eBow vs TC Electronics Aeon: first impressions

[fishdreams]

I got my Aeon in a few days ago and this morning played around with it and my eBow (I think mine is the plus model). I tried them on both my fretless basses: a jazz bass, and my Linc with 2 humbuckers and a higher output

As the reviews on Sweetwater stated, the Aeon appears to have a lesser magnetic pull.

On my basses it translated into needing a slightly more difficult/subtle movement in order to get out a tone, compared to the eBow. (the way I use these devices, ia by tapping the notes with my left hand on the fretless fingerboard, in order to get them 'going')

I suppose as a result of the lesser pull on the Aeon, there is definitely a difference in tone. the eBow always gets me the same distorted, synthy tone, no matter how much the string vibrates or which string I line it up with. The Aeon gives me much more of the sound of the actual string vibrating, and I have to say I rather liked that.

While the Aeon is ergonomically a bit more comfortable, 30% cheaper than the eBow, both of them are spaced for guitar string spacing, on a bass you'll kinda have to klutz your way through the correct positioning either way.

SO: is the Aeon the Holy Grail, and now you can throw out the eBow? No. If you are used to your eBow, and love the tone it gets you, I'd say stick with it - nothing there the Aeon makes easier for you or does better.

However, if you want to hear what your sustained string sounds like rather than the one-size-fits-all tone of the eBow (mine, anyway), and don't mind putting in the practice and patience (it is a bit less instant-gratification than the eBow, a bit more difficult to manipulate properly), you may want to give the Aeon a try.

I am far from blown away at this point, but intrigued enough that I won't be returning mine.

EDIT: to answer @GentProvocateur's question: I was not able with the Aeon to generate a note (swell) on its own from an untouched string. With the eBow I can do that, with a nice swell.

 

[BunchyMutt]

Thanks for this. Because of the lesser pull, does the Aeon have a longer ramp-up/attack time than the Ebow?

 

[fishdreams]

Thanks for this. Because of the lesser pull, does the Aeon have a longer ramp-up time than the Ebow?

I'll try & get back to you on that

 

[BunchyMutt]

I'll try & get back to you on that

Thanks

 

[Beej]

Nice review, thanks for sharing. You've just answered about 90% of my questions on this thing!

 

[Adamixoye]

I got my Aeon today. I couldn't get it to do anything on guitar or bass. Not sure if a bad unit, or if it's really that picky about placement, or if this just isn't right for my setup.