The Abco Sybian, often referred to simply as a Sybian or Sybian Saddle, is a patented and trademarked product of Abco Research Associates in Monticello, Illinois. In other words, if your device wasn’t manufactured by Abco, it isn’t a Sybian; it’s just another vibrating saddle. The Sybian was invented in 1985 by a dance instructor named Dave Lampert, who felt that the key to helping a woman achieve orgasm was to simulate what occurs when a woman is sitting atop a reclining male during sexual intercourse. If you have never seen a Sybian, you can familiarize yourself with its appearance and functionality by visiting practically any porn site on the web and simply typing the word Sybian into the search box. Interestingly enough, Abco also produces a high-end male penis-pump type of masturbation device called the Venus 2000. The Sybian, like the Hitachi Magic Wand, is popular among both vanilla and fetish folk, however its hefty price tag ($1300-$1600) generally keeps it beyond the reach of casual or experimental users. On the other hand, if you’re a professional Dominant, sex worker or fetish photographer, you may be able to claim it as a tax-deductible business expense. Is this a great country, or what?
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy sensation-play that utilizes vibration or oscillation effectively. In fact, you may not have to spend anything at all, if you already have the right items sitting around in your home. Take, for example, the simple hand-held, battery-operated electric toothbrush. They can be purchased for a pittance ($3 to $10) at just about any drugstore, and most can be turned into very effective sensation-play toys with little or no effort. Simply remove the brush-tip if it is removable, or cut it off with a sturdy set of kitchen shears if it isn’t. What you are left with is typically a stainless steel metal rod that extends a few inches from the handle. Turn the device on, and you’ll see the metal rod oscillating very quickly and intensely, which - if you’re as pervy as I think you are - should easily conjure up infinite possibilities for sensation play. The slender metal rod may or may not have a bulbous or rounded tip, but if it doesn’t you can file it down a bit so there are no sharp edges. The oscillating bare metal rod tip can be an incredibly intense and effective way to stimulate or torture any part of the body, particularly the most sensitive ones. Additionally, various kinds of items can be permanently or temporarily attached to the rod tip to achieve different effects. Such items may include small rubber or plastic balls, small dildo or finger-shaped items, or even a variety of ticklers.
Another household item, which you are probably less likely to have sitting around but may be tempted to procure once you read this, is the Waterpik. If you’re unfamiliar with the Waterpik, a product patented, trademarked and marketed by Waterpik Inc., it can be best described as a high-pressure water-jet flosser or oral irrigator. There are several different models available, which range in price from $35 to $115, but they all essentially consist of a reservoir which holds the water, a powerful compressor that forces the water in rapid high-pressure pulses through a small flexible hose to a variety of interchangeable nozzle-tips. Most models allow you to adjust the water pressure to your liking, and there are even models which are entirely hand-held, self-contained, portable, and battery operated. They are, for all intents and purposes, just like the pulsing high-pressure water nozzles you see at your local coin-operated self-service car wash, except smaller, and for your teeth. Or, if you’re an adventurous and creative kinkster, for your nipples, clit, cock and anus. Of course, now that you’ve read this, whether or not you ever use a Waterpik in this fashion, you’ll probably never be able to look at the coin-op car wash the same way, ever again.
Vibrating and oscillating toys are generally quite safe to use, as long as a minimal amount of common sense is applied. Obviously, you should always avoid using a corded electrical device anywhere where it might become submerged in water. Make sure that any vibrating attachments or, for that matter, anything that is inserted into a body cavity can be easily retrieved. And do keep in mind that too much of a good thing - even good vibrations - can sometimes be a bad thing. The continuous or excessive application of a vibrating implement of any kind to a single spot on the body may result in localized numbness, loss of motor control, or residual tingling.
