Snap......?

[mcintyre]

Ok so, just about 5 minutes ago i finished up a practice session, nothing out of the ordinary......started loosening my frenchy and......a snap sound....and the bow won't tighten again.....so i open her up...and gold threads fall out. Any way to fix without buying replacements?

[bejoyous]

Those little gold threads are the insides of the brass eyelet in the frog. The metals of the eyelet and the tightening screw seized together because of friction and something had to give. There might also be friction where the wood of the bow stick touches the frog and screw button.

Unfortunately, bow eyelets are non-standardized. The thread count and size of the post that holds it in the frog and the thread count on the inside hole where the tightening screw goes need to match the frog hole and the screw.

Just take it to a well supplied luthier/violin store and they'll have one or can order one. It'll be about $4 - $12.

As a preventative measure, it's a good idea to take the screw out every once and awhile and clean the goop that mysteriously builds up in there and lubricate the threads of the inside of the eyelet and tightening screw by rubbing them with a pencil lead. Rubbing some pencil lead on at the very end of the bow that touches the screw button and on the wood that touches the frog lining also reduces friction.

[mcintyre]

Ok thank you, the price you named scares me much less than i thought i'd be paying.