Sound Stone: Better than the EBow or Does it Suck?

[@LDR33Pyrodyne]

The soundstone seems like a perfect design for a slow dystopian soundscape, especially when it starts detuning the strings.

[@GrandaddyJeff]

The ebow absolutely outshines the sound stone to my ears. Been considering one for a bit, but was curious about the sound stone. Decision made. Thank you for this.

[@MARK-DENNIS]

You will love your e bow - love using mine on my acoustic ;0)

[@omynel]

I got a chuckle out of your light dome looking like a spider as it reflects on your guitar! Always enjoy your vids, thanks for sharing 🙏

[@brandonskala7325]

You've convinced me to buy a Soundstone. Fantastic playing, sir. I just like the dystopian sustain while I continue to play long notes on other strings For the price, it's nice enough for me. I enjoy listening to Fripp. I don't necessarily want to emulate him, ya know? Thank you for the vid. Again, you are a fantastic guitarist.

[@christopherventer6391]

I like eBows, but I kind of like the fuzziness and string pull of the sound stone. It feels kind of like the shoegazer eBow

[@gavinhalm3016]

Exactly what I was thinking...I rather enjoy the native distortion of the unit...it's great if that's what one is looking for: something that has a little "bite" to it. Plus, then you are not beholden to post-production algorithms (if wanting to add a bit of distortion, let's say) and instead are at the mercy of the unit's physical nature. At 40 bucks, I'll grab one, and an eBow.

[@nicknickson3650]

another great video, thank you Bill!

[@clarkeblacker]

Strangely enough, and as bad as the Sound Stone comes off in the comparison, I find myself oddly attracted to its messiness and obvious misfires. It is definitely a messy and unpredictable and hard to control tool compared to the wonderful Ebow. But if it works like you show it, I might just go for the Sound Stone. You'd need to treat it as a different effect than an Ebow. If you treat it as a lo-fi more eccentric effect, there is a lot going on there. The Ebow is, as always, terrific. All hail the mighty Ebow! But I kinda dig the raggedy one, too. Think about it.

[@TheTyrynir]

For sure. It may not have hit it's intended mark, but it still has a unique vibe.

[@carolinebirmingham]

Well said!

[@retinalcircus]

I had an Ebow for 23 years. In that time I've used it extensively in the studio on records, on film scores, on tour live. Additionally I've damaged the wires and had to resolder them or in one case I even refit the 9v battery connector from another pedal, dropped it on concrete, gotten it wet. It still works. My point is it's pretty hard wearing, I'm not a typical guitarist by any standards so I've made the ebow sound like clarinet, reverse guitar, a synth, a cello, a simple drone waves of controlled feedback etc. But I always keep going back to it. I haven't met anybody who's broken their ebow beyond repair. They tend to last imo.if something goes amiss it's usually an easy fix There's not a lot that can go wrong. All the examples above of me breaking it were just due to using it an awful lot. It's few and far between. At the most I've had it out of action for a few days if that. The tone is not to be beat. I've met so many folk who don't understand it but all ebows have an instruction manual and demo tape as far as I'm aware. So it's weird someone would just think it were limited as a sustainer device when there's a whole host of things you can do with it as shown here.

[@avalonpractice]

Thanks for the demo and your thoughts. I think I’ll go for an Ebow now thank you

[@soundssimple1]

excellent review, thanks.

[@GrzegorzBojanek]

Sound Stone sounds to me a bit harsher. I think some people may even like it better for their music. It is like a LOFI version of an EBow. Don't you think?

