| If you want to experiment with a bow, you could probably just use a flatwound EBG string as easily as you could use a DB string. A DB string is basically a big, flatwound string.
Although, DB strings, especially strings designed for arco (with a bow) players, have dampening materials in them to help reduce the harsh overtones sometimes created when bowing. DB strings designed for 1/4 basses might fit a bass guitar, although the typical string length (think "scale") of even a 1/4 bass is in the 38-39" range. Also, the string of a viol family instrument has to account for the afterlength, that is that length of string from the bridge to the tail piece. On a 3/4 bass, that may be as much as 6 inches.
Unlike EBG strings, you typically do not trim DB strings. You just wind the whole string on the post. Also, DB strings are designed to be string on a very particular sized bass. As you can imagine, the thickness and stiffness of a DB string would make it difficult to wrap around a post. So, the string is designed so the fat part of the string never reaches the post. (some EBG strings are like this as well) If you wrap a DB string past the silks so that the string itself starts winding, they are very susceptible to breaking. At $150 a set, this is a bad thing.
All that being said, you'll really struggle to bow a bass guitar. Not only is there no radius to allow you to isolate the bow on one string, there is also no bridge stand at all. You'll ever get the bow to clear the waist of the bass.
The bridge stand on a DB is about 6" or more, depending on the bass.
Last edited by Chasarms : 09-12-2005 at 01:09 PM.
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