bow weight / string tension

[Al Smith]

Recently I broke a Dominant string after a bass repair that left the D string "weak". Rather than continue with Dominants I decided on a "light" set (mix) of steel strings that was in my bin of "extras". I noticed better bow response with the lighter strings. I've been told my bow is "light". Well, now I'm very pleased with my bass....that is to say - with my light bow and my light strings. Any comments/discussion?

(I play community orchestra.)

PS This is not a pre-new year joke about dieting!

[Basschair]

I totally feel what you're saying. I've been spending quite a bit of time correcting issues with my bow-hand hold, posture, weight, etc. For a while, I put too much stress on my shoulder and pinched a nerve between my shoulder blade and spine. Sucked. Then I spent too much time gripping too hard and pressing with my wrist/forearm, which messed up my wrist.

Now, I've been watching and rewatching Art of the Bow, and have been focusing on looser wrist, applying arm weight, and keeping it clean. Long story made longer, I've spent the last three months paying out the behind for new/used strings to find the right match to my style, my improved technique, and my bass. Dominants were never any good for me. As far as strings being responsive to my bowing (and my bows: some lighter, some heavier, some more firm, some less), Belcantos win hands-down, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to anyone, especially someone who bows the majority of the time. Myself, I'm about 70/30 bow to pizz, and play church orchestra.

Others to consider are Pirastro Flat Chromesteel, Spiro Weichs, Corelli 370M or F, and Corelli 380Ms. I don't know how familiar you are with all these, but they are all relatively "bright" strings (some more than others). Still, I dig them all.

[jfv]

Originally Posted by Al Smith

Recently I broke a Dominant string after a bass repair that left the D string "weak". Rather than continue with Dominants I decided on a "light" set (mix) of steel strings that was in my bin of "extras". I noticed better bow response with the lighter strings. I've been told my bow is "light". Well, now I'm very pleased with my bass....that is to say - with my light bow and my light strings. Any comments/discussion?

(I play community orchestra.)

PS This is not a pre-new year joke about dieting!

Its just a matter of physics, strings with more mass need
more energy to overcome inertia blah blah blah

The weight of the bow isnt an issue if you have proper
technique, as Rabbath says 'the bow, its not the stick,
its your arm" Your weight THRU the bow is the way

That being said, some basses do better with light strings,
mine for instance, it just seems to sing better with Corelli's,
particularly in thumb position, and my bow is also light btw.

Happy holidays,

[Maaaven]

I am playing with a light bow, belcanto (was 370m) and
a very light tailpiece, and this works well together. Some
bows would overdrive this setup and not sound as good.