[@TheSoundStone]

Hi Chords of Orion, Thanks so much for your review! As a super small company (my brother, myself, and our friend), videos like these are extremely helpful for us. After watching, I was curious about whether or not you're using the original unit we sent to you? On the first run of units, we were using different transducers, and since then we've upgraded to custom transducers which help address some of the bending issues you mention. While its still possible for this to happen, I've found that after adjusting to the learning curve of the Sound Stone its pretty easy to avoid this. Due to its design differences, its not going to play exactly like an ebow. On our page, we have several videos where I play the Sound Stone live and without any edits. I did this so that I can show that it's possibly to play with consistency and without any of the issues you mention in the video. Here's one example - kzbin.info/www/bejne/omi2aZqAZaaentEsi=MJ2XphAlG-Wq5dJu We've also just had new injection molds made which make the battery installation much easier (this is the other main complaint we've had from customers). So, with all that said, I hope that anyone who considers buying a Sound Stone will look into us further. I'm always happy to do a return if a customer is unhappy with their unit as well. I forgot to mention, with every Sound Stone purchase, customers get a free Kontakt Instrument which I designed where I sample every note of the Sound Stone on acoustic and electric guitars. This is a great tool for film scoring and I use it in a lot of my commercial film work. Thank you! -Will (Merkaba Electronics Co-Owner)

[@chordsoforion]

Yes, confirmed. that I demoed the unit that I purchased in 2023. I stand by my conclusion at the end of the video (the "who is it for" part), including the issue with the unit bending strings out of tune. I watched the video that you reference, and you are basically positioning your "sound stone" hand in one place and only playing on one string. That is OK and sounds decent with the slide, but is certainly limiting compared to the EBow and even the Joyo Infinite Sustainer, which both allow you to move you hand and switch strings with a smooth even tone. If you do another iteration with more advanced capabilities like string switching, let me know - would love to try it out.

[@TheSoundStone]

@@chordsoforion Okay yes of course, sounds good - thanks!

[@JohnPaulsonJohnisaStegosaurus]

the scraping and squeaking is a feature, not a bug! the ebow is certainly cleaner and more stable, but if you're into free-improv/noise there's a lot you can do with it.

[@zitosonic]

Hi Bill, I have them both and I agree with your review. Sound Stone design could be better, but as a local project here in Austin... I don't regret supporting them. Hope to see the Ibanez SRC6 multi-scale in your channel some day.

[@chordsoforion]

Glad we are in an agreement! Also, here's a playlist with my other S$C6 vids: kzbin.info/aero/PLseB5HzFJKVz2LMxtRcxLu5I29Fq2mjSW

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

I’m in Houston and wanted to support the Sound Stone, but it sounds way out of tune to me. Unfortunately, the JOYO is the better budget option. I’m more interested in SS’s Sunwave pedal.

[@effdpaul1815]

I am finally seriously shopping for the EBow. Your video and demo makes it quite clear which one I should invest in. I've also invested in a REAL violin bow ... the kind of effects that I am interested in ... not the expensive toys.

[@chordsoforion]

I am excited to hear you are looking seriously at the Ebow. In case you have not seen it, I did a dedicated tutorial for using the EBow: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ7YmHetdrCNY9E

[@MattyWhens]

How did I just ask myself this question and lo and behold- a new video about it?!

[@LazyCat010]

I've had an ebow for 40+ years and I love it. I just ordered a Sound Stone because it's so damn affordable I couldn't say no

[@jaimeflor4181]

Same! It’s the affordability that caught my attention. I haven’t had an ebow for years though.

[@avpostbox]

It sounds like Stone is well fit for LoFi sounds. About 6.50 there are actually some nice sounds reminding sounds of a mountain wind instrument. Well, thanks for the tour.

[@mikki_ams]

Miss u my friend greetings from Tambobo bay Philippines..

[@BrentAdams]

Thanks for this.....I was wondering how they would compare, but not enough for ME to purchase one. I did respond to one of their Facebook ad posts to see if they wanted to send me one to "test" & video....no Response! I do like my E-Bow..and need to incorporate it more into what I'm doing.

[@daniellarson3068]

Thanks for making us aware of this alternative to the EBow. I've been considering getting an EBow for some time to play around with. This alternative may satisfy that want just as well.

