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Double Bass Martin Brunkalla: Osage Orange

Silversorcerer

Silversorcerer

Aug 11, 2004
2,294
25
Atlanta, GA USA
myspace.com
#1
A few years back, I thought it might be interesting to try a bow made from Osage Orange wood which is valued for fine archery bows. I could find a few references to early American fiddle bows made from it historically, and I found one maker in the USA who was already experimenting with it for violin family bows. Last year I commissioned an Osage Orange bass bow from Martin Brunkalla, and yesterday, it arrived. :hyper:
So here's the bow:

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I'm really enjoying breaking in the new hair!
 
#2
Okay, so that's really nice looking. Defined grain pattern, widely spaced. I've never seen one like it (though admittedly I haven't been looking). Do you have the weight? Any idea on the finish? Something traditional or otherwise?
 
#3
The weight is 146 grams, which was a sort of coincidentally arrived at match for my old favorite brazilwood bow. So when I pick it up, it has a familiar heft, but the balance is considerably better and the new bow is easier to control. The finish is the natural color of the wood with tung oil only. The wood can be easily darkened, but this will happen over time anyway.

The bow plays with amazing smoothness. It does have a very different feel than most bows I've tried out, which were all either brazilwood or pernambuco. Hard to describe the difference, but I would have to say more refined, easier to articulate, particularly smooth dynamic transitions. My thinking is that this might not have nearly as much to do with the bow wood as the bow maker.

Martin makes bows of other woods also, as well as stringed instruments.
 
#7
Of course, it does not compare with an incredibow!



But I think I'd rather bump up this post than the incredibow toys. The Brunkalla is one nice bow you got. Great to see something a bit unusual and this bow is one I'd like to have myself (I pass on the incredibows...). Silver, you have some very classy accessory, this bow, the chariot ....
 
#8
R Sturm said:
Of course, it does not compare with an incredibow!



But I think I'd rather bump up this post than the incredibow toys. The Brunkalla is one nice bow you got. Great to see something a bit unusual and this bow is one I'd like to have myself (I pass on the incredibows...). Silver, you have some very classy accessory, this bow, the chariot ....
Click to expand...
Thanks for the compliments on the chariot. That was my design and build. And Martin's bow is well, I shouldn't say incredible, but....:smug:

After a few weeks, the hair really became so sweet on this bow. I hardly ever add any rosin to it. And the bow is the best thing that ever happened to my low arco notes. I can sautille with this baby! Spicatto is a really easy. The bow has a personality of course and I've had to learn a bit about how to work it, what part of the hair to use when, etc. On my other bows the last few inches at the end were pretty useless. On this bow I can play out there at the tip, so that is requiring expanding my technique, arm and everything. So after two months I'm loving it even more. I was definitely ready for a better bow.
 
#11
I still have plenty of spiders. Some are big enough to be pets. One day while I was really giving the low BB an arco workout I looked up at the ceiling and all the spiders were coming out of hiding. It was a little spooky but I think they get shaken up a bit.

It's been almost a year since I got the Brunkalla Bow. It is close to needing a re-hair, but with soft rosin I can get a few more months maybe. It's a great bow, and I'm still loving it. I find I play far more arco now that I have a good bow. :hyper:
 
#12
Thanks to this thread and a couple of other sources, I asked Mr. Brunkalla if he could try making a light bow for me (126-134 gr).

We talked and discussed my needs and type of playing and Martin sent four bows my way. The three lighter ones (122-124-127 grs; 2 of 3 in photo above) were all excellent; the heavier one (darker one in photo) weighed in @ 140 gr and is a terrific orchestra, fluted like a violin bow. (I was really tempted, but it's just too heavy for me).

I finally went with the one weighing in at 124 gr. (The other 3 are on the way back to him) His bows are a bit longer than usual, look (but actually aren't) thick, really seem to float across the string

Anyone interested should check his website: http://www.brunkalla.com/

IMO, Martin Brunkalla is a first-rate addition to the list of American bow makers.

Louis
 

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