Vibesware GR-1 User Manual
Guitar Resonator
GR-1
User Manual
© 2012 Vibesware www.vibesware.com
Markus Pahl
info@vibesware.com
Schillerstrasse 18
D-31141 Hildesheim
Germany
Rev. 1.1
Contents
1 Introduction ...............................................................................................1
1.1 How does it work ? ...............................................................................1
1.2 Differences to the EBowTM and well known Sustainers .........................2
2 Fields of application .................................................................................3
2.1 Feedback playing everywhere / composing / recording ........................3
2.2 On stage ...............................................................................................4
2.3 New ways of playing .............................................................................4
3 Start-Up ......................................................................................................5
3.1 Connecting ...........................................................................................6
3.2 Control elements ..................................................................................6
4 Playing techniques ...................................................................................6
4.1 Basics ...................................................................................................6
4.2 Harmonics control by positioning the Resonator ...................................7
4.3 Changing harmonics by phase shifting .................................................7
4.4 Some string vibration basics .................................................................7
4.5 Feedback of multiple strings ...............................................................10
4.6 Limits of playing, pickup selection, and power setting .........................10
5 Frequently asked questions and troubleshooting ................................12
1 Introduction
Welcome to Vibesware ! Enjoy gorgeous feedbacks and have a lot of fun with
the Guitar Resonator.
1.1 How does it work ?
The Guitar Resonator generates an alternating magnetic field from the guitar
pickup signal. The string vibration is amplified when positioning the
Resonators head near the strings. This vibration feeds back through the
pickup so that a closed loop accurs:
With it you can create amazing feedback tones, sounding very natural
because they come directely from the strings. Thus the sound is not
comparable with well known electronically generated feedback sounds. It
rather sounds like a turned up amplifier, where the string feedback comes
from the sound waves.
1
But in contrast to sound wave feedback there are the following advantages:
●
Feedback is possible at any sound volume, even if playing with
headphones.
●
This also works fine with crunch or clean sounds. With sound wave
feedback it would take a realy extreme amplifier gain to get the same
feedback tones.
●
The transition from normal tones into feedback can be controlled
exactely and always reproducible. You don't need any time consuming
experiments with amplifier gain and loudspeaker distance.
●
By the strong magnetic field, you can generate extreme feedback tones
which cannot be generated with normal amplifier/speaker feedback at
all.
1.2 Differences to the EBowTM and well known Sustainers
The most popular magnetic string vibration device is the EBowTM developed in
1976. This engenious gadget is a hand-held device build for one string
vibrations and a lot of interesting tone effects can be produces with it. The
typical EBowTM playing is a bow like movement rather than striking the strings.
You put the plectrum away before playing the desired effects. With this
technique cello like sounds can be produced for example. The EBowTM is
used all over the world for special effects in dedicated lead phrases.
Then Sustainers entered into the guitar world, which can be found in special
guitars or can be build in existing guitars. This is done by replacing the
original neck pickup by a so called Sustainer pickup. Unlike the EBowTM you
can play with both hands and you can play feedback with more than one
string at the same time. Another difference to the EBowTM is that the sound
cannot be controlled by the playing technique, because its position is fixed on
the guitar.
By contrast the Guitar Resonator has the following features:
●
You can use both hands for normal playing. Feedback comes by
positioning the guitar neck to the Resonator. This is basically similar to
the speaker positioning for normal amplifier feedback. However,
feedback starting and harmonics can be controlled much better by the
direct Resonator positioning. This feature is one of the main differences
to the build in Sustainers. Unlike the EBowTM you get feedback with
more than one string.
2
●
Electric guitars can be used directely. You neighter need a special
guitar nor any guitar modifications. The Guitar Resonator is just added
to the equipment you are familiar with.
●
The Resonator has an external power supply, whereby the magnetic
field is much stronger than battery powered devices. This gives you the
ability to play with very high and low string feedback too.
●
Build in Sustainers are connect to the bridge pickup, whereas the
Resonator is driven by the selected pickup(s). Feedback playing with
different pickups offers a lot of different feedback sounds. This feature
is similar to the amplifier/speaker feedback.
In a nutshell, the Guitar Resonator is an all-purpose feedback machine. You
can keep your familiar equipment and playing style when adding this new
playing technique. It is easy to learn and it will give you a new dimension of
guitar playing without any modification of your basic guitar sound. You can
use it as a reliable tool for placing exact feedback harmonics whenever you
want. But this is just the beginning. Exploring further, you will find new ways
of playing guitar. And - as all good effects show - the Resonator sounds
different with any player, because the sound comes not only from the device
but also from the playing technique.
2 Fields of application
2.1 Feedback playing everywhere / composing / recording
●
The ideal device for home recording, playing into the PC for example.
Here you can directely record feedbacks even at night with earphones.
So you get a sound like a turned up amplifier going into feedback
harmonics. Together with PC recording tools (e.g. Guitar RigTM)
professional recordings can be produced with a minimum effort.
●
At recording studios you always get the desired feedback directely in
the control room. Precisely and always reproducible. No matter where
your roaring amplifier is placed. There are no time consuming
experiments for getting the desired feedback.
3
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