Hi all,
Do any of you out there know anything about a project that Bob Moog was said to have worked on called the Gizmatron? It was something he consulted on in the early 80’s, a guitar synthesizer that didn’t make it off of the drawing boards. Seems that the problems associated with the ARP Avatar had spread to Dr. Moog. Does anyone know any inside details about it?
[P. S. Am I the only forum member who refers to the head honcho as “Dr. Moog?”]
This may be the same device that was used, and I believe, initially developed by 10cc in the late seventies. There was another thread on this forum relating to said device, so you’ll probably find more information forthcoming from those who posted there in the not too distant future. Can’t be of anymore help, as the above is all I know.
The Gizmotron was a guitar accessory that used little plastic wheels to bow the strings. Mutron (of BiPhase fame) started R&D, then ARP acquired Mutron and put the Gizmotron in production. The problem was the wheels didn’t always work and ARP/Mutron did not employ a plastics engineer to fix the problem.
You’ll find the story recited in Mark Vail’s Vintage Synthesizers and Bob recalled the gizmotron story in an interview only because a former Moog Music associate was involved on the project, but Bob himself never worked on the project.
I think I remember something about 10CC using this Gizmotron with massive layered voices to create the amazing choir voices in “I’m not in love”.
I don’t think the Gizmotron was used on the choir sounds, but there is a Bass-Gizmotron playing a 'cello sound on that track.
The Bass version was slightly more successful owing to the string spacing of a bass guitar (the Gizmos were all add-ons for conventional instruments) and the fact there was less of it! It was marketed in the '80s by Chase Musicians amongst others.
The electrically energised E-Bow is still available, should anybody want to make a guitar sound like a violin of course!
SCx
I was this close – to trying an E-bow in Alto Music of Middletown, NY, where I go to do my window shopping. The thing didn’t work, and they unfortunately didn’t get another one for the floor. Does it have the true effect of a bow on a string? All I’ve got are some random recordings of Blondie, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and (possibly) U2, not to mention examples of Jimmy Page using an actual bow (probably from a cello).
I really want to play with an ebow. I think I am going to buy one anyway. They aren’t terribly expensive on the old ebay. I wish they made a bass ebow though. You can read some FAQs and listen to quite a few audio samples at the website. www.ebow.com
I have a violin bow and I have tried pulling accross the strings of just about every stringed instrument I own (electric guitar, steel and nylon acoustics, bass, ukeleles, banjo, etc.), however the disadvantages are that you can only play the lowest or highest string. I tried compensating this with the bridge saddles on a bass but it just didn’t work. Also, it leaves some nice rosin residue on strings. Also, a real bow doesn’t have a harmonic overtone mode. (Can you do pinch harmonics on an ebow?)
PS- the low B on my bass sounded incredibly thick when bowed.
Well Endocrine, if you’ve experimented with a classic acoustic bow, perhaps you should spring for an E-bow on E-bay. 
I’m sure everyone would be appreciative of the opinion of a person whose practical experience is spread to both techniques.
I’d be glad to. Can I barrow some money?