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Double Bass Don't do this (but just in case, insure your bow):

Eric Swanson

Eric Swanson

Oct 8, 2007
1,685
209
Boston, MA
#1
This is embarrassing, but I am offering it here so that I might save some other soul from a similarly lame move.

Yesterday I rented a bass. The bass' bag wouldn't accomodate my bow case. I put the case on top of my car, and loaded up.

I got to my destination, unpacked, and noticed the missing bow case. Panic, self-admonishments, and dread ensued. I retraced my route.

I found the smashed bowcase and my Louis Morizot french bow lying in the street. Let's just say that driving over a bow repeatedly is not a great way to care for it.

The frog is crushed, the inlays gone, the stick dented all over from the asphalt, the grip a tangle of silver wire. Miraculously, the stick didn't break.

The bow was a gift from a former teacher. It was one of my most cherished sacred objects.

The only good part; it was insured through my homeowner's policy, listed as a line item (Amica, hooray for Amica!). I put in a claim this morning; sure enough accidental damage is covered. We did this when we took out the policy; I got the bow professionally appraised, submitted the appraisal form, and had it written into the policy as an "additionally insured item."

The bow can't be replaced, really, in terms of its value to me. Hopefully, it can be repaired. If it can't, at least I will have the resources to try to replace it.

Thanks solely to my wife's wisdom; at least it was insured. Wisdom surrounds me in my family, even if I don't share in it. My five-year old summed it up best, "Daddy, maybe you shouldn't put anything on top of your car again."

Lessons:
- don't put anything on top of my vehicle (like my bowcase)
- make sure musical stuff is fully insured
- slow down, stay in the present moment, more, and try not to rush, when loading up

Humbly submitted,
Eric
 
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#2
The great Chicago violinist Johnny Frigo had a rep of being a bit absent minded. He was on his way to a gig and the other motorists on the highway kept honking at him and pointing at his car as he drove. He eventually pulled over and found his violin on the roof. He was a lucky man, that day.

Hope you have a good outcome with your bow!
 
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#3
Richard Burgin, the associate concert master of the Boston Symphony in the 50's and 60's, was notorious for leaving his Strad on the Green Line Trolley. Drivers were always returning it to Symphony Hall.

I'm really sorry about that, Eric. I hope it can be restored.

Best,

Louis
 
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#4
LouisF said:
Richard Burgin, the associate concert master of the Boston Symphony in the 50's and 60's, was notorious for leaving his Strad on the Green Line Trolley. Drivers were always returning it to Symphony Hall.

I'm really sorry about that, Eric. I hope it can be restored.

Best,

Louis
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Lucky him...I left my violin on the commuter rail in violinmaking school and never saw it again.

Sorry to hear of this Eric, I know from your postings over the years you loved that bow.

If the stick is unharmed, I would take it to Sue Lipkins or Rodney Mohr and see if they can breath fresh life into it. Also, Boston also has quite a few good bow makers lurking about...any one of them can repair or replace parts to make it whole again if the stick is largely intact.
 
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#6
Thank you all for the kind thoughts and words.

Eric - I was thinking along similar lines. Sue Lipkins provided me with names/numbers of some restoration specialists; she has a full schedule of new bows to make.

I will see how the repair/restoration estimates come in and how it goes with the insurance company. You are absolutely right; a new frog and a rehair and I am back to playing, at least. Even though the stick looks as if a dog used for a chew toy...:hmm:.

Thanks again, to all of you. In light of the real loss and tragedy that goes on in the world (like in Haiti, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chile, etc.) my little luxury problem is pretty small. Most of us have all seen real loss in our lives and in the lives of others. While what I did is senseless and sad, but I need to remind myself; it is an object - nobody died.
 
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#7
I did a similar thing last Wednesday at a gig, luckily for me though my "object on top of car". Put a Big Muff PI(I know keep the EB stuff out of here, sorry) and during sound check I was panicking because I couldn't find it during sound check. Lucky me it was still on the car, but down the road at a parking lot! But that sucks and sorry you had to go through it.
 
#10
Eric--
Really sorry to hear about this and I hope some talented craftsperson will make you whole again. You prompted me to check my Clarion policy and, sure enough, I did list my bow on there. Please let us know how this all works out for you. Again, sorry to hear about this.

At least you had the foresight to schedule the bow on your homeowner's insurance. I found that a separate musical instrument policy was actually less expensive and covered far more value under a wider set of types of loss than any of my homeowner's policies ever would. I'm covering about $14k worth of stuff for $250/yr with no deductible. I include this info for folks who may not be familiar with insuring instruments and accessories.
 
#13
SAlcott said:
I had a Morizot (in its case) stolen out of the grand piano where I had stashed it totally out of sight on a NYE gig in a super swanky Manhattan restaurant. It was gone when I came back from a break.
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Maybe the piano ate it. Should have come back the next day to see if it was in the piano stool:roflmao: (Sorry couldn't resist)
 
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