[@macsarcule]

I think the sound stone is actually too strong. It’s maybe restricting the string vibration. Less volume, slow to start oscillation, pulls out of tune. The ebow magnetic distance to the strings is balanced perfectly, kind like a Lagrange point is for gravity.

[@JasonWild-kk3lm]

yeah.. its clearly the underdog, but i bought one anyway to play my hand made "Kotamo" with piezo electric pickups. Put through an effects chain, i imagine a variety of ambient goodness can come through it. If not, there's always the ebow.

[@Steven-u5w]

Personally myself 100%. I would stay with the ebow although the sandstone does have a different colour. Saturation sound I would say personally I would keep the sandstone to experiment with And improvise but the pride and joy would still be the ebow Wins 100% I'm in my mid-60s male ex-guide dog owner

[@Sd12sx23]

The ebow wins for me, but i could see how some people would be into the thinner sound. It also seems like there's a different touch required, so if youre already used to e bow, the technique isnt going to translate directly amd youre going to have to forget a little bit of what you know. But if you've never had an e bow and this is your first sustainer, who knows...

[@martinbeadle4664]

The e bow with the blue light (the new version) seems to have a much higher output than the older (red light) e bow too. Wondering how the sound stone would measure up Vs the older e bow 🤔

[@AlchemyMusicConcept]

Been using an ebow for years and love it. Very useful tool.

[@genepozniak]

Thanks for the test! I wonder if the EBow could be tinkered with to make the magnetic field stronger (without burning something out). That would be great for my acoustic 12-string.

[@JT-si6bl]

Ebow is stronger, and also requires more volume control to do good work. But a weaker version is less likely to need a volume adjustment as much? As for the detune- that is an attractive design.

[@stephanstacey7566]

Two flavors of the same sort of thing. They don't need to be better or worse than the other. having a "weaker" option in terms of strength of magnetic field isn't a bad thing as you can pick the one that works/sounds best with the particular guitar and signal path you are using for a given part.

[@Slammo]

Thanks for the great video. Trying a sound stone on my Fractal Harps (pedal steel like instruments) Would love a device like this across all the strings. Unfortunately it seems useless for this application. Had to try it. Oh well.

[@gergoolle5773]

Soundstone is the best for dark ambient music 🤘 But i proudly own an ebow 😂

[@samseitz9937]

The sound stone definitely has that “sick” sound which might be ok for certain purposes. Were you able to look at the plug-in that came with it? Could be a good excuse to break out the jam stick

[@Steven-u5w]

I would personally lick to hear the sandstone through a pong 3 pitch shifter with an expression pedal where you can shift a pitch, upwards or downwards and do a comparison with the Ebow and I know the Ebow would come out with flying colours yet again for sure personally I would just by the Ebow but if you buy the other one it's worth keeping just to experiment with and play about. But the ebow is my pride and joy 100%

[@matthewmcguigan4293]

Bill, your honest reviews are among the best available on youtube. I wasn't in the market for the sound stone, but I feel like I learned some things about how the ebow and sound stone work, and I agree with your assessment that they're not the same quality. The sound stone really seems to torture the signal. I'm not sure what musician would find that element helpful, but maybe someone has an application for it.

[@Madmax-rz5hz]

The Joyo is closer to the EBow, even the same shape. I actually prefer it, the EBow volume jump is hard to control, at least for me BTW, there's a reflection of a giant spider in your guitar. Blink twice if you are being held captive

[@lioraavigile1137]

Agreed Definitely the e-bow it wasn’t meeting up right and was out of tune

[@martyrocks2091]

The worrying thing is someone buying a Soundstone thinking it's just the same as an E-Bow. Then being put off using one 'cause the Soundstone just isn't very good. I don't use my E-Bow often but it is a wonderful device and it always draws attention when I do use it at gigs.

[@moroboshidan7960]

The defects kinda sound good. I got some Dune vibes. But if you want to make normal music, I guess it's a no.

