E-bow (Ralf)

http://www.ralfschreiber.com/singendesaite.html

Materials

Electronic Parts

• 1x diode 1N4148
• 1x capacitor 220uF
• 1x capacitor 10uF
• 1x LM368 (IC Dip-8)
• 1x jumper cap (2,54mm)
• 1x 3-pin header (2,54mm)
• 1x 9V battery clip

• 1x driver-coil (16 Ohm)

Electro-Magnetic passive Buzzer: https://www.ebay.de/itm/183310696634?hash=item2aae2b40ba:g:eM0AAOSwS6pgmlev

• 1x sensor-coil (110 Ohm)

Electro-Magnetic Passive Buzzer: https://www.pollin.de/p/signalgeber-schallwandler-elektromagnetisch-digisound-f-wex-12-t-640943

Preparing the coils

The coils are electro-mechanical buzzers. one with a DC-resistance of about 40 - 120 ohms (common value) the other with 8 - 16 ohms. this one is a bit harder to find..

If you remove the plastic casing with a pair of pliers, you get the wrapped cores. it is important to observe the polarity, the marked coils (+) must be installed in the same way!

I just realized that I have forgotten one important detail! on the core of the driver coil must still be a small neodymium round magnet (3x1mm) glued. The tiny magnets are easily available everywhere!

Assembly

The adjustment of the eboy-board to the stick is a bit tricky. it is important that the coils are positioned very close under the string (1-2 mm distance).

I use small 3 mm drive-in nuts (brass tee nuts) So the board is spring mounted and the distance of the coil-cores to the string can be adjusted precise & exactly with 2 screws...

Experiments

>> Is there something we could try to experiment with? improve, explore?

-> the strings can be prepared with light things: pieces of aluminum foil, drinking straws....the woodenstick can be prepared with petri dishes full of sand, pearls..

-> the device is also an electronic drone machine, a coax-signal cable (with line level) can be soldered parallel to the driver coil ...

-> Multi-sided monochords or several ebows can be interconnected ... the surfaces and conditions are decisive ... test setups with wine glasses ??

-> the strings can become dampened and heavier... small balls patafix, bluetec are super helpful for modulating and generating complex variable drones

Acknowledgements

Thx to Ralf Schreiber and Uwe Schüler for their circuit designs and experience with sound art, always sharing their newest developments to everybody at such events as HOME MADE 2021 and more.