makeshift Bow making

[anonymous278347457]

please feel free to move this thread to the DB section or something, but i put it here because its not really a serious bow question

Im kinda interested in seeing how a bass sounds with a bow now im not going to spend a few hundred pounds on a bow, (because its an experiment and im just messing around really)

so im planning on making one, Ive got some maple boards aswell as mahogany , and MDF , and pine(i think).
im probably just gonna cut out a rough bow shape with a saw, and but a string on it, this isnt the problem,

Im unsure of what i should use as a "string", ive got LOADS of spare bass and guitar strings(all roundwound if that matters)

Im kinda worried that the grooves on the bass strings will damage the strings on my bass so i might use one of the thinner guitar strings or something, any other suggestions on bow materials?
Im not planning on spending ANY money on this "project", its just gonna be parts from my garage, from what i got i could use rubber bands, plastic string, sewing string, electrical cable, guitar/bass strings, maybe some other stuff

but i cant really have something that puts too much tension on the bow wood, seeing as it will be thin and not too strong

[Chunk-O-Funk]

Are you talking about what kind of "string" to use for the bow?

a real bow uses horse hair, so if you want a makeshift bow I wouldn't use any kind of metal string. It more than likely will give you the tone of nails on a chalkboard. Some kind of fiber string would be better.

A little google'n found that you can buy a horse hair to restring a bow for under $10.00 u.s.


Strings for the bass. Probably flatwound. I'm thinking roundwound strings would eat through whatever material you use for the bow string.

[anonymous278347457]

I dont really want to buy anything for this project, so i guess its just gonna be stuff from my house and stuff i can get off friends,


what about human hair? ive got a bass playing friend with long hair who will probably be willing to donate some of his for the good of bass playing I cant really use my hair, since its about 4cm long

[lemur821]

I don't think human hair is tough enough. You might try some plastic thread.