on a recording or during a quieter section of a song. The E-bow has been around since the late 60s and has been used regularly by such revered artists as Dave Gilmour, Genesis, Opeth and even Blondie.