[@IndicacannaJones]

The Ebow sounds more consistent and constant, but I think there may be some unintended effects of the Sound Stone that I'm not sure should be dismissed. It creates a moodier, trippy-er, and unpredictable behavior. Sometimes it seems to create a bit of a reverse tape effect.

[@nightfallstrings849]

I have the Ebow. Go for Ebow!!

[@ElectraOmega]

Love it! I have the Joyo Infinite Sustainer ebow clone. With the $30 I saved I can buy a half-carton of eggs! 🥚🎸🤘🤩🤘🎸🥚

[@zitosonic]

😆😆😆 true true !

[@94franz]

i bought the ebow2 a week and was very disappointed by how cheap the manufacturing has become, compared to my first ebox bought at least 3 decades ago. was i just unlucky or... what do you think since you have handled many versions of them?

[@stevenluna3756]

The sound stone gives me jimmy page live at the garden with the violin bow vibes

[@King_Clone_]

How about a Sound Stone mounted to the face of an Ebow? (Where the light is)

[@King_Clone_]

3d print a receptacle of sorts?

[@keithklassen5320]

I can recognize the significantly better strength and reliability of the ebow... The soundstone's less reliable and more random sound is actually pretty interesting to me, tho I suspect it's not for everyone. I have long wished that the ebow had some way of adjusting the strength of its excitation.

[@davidstorm4015]

it does, you move it further away from the strings or further away from the pickup, both will reduce the effect

[@TheScreamingFrog916]

@@davidstorm4015 Yes, but a knob would be nice. Would be even more interesting if you could modify the signal inside the device with an external signal, or app. Would open up many possibilities. Update: just found this, that is a little like I describe...German company Vibesware

[@joybuzzer]

Joyo has their own budget version of the eBow. I wonder how that compares to this and the eBow.

[@chordsoforion]

Here's a comparison vid that I posted a few years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmixlpSKrrigrZI

[@liquidmanic]

🤘👽🤘

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

The Sound Stone does almost appear to have a "modulated" lo-fi sound, which probably has a place for some players seeking that kind of sound. And at $35, it's really not a bad deal. But it does seem like you really have to "work it" more than the Ebow.

[@SwypeGuy]

It is not always true that you get what you pay for - you often pay more than something is actually worth. I think the correct expression is: you DON’T get what you don’t pay for…

[@twelveouncetrance4034]

I’ve not found anything which outshines the ebow!!!

[@squamsk5994]

randomly checking in to say i was thinking of you and wanted to sing your praises. from: a random guy on the internet who loves 6 string bass and wants to learn classical guitar/prog stuff lol erhem. this channel rules, if anyone gives you trouble let me know. ill probably be nice to them but like. say things like hey, what in the name of sam heck. there, i said it

[@eyeball226]

It's not possible for the circuit to make the string go out of tune. I can guarantee it's the magnet itself. Either the magnet is too strong or too close to the string.

[@phantominterrogative]

Sound Stone detuning makes for a warped tape delay effect.

[@jamesculley845]

I bought a Sound Stone because it was cheap. Unfortunately, I found it to be difficult to control and it created very harsh sounds. I have a Fender Stratocaster and a Fender Telecaster. Now that Sound Stone sits in a box… 😉

[@Sd12sx23]

In fairness, I find the ebow to be better with humbuckers. Maybe you have an excuse to buy a 3rd guitar, now. 😄

[@A.WebbAndFriends]

First off I clearly admit that the EBow emits a stronger, and cleaner tone BUT the detriments of the Sound Stone can be used to an advantage - FOR EXAMPLE: You have shown how the Sound Stone slightly detunes the string pitch, I AGREE - but if you wiggle it from side to side you can create a VIBRATO effect, ALSO - THE WEAKER, staticky tones from the Sound Stone creates a vision of a far off dystopian soundscape "trying" to signal earth. A very cool effect if you ask me - SO PLEASE DON'T be so quick to poop all over the Sound Stone. If you only used your imagination, it would make you a better reviewer.

