Guitar resonator

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Creating feedback with the Guitar Resonator
Sound sample Vibesware Guitar Resonator GR-1

The Guitar Resonator is an effects device for electric guitars for generating feedback . An electromagnetic actuator on a microphone stand amplifies the vibrations of the strings until they vibrate continuously.

description

The deliberate play with - usually unwanted - feedback began in the 1950s with the advent of rock music. This playing technique became known in particular through musicians such as Jeff Beck , Pete Townshend and Jimi Hendrix , who generated targeted feedback by holding the guitar close to the speakers of their guitar amplifier . In connection with a high volume, this leads to the fact that the sound waves stimulate the strings to vibrate, so that practically an endless tone is created.

In the 1970s, the first devices such as the E-Bow appeared , which caused strings to vibrate with an electromagnetic field. Electromagnetic actuators built into the guitar, known under the name Sustainer, etc. were added later. a. in Fernandes Guitars and made popular by guitarist Steve Vai .

The Guitar Resonator , which came onto the market in 2008 , differs from the E-Bow and the Sustainers in particular through its stationary arrangement in connection with a stronger magnetic alternating field. The resulting new playing technique was first made known by Uli Jon Roth .

Working principle

How the Guitar Resonator works

The control signal for the actuator is formed from the signal of the selected guitar pickup, which - depending on the playing technique - sets one or more strings vibrating. Since an amplification of the string vibrations increases the signal voltage in the guitar pickup, a positive feedback is created that sustains the tone. The sound corresponds to that of feedback via the sound waves when amplifiers are played loudly. The frequencies of the continuous oscillations are fundamental tones or harmonics , which can be specified via the phase switch on the device and the playing technique (see below).

Guitar Resonator - Driver Box
Control of the string vibration with feedback: The frequency of the continuous vibration depends on the different amplitudes and phase positions at different positions along the vibrating string

Playing technique

The guitarist controls the transition from normal, decaying string oscillation to continuous oscillation via the distance between the resonator and the strings. The change from fundamental to overtones can be controlled by positioning the actuator differently along the fingerboard.

Application examples

Examples of well-known artists who have used the Guitar Resonator:

credentials

  • Michael Molenda: Vibesware GR-1 and GR-Junior II Guitar Resonators, in: Guitar Player, 08/2015
  • Pete Prown: Sustain for Days: The Vibesware Guitar Resonator GR-Junior II, in: Vintage Guitar 07/2015
  • David Greeves: Vibesware Guitar Resonators GR-1 and GR-Junior, in: Sound On Sound, 07/2011
  • Bruno Mazzei: Guitar Resonator GR-1 - L'irresistibile attrazione… magnetica, in: Age of Audio (I), 08/2011
  • Thomas Jeschonnek: Vibesware Guitar Resonator GR-Junior, in: Guitar & Bass (D), 05/2011
  • Ira Stylidiotis: Vibesware Guitar Resonator GR-Junior, in: Guitar (D), 02/2011
  • Trevor Curwen: Vibesware Guitar Resonator GR-Junior, in: Guitarist (UK), 01/2011
  • Brian Johnston: Vibesware GR-1 Guitar Resonator, in: Music Gear Review (USA), 08/2010
  • Greg Geller: Vibesware Guitar Resonator GR-1, in: Future Music New York, 12/2010
  • Greg Hurley: Vibesware GR-1 Guitar Resonator, in: Recording Magazine Vol. 23 No. 2, 11/2009
  • Jörg Heid: Vibesware Guitar Resonator, in: Instrumentenbau 7–8 / 2008

Web links

Commons : Guitar Resonator  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Ebow . Manufacturer's website, accessed December 19, 2014.
  2. Fernandes Sustainer . Fernandes website, accessed December 19, 2014.
  3. Vibesware Guitar Resonators . Manufacturer's website, accessed December 19, 2014.