Non-Latex Bow Grips (Tubing)

[anonymous12251111]

Hi, my new bow has a very sharp (jagged) frog, it's a great bow but my thumb gets tired. I put on a latex grip and it immediately solved the problem, except it made my hands sweat and I'm allergic to latex. Does anyone know of any non-latex tubing or grips that work well?

Thanks!

[quenoil]

You can order every type of tubing under the sun to experiment with here:

http://www.mcmaster.com/

[anonymous12251111]

Thank you Quenoil!

[Felessan]

I personally hate putting a piece of anything between my hand and the bow besides the normal wrapping. I feel so disconnected from the the vibrations that way... it's like driving an automatic after driving a manual BMW...

It would be cheap and simple to have your luthier reshape the frog so it doesn't cut into your thumb. I've had this done and the effect on the bow's playability is unnoticeable. (Except for the fact that you can actually use the damn thing without it cutting your thumb!) Just have them take off _only_ as much as it takes to make it comfortable.



-Trevor

[Pops]

I hardly think that a latex grip cuts down on feeling the vibrations. Only the thumb is touching the latex and there are still four other fingers touching the stick. I can feel vibrations just fine with a latex grip. the benefits of the latex far outway any minor decreases in feeling the bow vibrate, if there are any at all. But that is just my opinion, and I don't think that feeling vibrations in the stick are that important to over all playing.

[robobass]

There are people who are allergic to Latex, plain and simple. Assuming we're talking French bow, I recommend a thin leather wrap for those who don't want to be directly on the wood. And, the "normal wrapping" can be quite uncomfortable. For example: I have seen Kolstien bows with a very thick whalebone wrapping that would raise blisters on my index finger in minutes. I also come into contact with the silver wire on some of my bows sometimes, and that is also a blister problem for me. I have trouble visualizing a "jagged frog" where there would be sharp edges where you contact the frog with your thumb. If so, you should see about rounding and smoothing those edges, and it should be done for free by whoever made or sold you the bow, especially if it is new.

Also, I must complain about new bows which have very sharp edges around the outside of the frog. Bowmakers don't seem to understand that even serious classical players regularly hold the bow in the hand when they pluck the "pizz" notes. The sharp edges make this activity very uncomfortable, and I have had to have the edges rounded on the last two bows I bought. Not a big deal, but something I think a conscientious bowmaker should do before the bow leaves the shop!
Robobass

[anonymous12251111]

Originally Posted by robobass

There are people who are allergic to Latex, plain and simple. Assuming we're talking French bow, I recommend a thin leather wrap for those who don't want to be directly on the wood. And, the "normal wrapping" can be quite uncomfortable. For example: I have seen Kolstien bows with a very thick whalebone wrapping that would raise blisters on my index finger in minutes. I also come into contact with the silver wire on some of my bows sometimes, and that is also a blister problem for me. I have trouble visualizing a "jagged frog" where there would be sharp edges where you contact the frog with your thumb. If so, you should see about rounding and smoothing those edges, and it should be done for free by whoever made or sold you the bow, especially if it is new.

Also, I must complain about new bows which have very sharp edges around the outside of the frog. Bowmakers don't seem to understand that even serious classical players regularly hold the bow in the hand when they pluck the "pizz" notes. The sharp edges make this activity very uncomfortable, and I have had to have the edges rounded on the last two bows I bought. Not a big deal, but something I think a conscientious bowmaker should do before the bow leaves the shop!
Robobass

I agree, although I don't know if I want to ship it all the way back to the maker...I might have to depending on how much it would cost to get it done here. Thanks though.

[JayR]

I have a friend who used self-adhesive ace bandage material (not 100% sure what it is) on the frog of his bow to make it more grippable. Maybe look into it? it feels pretty comfortable under the hand.

[Alex Scott]

Does anyone know what a standard size latex tubing would be for a french bow?

[tornadobass]

I used black waxed string on a bow that had lost its wire. It's comfortable and easy to wind on the stick...it reminded me a bit of tying trout flies

[Felessan]

Crazy, I am unaware of any type of added latex grip that lets four of your fingers touch the stick while guarding your thumb... unless you're talking about adding the latex to your thumb, haha.

