Double Bass Can I Fix This Bow?

[Steve Freides]

Inexpensive bow getting replaced under warranty and I keep the old one. (Not a bass bow but I don't think the kind of bow is a relevant variable here.)

Something has come loose at the frog/ferrule end. Symptom: fully tightening the screw no longer tensions the hair enough to play. Ferrule is out of this picture but it goes back in fully.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

-S-

 

[BassinCT]

If the screw threads are in good shape and you can get the frog to move when turning it, and the hair is less than a year old, the hair could have been installed too long. Otherwise, it could be that the hair has stretched out and lost its elasticity.

 

[the_Ryan]

Looks like it needs a rehair

 

[Steve Freides]

@BassinCT and @the_Ryan, the bow was working just fine and then something seems to have popped at the frog. The hair wouldn't, all of a sudden, become so loose. The bow has been in use by a student of mine since last June and was working very well until a week or so ago. It's still floppy/sloppy with the screw tightened all the way - not quite as much as you see in the picture, but not near to being playable. The screw did work fine and still does - the frog goes all the way to the edge of the slot now and still doesn't apply sufficient tension to the hair.

Thanks.

-S-

 

[turf3]

There's a wedge in there that appears to have come loose.

 

[Wasnex]

I assume the hair has come loose in the frog. I think the question: Is it worth fixing or would it be better to rehair the bow.

This video should give you can idea of what is involved.

 

[Steve Freides]

There's a wedge in there that appears to have come loose.

Yes, I think that's it. I'm not sure how I could/should remove it then reinstall it or just try to shove it in more. It seems a pretty sung fit already.

@Wasnex, I have one foot out the door but I will watch this later today. Thank you.

-S-

 

[the_Ryan]

@BassinCT and @the_Ryan, the bow was working just fine and then something seems to have popped at the frog. The hair wouldn't, all of a sudden, become so loose. The bow has been in use by a student of mine since last June and was working very well until a week or so ago. It's still floppy/sloppy with the screw tightened all the way - not quite as much as you see in the picture, but not near to being playable. The screw did work fine and still does - the frog goes all the way to the edge of the slot now and still doesn't apply sufficient tension to the hair.

Thanks.

-S-

There’s usually a thin wooden spreader in the ferrule (which is changed every rehair I believe) that helps keep the hairs aligned and taut, so I can imagine that losing that would affect the hair tension.

 

[evanrunyon]

Just needs a rehair. The knot in the frog mortise may have started to come undone, or the plug may have come loose. The spread wedge will be replaced during a rehair anyway.

As far as my insurance company thinks, the only bow damage that really can’t be fixed satisfactorily is a crack in the upper (nearest the tip) third or so of the stick.

 

[lurk]

Fitting a new wedge just right is a little tricky. It's worth going to a dedicated bow repair guy (archier?) and spending a bit more to get it done well.

 

[AGCurry]

Fitting a new wedge just right is a little tricky. It's worth going to a dedicated bow repair guy (archier?) and spending a bit more to get it done well.

"Archetier"

 

[Anne Millington]

if it has been a useful bow, there is no harm in having a bow repair person have a look and give you an estimate. You can always fix it up to gift to a deserving student along the way. That's one of my favorite things to do!

 

[Steve Freides]

There’s usually a thin wooden spreader in the ferrule (which is changed every rehair I believe) that helps keep the hairs aligned and taut, so I can imagine that losing that would affect the hair tension.

I think that's what happened here. It's a carbon fiber viola bow I bought for one of my students. It cost $69 and did its job just fine, and it's being replaced under warranty. At this point, I don't think there's much else to do - I was hoping I could fix it myself.

-S-

 

[turf3]

I think that's what happened here. It's a carbon fiber viola bow I bought for one of my students. It cost $69 and did its job just fine, and it's being replaced under warranty. At this point, I don't think there's much else to do - I was hoping I could fix it myself.

-S-

Heck, why not give it a shot? I think all rehairing supplies are pretty readily available. There are undoubtedly resources to show you how. There's probably a bit of fiddly fine work at that wedge area to get it to hold, but if you can't get it to work you won't be out all that much money for the parts, and if you do, you can pass the bow on to the next person.

 

[Steve Freides]

Heck, why not give it a shot? I think all rehairing supplies are pretty readily available. There are undoubtedly resources to show you how. There's probably a bit of fiddly fine work at that wedge area to get it to hold, but if you can't get it to work you won't be out all that much money for the parts, and if you do, you can pass the bow on to the next person.

A fine thought. I won't bother boring everyone with the details of my life, but I don't have time for something like this now. The "distraction" worth mentioning here is that, in any week, I teach double bass, electric bass, viola, violin, piano, guitar, trumpet and French Horn. I've got enough to do just keeping my chops up on all those. I haven't had a cello student this year but I love to play and I practice that, too.

-S-

 

[turf3]

A fine thought. I won't bother boring everyone with the details of my life, but I don't have time for something like this now. The "distraction" worth mentioning here is that, in any week, I teach double bass, electric bass, viola, violin, piano, guitar, trumpet and French Horn. I've got enough to do just keeping my chops up on all those. I haven't had a cello student this year but I love to play and I practice that, too.

-S-

Sure, I understand all that; but a bow doesn't take up much room in the garage, and it's CF so where you store it won't hurt it.

 

[Steve Freides]

Sure, I understand all that; but a bow doesn't take up much room in the garage, and it's CF so where you store it won't hurt it.

If anyone would like this bow for the cost of postage, or would like to pick it up here in Bergen County, NJ, or in the Philly area in a couple of weeks, just LMK. This is a project I am never going to get to.

-S-