[@MBloke]

The EBow is much smoother (and probably plays much better) but the Sound Stone has a bit of a dirty edge and unpredictability that sounds appealing to me. Probably not great for soothing ambient guitar, tho.

[@gph2193]

E Bow is much richer. Combined with a chrome slide, a good overdrive, eccos looper/delay and reverb. From Frith to Fripp and beyond.

[@erichausmann]

I've been using my same old (very old! single red LED) ebow for nearly 40 years. That new thing is just awful.

[@jin2984]

Little bit of delay😂

[@Master_RoSSShi]

I’m really curious Bill, have you ever tried playing with an actual bow on guitar? It’s a pretty amazing sound in my opinion and I think it’s a great ambient technique.

[@paulauksztulewicz4803]

Pretty neat but I’ll stick with my original 1970’s chrome-plated plastic electric bow with leather holster and demo cassette tape. No switches, just plain auto on/off when near a string. Rather mild but always can let the pickups do the work. 🤘🏻

[@alexeibezzubets5081]

Sound Stone is the best for imitating the cry of a seagull 😉

[@Boris_Chang]

Cut a dozen Starbucks grande lattes out, and use the savings to get an eBow.

[@bryantwalley]

I just wish eBow would make one with rechargeable battery. I just don't buy anything that takes 9v battery's.

[@chordsoforion]

How about getting a couple of rechargeable 9 volt batteries? That's what I do.

[@bryantwalley]

@@chordsoforion which ones you using? I tried twice off Amazon but they both were horrible. The battery would die even just sitting on the workbench. One of them didn't even seem like it was really 9v.

[@chordsoforion]

@@bryantwalley I got mine from Amazon. They work very well. Here's the link: amzn.to/3oX6NQr

[@JonRayRunawayVealMusic]

Ebow cost alot for a one trick pony …I’ve owned a few and sold em …great until the novelty wears off. I think ebow charges way too much . Sound stone more practical ….certainly for what it is ….

[@Kmuggle]

EBow +1

[@supersimpleguitar]

In my oppinion there is no alternative to the original EBow. I have tested all the alternative devices that are available. They are all dissapointing..

[@simpson6700]

Unfortunate, i'll get a joyo then

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

The eBow is still the gold standard…

[@JonRayRunawayVealMusic]

Cost gold also

[@johnduval482]

I bought one and I’m here to say it sucks. Straight up

[@mikesmithwick1570]

You get what you pay for😉

[@motomike71]

The tone that the soundstone created was just so inferior to the ebow that I just can’t see any use for it. I’d be giving it an F based on this video. Not really good at anything. Even the weird sounds it made and the pitch shift sounded bad. You were far too generous. The ebow is even superior on single note sustain.

[@davidp158]

Evidently, it does suck. Ya gets what ya pays for.

[@guitarguy07]

eBow is so much better man

[@armisis]

Neither is better than the EPick by Vo

[@chordsoforion]

I guess they both have the advantage in that you can actually get one! :-)

[@vurnt22]

The Sound “Stone” is a CHEAP plastic piece of future landfill CRAP. NO COMPARISON TO THE EBOW. The Sound “Stone” build quality is APPALLING.

[@robguitarwizard]

Soundstone. Ebow clone or expensive paper weight

[@DaddyRockStudio]

Bill, face it, your just to nice a guy to say it. The Soundstone sssssssssssuuuuucks. It's weaker, it sounds like you have to lay it right on the string to make it work, and then it buzzes, and not in a good way. And it is nowhere near as smooth and consistent as an E-bow. So yes, it sucks. There, I said. ;)

[@jonesclansj]

Sound Stone is not very useful. Elbow wi s out hands down.

[@Ivanskiin12]

What about chords? Can you pick with it? Like an Em for example..