Violin corners causing problems..

[emilio g]

The tip of my bow tends to bump into or rub against the lower violin corner on the G string side of my bass when I'm playing between a C on the G string and the G harmonic. If I'm playing very quiet or very loud, the bow misses the corner, but when I find the proper sounding point for a mezzo forte or mezzo piano in that range there are problems.

There isn't much room to get the bow any closer to the D string without playing a double stop.

Raising the strings seems to help a little, but doesn't solve the problem.

Is there anything else I can do to alleviate the problem?

[Andrew McGregor]

Don't drop the tip of your bow? That would do it. As in, bring the bow perpendicular to the string.

[davpal]

Maybe you could reshape the bridge to either raise the height of the G or lower the height of the D.... You really need a luthier to make a determination of the best course of action... it might even require reshaping the fingerboard to suit.

[arnoldschnitzer]

How high is the bridge (in the center)? How wide is the bass in the C-bout? How far apart are the violin corners? Do you play French or German bow?

[Pete G]

The same issue arises often on the bass side with violin-cornered 5-strings (a fundamental design error, in my view, but still...). The problem is that the bow hand can hit the upper violin corner on the downbow stroke -- especially true for users of the less sophisticated German bow. {jk! jk!}

One way to address this, in addition to raising strings and/or reshaping the bridge (and usually the fingerboard too), is to increase the neck overstand.

This should only be done by a highly qualified bass luthier, because if you go too far really bad things can happen.

With some (not all) basses, there is a possibility for some relief using this approach.

[DC Bass]

Design flaws not withstanding, I think what Andrew suggests should not be overlooked.

Many years ago, my teacher insisted that I practice in front of a full length mirror. This allows you to be sure you aren't dropping the tip of your bow inadvertantly...you can also keep an eye on your left elbow too!

To add to Arnold's questions (not that he needs my help ), do you play seated or standing?

Just a few thoughts!


Good luck!

Joe

[emilio g]

The bass's bridge is 6 1/4" from the top at the center, the C-bout is 8 3/4" at it's widest and the corners are 8 1/4" apart. I play German bow and stand most of the time.

As for technique, I can keep the bow very perpendicular to the strings and used to play with a straight bow all the time. However, recently my teacher has showed me to angle the bow slightly to allow me to play closer to the bridge and not be hunched over. Most of the time this works well, but when I'm playing at certain dynamics on the G string (and near the frog), the bow makes some contact with the corner.

But it sounds like my bass would need some major surgery to fix it...

[Square Bear]

i would just keep the bow straight. you should be able to get plenty of sound without having to change the angle, although it is true that you can crescendo very effectively by dropping the tip a bit so that you move closer to the bridge (i think that's the technique you are talking about).

[1st Bass]

Would it help to extend the endpin a little? That would enable you to reach the same places without hunching over, and maintain perpendicularity between the bow and strings. Or is the issue the reach between left and right hand?

[emilio g]

The combination of raising the endpin a notch and raising the strings a turn helps! Thanks! There's still a little contact sometimes, but its much much less frequent.