Violet Wand
It can sometimes be difficult to describe a violet wand to someone who has never seen one before. I usually do it thusly: Remember visiting Spencer’s Gifts in the mall and seeing those little glass globes crackling with purple lightning on display? Did you ever touch one and watch how the electricity sizzled, tickled, and followed your fingertips wherever they went on the surface of the globe? Now imagine the same thing, only smaller, safer, designed to be hand-held, and with a wide variety of kinky attachments.
Violet wands have recently become quite popular in the fetish culture, so it’s easy to see how some people might be surprised to learn that these things have been around, in one form or another, for close to a hundred years. In the 1920s, they were called “violet rays” and used by medical quacks to treat a variety of physical, psychological, and sexual maladies. Eventually, the courts and the FDA forbade the manufacture and sale of violet rays for medical use after finding the makers’ claims of medical efficacy to be completely groundless. Violet rays were allowed to be sold as skin and scalp treatments, neon light gas-leak detectors, and for purely aesthetic purposes, however. Sales of violet rays diminished significantly and most of the companies that sold them either went out of business or focused their efforts on supporting the WWII manufacturing challenge. Several more decades would pass before they were rediscovered in the 1990s by the fetish community, adapted for kink play, and rechristened “violet wands.” By the way, if you’re at all interested, I’ve included at the end of this chapter the tale of how I serendipitously became the proud owner of an authentic 1922 Parco Super High Frequency Generator & Violet Ray.
Modern violet wands aren’t really much different from their violet ray predecessors. The major differences include safer and more reliable electrical components, the use of acrylics or safety glass, a wider and kinkier variety of electrode attachments, and the ability to plug them into a wall socket. Most violet rays were manufactured long before electrical wall sockets became common in homes, therefore, users had to connect them to ceiling light fixtures to power them. When wall sockets became more universal, most existing violet ray owners clumsily spliced standard wall plugs onto their power cords, which also explains why the power cords on most antique units that are still around tend to look like the dog ate them.
If you are in the market for a modern violet wand, here are a few things to be on the look-out for. The first should be the components included in the package that you’re considering. Some violet wands are sold in such a way that you must purchase all of the components individually. Components may include the wand itself, standard or specialty electrodes, adapters or attachments, holsters, kits, and cases. Other times, you may be offered starter kits, complete with a handy-dandy case and/or an assortment of electrodes and attachments. Either way is fine, as long as you understand what you’re getting for the price. Just be sure to read the fine print. It can be pretty frustrating to receive your brand new violet wand in the mail, only to learn that you can’t try it out because the electrodes weren’t included in the purchase price.
Pay close attention to the interchangeability of electrodes and attachments. There are several violet wand manufacturers, with new ones popping up all the time. Most violet wand electrodes and accessories are interchangeable and compatible with one another but you should always check, to be sure. The standard electrode socket size in the United States is 7/16”. You might also want to take note of the type of plug at the end of the device’s power cord. Some violet wands use a grounded three-prong plug, others a simple two-prong plug. It probably won’t matter much to you, either way, until you can’t plug your three-prong plug into a two-prong socket or extension cord.
Prices on violet wands can vary widely, but you should expect to pay $100 to $300 for the wand, and $10 to
$100 for most common types of electrodes or attachments. Rare or custom-made violet wand attachments can, of course, be much more expensive. For those accessories, you may want to consider the old maxim, “If you have to ask the price, you probably can’t afford it.”
Violet wands are used in many different ways. Direct use refers to the direct application of an electrode and current to the subject’s skin, which arcs to the subject because he or she is grounded. Indirect use refers to the practice of the wand user touching or holding an electrode, and allowing the current to pass through his or her own body before passing it to a grounded subject, either by touch or through an electrically conductive object. Reverse use typically involves attaching an electrode or accessory to an ungrounded subject and applying current in such a fashion that the current will arc from the subject to anything or anyone that is grounded. Permanent and semi-permanent branding can also be done with a violet wand, with proper training and the right attachments.