Do you have a picture of this device?

My point is that more data feedback from the bass means more information to help me play. The tangible vibrations give me information about volume, attack, decay, pitch, grippiness, slipperyness (which translate into timbral information and bow stroke information). Ever play with earplugs in? It opens up a whole new level of intimacy with your instrument when you have to /feel/ everything that both it and you are doing. I find that feeling how the entire system /feels/--in addition to listening--gives me a more complete understanding of how to use my body to get the sounds I want.

Yes, of course it's all about the sound you're hearing, but you can't stand 100 feet away from your bass and play your bass at the same time, so you don't really know what it sounds like.... Sometimes you're in sonic situations where you need to make a noise but you can't hear yourself through the murky soundmass of the ensemble you're playing with--especially given your location relative to your sound source (above, not in front of, the bass).

In any case, I personally find that a rubber grip is not a negligible difference in the playing experience--a small difference, yes, but not negligible.

-Trevor

P.S. I fully concede the fact that my experiences in this matter could be all in my head and, if we were to conduct some controlled experiment, be easily proven wrong.

Originally Posted by Pops

I hardly think that a latex grip cuts down on feeling the vibrations. Only the thumb is touching the latex and there are still four other fingers touching the stick. I can feel vibrations just fine with a latex grip. the benefits of the latex far outway any minor decreases in feeling the bow vibrate, if there are any at all. But that is just my opinion, and I don't think that feeling vibrations in the stick are that important to over all playing.

[Pops]

here is a pic, only the thumb touches the latex grip while all four other fingers touch the stick or wire or frog. Feeling the vibrations are an integral part of playing, but those vibrations can be felt to greater affect in many other places in addition to the bow. The left hand feels the part of the bass that vibrates the most, the strings and can be used, especiallly on harmonics, to feel whether a note is in tune. You can also feel the bass vibrate and the spot your stomach touches the bass. A peice a latex or other allergy-free grip, in my honest opinion, on the bow will not hinder a relationship between a player and their feeling of the vibrations or greater scope of his/her over all playing. But that is just my opinion. The benefits far outweigh negligible consequences. I could wrong or right but that is what I think.

[Pops]

Action shot

[Kyle Augustine]

I use this stuff. It's silicone and doesn't get all funky like latex does. http://www.travelmateinfo.com/page003.html

[anonymous12251111]

Originally Posted by Kyle Augustine

I use this stuff. It's silicone and doesn't get all funky like latex does. http://www.travelmateinfo.com/page003.html

Kyle, thank you. I think this is the best for me. Is the standard size good for a bass bow? Also, does it only come in white?

[Kyle Augustine]

Yeah it only comes in that clear/white color. It's the perfect size for a bass bow. It's a little bit smaller than your standard latex grip but it stretches out. If you put a small amount of water on the bow and inside the tube it slips on easily.

[Felessan]

Yeah, that's better than other one's I've seen because it's much much shorter. My main concern with them has always been that my first finger was on the latex--which brings up another point against them: if the latex is between your first finger and the stick, the elasticity of the material reduces the amount of control you have over the stick. In other words, it adds some "squish" time while the latex compresses before the actual stick moves.

I've never been able to cut it shorter because it's always been on someone else's bows, and they hate it when you remove it. Cutting it short to allow the first finger closer contact is a good solution to my concerns--the majority of the vibrations felt in the hand is through the first finger anyway.

-Trevor

Originally Posted by Pops

Attachment 91791

Action shot

[JoeyNaeger]

Just so you know, I've found the talcum power (foot power or similar) is the best lubricant for putting grips on. I've had some success with water, but I find the powder to be the easiest to use.

[Pops]

I use this stuff. It's silicone and doesn't get all funky like latex does. http://www.travelmateinfo.com/page003.html

Does anyone use the travlemate? it looks like a sweet deal, no bathroom stops

[chris1125]

I like the way my thumb feels on the bow but my problem is that the bow is getting old and, since i use it several hours a day the leather part of the grip has started to wear away and I don't get enough grip on the bow for marcato bowings does any body know of a thinner grip that I can just put over the original grip for more support under my index finger without the squishey effect?