Tip laminate crack + Bow work in NYC

Brad Maestas · #1 11-17-2009, 02:06 PM

Hello all, just had a couple of random questions.

First off, I have read that if you crack your tip laminate (ivory/bone/micarta - usually across the narrow patch beside the hank plug) you should not continue using the bow as it could warp the stick. I don't remember when or how the damage happened but I continued to use it after noticing the hairline crack. When I tighten the hair the laminate does not move and the stick stays straight. Just wondering if this is something I should worry about right away. I plan on having it repaired when I re-hair it in the near future.

Secondly, I wanted to see what recommendations people had for bow work in NYC. The guys I know only do bass work. I had Gage re-hair my bow last time mostly for convenience sake as I was there auditioning basses but I wasn't entirely impressed with the job and the hair quality. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

As a side note, I just ordered an Upton Brazilwood bow (German with black hair) and am patiently awaiting its arrival. I have been wanting to get back into playing both French and German and it was right in my budget. Of course it was that or the Gollihur and I sprung for the Upton mainly because I have a friend that has a Gollihur and I'm curious to try them against eachother.

CatfishStudios · #2 11-17-2009, 02:14 PM

Send it to Upton to be repaired and rehaired? My 2 cents

Ive heard a lot of good things about those people.

Brad Maestas · #3 11-17-2009, 02:26 PM

Yes, that certainly was a consideration.

I also wanted to know some local folks that I could easily visit in person.

CatfishStudios · #4 11-17-2009, 02:40 PM

Ahh .. I see... Distance is perceived a little different here on the west coast... I live on the very north part of Oregon and often drive to our cabin on the southern border. 5 hours or so and I dont even leave the state ;] You guys have little states

I thought Upton was closer to you than it is.... Good luck though!

CatfishStudios · #5 11-17-2009, 02:41 PM

By the way we have an Astoria in Oregon ..on the coast, they filmed the Goonies there ;]

Brad Maestas · #6 11-17-2009, 03:53 PM

That's right! I remember thinking of that when I came up here for the first time. I used to live in Federal Way and Kent, WA and I spent a good amount of time in Oregon but never got to see Astoria. I have lots of friends in Portand and even more in Eugene.

I hear you on the distance. I moved here from Kansas several years ago so I was very used to having to drive everywhere. But I suppose that after living here for as long as I have without a car, I have gotten used to the "city" distances. Even when on an express train it can take up to an hour to travel about 12 miles. It's just the density. Upton's CT shop isn't that far away but not having a car complicates things. I eventually want to visit both shops and try out some basses, particularly the "Bostonian" model. I'm not sure how easy it is to get there by rail but ZipCar is always an option but one that I haven't used yet. My feeling is that there's gotta be some folks in Manhattan or Brooklyn that can do a fine rehair for a reasonable price. I hear the going rate is $60 but Upton charges $75. If only for my students, it'd be nice to be able to "walk" there and not involve shipping.

dchan · #7 11-17-2009, 09:08 PM

Send it to Upton? I'm sure they do good work (the hair on my old Upton $99 bow was its best feature), but I personally think it's a much, much better idea to get the job done by a bowmaker/repairer in NYC.

From what I've read here, you can go to Salchow and Sons, Yung Chin, Nick Caraccio and others (of whom I don't know about, but am sure exist). I remember former member Kurt Muroki recommended Nick Caraccio in particular. All are located in Manhattan - Google them.

JoeyNaeger · #8 11-17-2009, 09:14 PM

My professor gets his bows rehaired by Yung Chin in New York. I have his phone number if you want to PM me.

Rockman · #9 11-17-2009, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CatfishStudios

Ahh .. I see... Distance is perceived a little different here on the west coast... I live on the very north part of Oregon and often drive to our cabin on the southern border. 5 hours or so and I dont even leave the state ;] You guys have little states

I thought Upton was closer to you than it is.... Good luck though!

