Controlled Feedback or Effect?

[Nighthawkst3]

I have been hearing quite alot of music in grunge, rock and metal genres that have a particular wailing guitar sound that colours the music. It sort of sounds like feedback but seems to be too well controlled. Is it possibly an effect?

 

Example:

>

[bieke]

sounds like an ebow to me
I could only stand listening to 30 seconds of it though

[english_bob]

I'm guessing it's controlled feedback. Zakk would probably consider an eBow too {censored} and smash it. I can't listen to music at work, so I can't check out the other stuff you mention, but I'd still be inclined to say it's feedback. I know that Kim Thayil from Soundgarden used it a lot.

To get good controlled feedback, you need plenty of volume and a good dose of gain, mixed to taste. You don't need Brewtal Gain, nor do you need call-the-cops volume, but the less volume you use, the more gain you're likely to need.

Powerful pickups like Zakk Wylde's EMGs can't hurt either, but Jimi Hendrix managed perfectly well without active monster-buckers, so don't go spending money just for that. Semi-hollow or hollowbody guitars help, but once again, a solidbody will do fine, so don't feel the need to go buy one.

I find that some registers of the guitar are more "willing" to feed back than others, and that the results you get will be affected by where you stand in relation to your amp and what angle you have your guitar at in relation to the speaker. Experimentation is the key, so crank up and have a go. Part of the trick is in controlling the strings you're NOT using, since they'll want to feedback too, so you'll need to practice your muting too.

Be warned: parents, wives and girlfriends who are not musicians are wired up wrong in the head, and think that feedback is not good or exciting. They may shout at you during your experiments.

[angus_old]

for feedback you want the LOWEST output single coil pickups you can find. feedback comes from the strings and amp, not the pickups

[Zachman]

for feedback you want the LOWEST output single coil pickups you can find. feedback comes from the strings and amp, not the pickups

[Heineken]

http://www.sustainiac.com/

http://www.fernandesguitars.com/susproducts.html

 

Definatly one of these. Very usefull tool and you wouldn't believe how many artists use this.

[GuitarSlim101]

My favorite method:

1)Turn amp up
2)Place headstock of guitar against speaker cab/combo amp
3)Mute unwanted strings
4)Let feedback go

Takes some practice to control it, but fun none-the-less.

[Jbrazz]

the volume knob?