The most common uses for a violet wand are for sensation or tickle play at lower settings, torture and branding at higher settings, as an igniter for fire play, and for the general amusement and aesthetics of playing with electricity. Once you own a violet wand, you’ll find yourself classifying everything in your house as either electrically conductive or non-conductive. Trips to the local crafts store or hobby shop take on new meaning, as you pore over their selection of supplies and wonder about their electrical conductivity. Suddenly, tinsel and garlands aren’t just for Christmas, anymore!
The sparks that you feel from a violet wand are, for all intents and purposes, just like the static electricity spark that you get from touching a doorknob, only continuously. Unlike most of the electrical appliances and devices in your home, a violet wand converts potentially deadly household electrical current into one that is extremely low amperage, but high frequency and voltage. When used correctly, a violet wand is an extremely safe kink toy; when used incorrectly or by the wrong people, not so much.
The safety concerns for violet wands are often confused with those for TENS units, which we’ll discuss in the next section. The bottom line up front is, a violet wand is safer to use than a TENS unit, and has an entirely different set of safety precautions to be aware of. Contrary to popular belief, violet wands are safe to use above the chest and on the head and face, as long as they’re kept away from the eyes. Even though the wand is kept far from the eyes, contact lenses and metal-framed eyeglasses should be removed as a precaution. Violet wands should not be used on anyone who has implanted electronic devices such as pacemakers, insulin pumps, or chemo-therapy pumps. Additionally, the wand should be kept away from any metal in the body, such as replacement knee joints, orthopedic pins and braces, or dental braces. Long ago, these types of devices were sold as ultraviolet (UV) light and ozone generators, but the amounts of UV light and ozone produced by a violet wand are insignificant and should not be a concern to users.
Never use a violet wand around liquids. This includes not only showers, tubs, and sinks, but any nearby liquid, including drinks which could spill and become electrical conductors. If a violet wand gets wet, the full force of the household electrical current could travel along the wet exterior of the wand and deliver a potentially lethal shock.
Do not use the violet wand anywhere near flammable fumes, as the open spark will ignite them, and could cause a fire or explosion. Flammable fumes may include hair spray, rubbing alcohol, hand sanitizer, fresh paint fumes, lubricants, and fuels for household lamps or air fresheners.
Many people wonder if a violet wand can be used internally in the mouth, vagina or ass. The answer is yes, you can, as long as the device you’re using is a true violet wand and you are using an electrode that is specifically designed for such use. As a general rule, internal electrodes are built more ruggedly and have a larger, sturdier plug than the standard 7/16” to prevent the electrode from snapping off under pressure. In other words, if you’re interested in using a violet wand for internal play, you’re going to have to buy one that will accept the larger-sized plugs on internal electrodes.
Despite taking every other possible precaution, there will always be a miniscule chance of an electrical malfunction of some sort that could cause unfiltered household current to travel through the violet wand. This risk may increase somewhat if the wiring in your house is getting old or if you’ve had electrical problems in the past. If that worries you, you should consider purchasing an inexpensive portable Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) at any hardware store or electronics shop for $20 to $40. When it senses the type of electrical surge that could cause a problem, it automatically breaks the connection the same way that your computer’s surge protector does.
All things considered, a violet wand is actually much safer than it might seem at first blush. Obviously, if you notice that someone is particularly sensitive to the effects of a violet wand, you should reevaluate their suitability for this sort of play. If your subject continues to experience tingling or numbness after a few days in affected areas, that should definitely be considered a big red flag. As is the case with just about any BDSM toy, the greatest risks associated with the use of a violet wand are usually the result of careless or inappropriate use.
TENS and EMS Units
Electrical BDSM play can take many forms. As we’ve just learned, violet wands are primarily used to stimulate the skin. TENS units are designed to stimulate the nervous system, while the purpose of EMS units is to stimulate muscle. TENS and EMS devices may appear superficially similar; both typically consist of a control console, long wires or leads, and dermal adhesive electrodes, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end.
TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. In medicine, it’s a somewhat controversial treatment for chronic pain that’s been around since the early 1970s, though the idea of using electricity to dull pain is not particularly new. Ancient Romans wrote of alleviating pain by touching live electric eels and in the 18th century, Ben Franklin tinkered with the use of electricity as a treatment for pain and a cure for various ailments. Today, in addition to its questionable efficacy as a medical treatment, it is used by many fetishistas for BDSM electrical play. To some, it may seem counter-intuitive that a device designed as a pain reliever is used by sadomasochists for pleasure. While its real effectiveness as a pain reliever is highly doubtful, the tingling or ticklish sensations that it produces are anything but. A portable TENS unit will typically cost between $30 and $100.
EMS stands for Electrical Muscle Stimulation. EMS units are typically used in medicine, sports training, cosmetic treatments, and in therapy to produce repeated muscle contractions through electrical stimulation. EMS devices range in quality and complexity from the very intricate and expensive machines used by medical and sports professionals to the simpler, less expensive devices marketed to the flabby masses via late-night infomercials. The odd experience of having your muscles stimulated electrically to involuntarily contract and release in rapid succession makes the EMS unit an interesting option for BDSM sensation play. An EMS unit can usually be purchased for $30 to $250. The higher price range for the EMS, versus the TENS, is probably a reflection of the fact that EMS units are often marketed to an increasingly chunky and gullible public as weight loss and muscle toning devices.
Both TENS and EMS units must be FDA approved for sale in the U.S. and must meet certain industry safety guidelines. Most of the safety practices applicable for violet wands are also recommended for TENS and EMS devices, along with the following exceptions and additional recommendations.
Neither device should ever be used by anyone with a heart condition, epilepsy, blood circulation problems, any sort of malignancy, or may be pregnant. People with pacemakers, metal implants, and internal pumps or monitors should avoid them as well. Never place electrodes on open wounds, directly on the spinal column, on either side of the head, near the eyes and sinuses, on the neck near the carotid artery, or near the front of the throat, as it c
ould cause a vasovagal reflex or laryngospasm. (Translation: choking, gagging, turning blue, and flopping around on the floor like a tuna on a boat deck.)
Clamps, Clips, & Vices
BDSM sensation play just wouldn’t be the same without all of the little squeezy devices that can be used to apply exquisite pressure to those sensitive parts of the body. There are an infinite number of different types of clamps, clips and vices that can be used in BDSM play; the most common are nipple clamps, clit clips, ball crushers, and other cock-and-ball torture (CBT) devices. Rather than get bogged down in trying to discuss all of them, we’ll focus instead on just a few of the more common or interesting.
Nipple clamps are probably the most commonly purchased and well-known pressure sensation play toys available. They are popular both in and outside the fetish culture, and are typically one of the first kink toys purchased by couples who are just beginning to explore the wonderful world of kink. Their popularity is certainly helped by the fact that they’re usually inexpensive, simple to understand, and non-threatening to novices. Unlike many of the other BDSM toys there are to choose from, you don’t need the cooperation of a partner to experiment with nipple clamps; all you really need is nipples.
Nipple clamps are typically either spring operated (like clothes pins) or screw operated (like thumbscrews or a C-clamps) or employ a combination of the two, which allows users to adjust the spring tension to their personal comfort level. If purchasing a pair of spring operated nipple clamps, you should test the strength of the tension spring before purchasing, if at all possible. Nipple clamps are usually packaged in a way that makes it almost impossible, but you might want to ask a sales person if you can open the package before purchasing it or, barring that, open it immediately after purchasing and before you’ve left the store. Of course, if they have a strict no-return policy, even that will probably be fruitless. It’s actually quite common, especially in the budget-priced varieties, for the spring tension to be so severe that no one would ever consider actually using them. Apparently, either the third-world nipple clamp manufacturers have never bothered to try out their own products, or they have some gnarly-tough nipples.
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