Except New York is the largest state in this region (except Maine, but nobody lives there). You'd be really lucky to get from NYC to Stonington, CT in 5 hours I think, unless you just took a boat.

Brad Maestas · #10 11-19-2009, 12:11 AM

Thanks dchan and JoeyNaeger for the recommendations. I will definitely look into them. And Joey, if I find that I can't get Mr. Chin's number I'll shoot you a PM.

On to the other question, does anyone have an opinion about continuing to use a bow after the tip lamination has cracked (from the hank plug to one side). It doesn't seem to affect the plug position and draw the hair more to one side than the other which I can see would be the immediate concern so I feel safe continuing to use it until I get it repaired. Is this just a case of being overly-cautious?

dchan · #11 11-19-2009, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockman

Except New York is the largest state in this region (except Maine, but nobody lives there). You'd be really lucky to get from NYC to Stonington, CT in 5 hours I think, unless you just took a boat.

Well, it's not that far away. It took me about 2 hours to go from Queens to Mystic, which isn't too far from Stonington. We're not talking about back roads here - it's just off of I-95.

That said, we're still talking about NYC. There are so many bow repair options there - why bother driving out to Connecticut for that work?

dchan · #12 11-19-2009, 12:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VintageBT6Lover

Thanks dchan and JoeyNaeger for the recommendations. I will definitely look into them. And Joey, if I find that I can't get Mr. Chin's number I'll shoot you a PM.

On to the other question, does anyone have an opinion about continuing to use a bow after the tip lamination has cracked (from the shank plug to one side). It doesn't seem to affect the plug position and draw the hair more to one side than the other which I can see would be the immediate concern so I feel safe continuing to use it until I get it repaired. Is this just a case of being overly-cautious?

No problem. I can't answer your other concern (not my area of expertise), but here's that thread I was referring to in my last post:

Bow rehair in NYC ??

Brad Maestas · #13 11-19-2009, 05:43 AM

Thanks for that Drake! I think I'll be trying Nick Caraccio first.

robobass · #14 11-19-2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VintageBT6Lover

... I have read that if you crack your tip laminate (ivory/bone/micarta - usually across the narrow patch beside the shank plug) you should not continue using the bow as it could warp the stick. ....

Nah, that's just not true. If it starts actually coming off and affecting the way the hair tightens, then I'd get it repaired. Short of that I'd not worry about it.

Brad Maestas · #15 11-20-2009, 10:55 PM

Great, danke. It's nice to have an opinion on it. Since there hasn't been any change in the stick since I noticed the crack, I figured that it was an overly-cautious standpoint.

Blaine · #16 11-22-2009, 12:57 AM

you might try greg wylie. he took over jose ducuhna's shop when he moved to florida. he's on broadway around lincoln center.

Brad Maestas · #17 11-22-2009, 12:03 PM

Thanks. He's definitely at the top of my list!

pumpkinking · #18 11-23-2009, 07:28 AM

If you're in New York City Greg Wylie does great work and so does Nick Caraccio.

Phil Rowan · #19 11-28-2009, 11:51 AM

+1 for Nick Caraccio. My past 3 or 4 rehairs have been with him, and he does excellent work (Kurt Muroki hipped me to him). Before I knew about Nick, I had a crack on the stick of one of my French bows (my beater bow) repaired by Yung Chin, and he did a fine job. VintageBT6, I also live in Astoria.. give a shout if you want to check out the Yung Chin repair.

Brad Maestas · #20 11-30-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Rowan

+1 for Nick Caraccio. My past 3 or 4 rehairs have been with him, and he does excellent work (Kurt Muroki hipped me to him). Before I knew about Nick, I had a crack on the stick of one of my French bows (my beater bow) repaired by Yung Chin, and he did a fine job. VintageBT6, I also live in Astoria.. give a shout if you want to check out the Yung Chin repair.

Right on. Will do!