Double Bass Ever seen a wood Glasser bow?

[krfoss]

I have. I finally got confirmation this is an original wood bow made by Glasser between 1938 and 1945. I can't find any information on this elsewhere, and most people have thought I was crazy for suggesting a wood Glasser bow exists. So, I thought you may enjoy checking it out.

Any ideas on it's worth? Rarity doesn't always mean valuable. I was offered a new braided bow for it, bit is that a decent deal? Either way, enjoy the pics.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

That's utterly bizarre and kind of cool. Is this the bow you told me you'd bought?

Bear in mind that this one will probably need a few hundred bucks worth of love to be whatever it's going to be. That may affect your calculus when considering a potential trade.

If, for some reason, I correctly suspect that you're considering offering this bow to Glasser in trade for one of their braided CF bows, I can confirm that those are really great. The stock hair is only OK but that's cheap and easy to remedy.

 

[krfoss]

That's utterly bizarre and kind of cool. Is this the bow you told me you'd bought?

Bear in mind that this one will probably need a few hundred bucks worth of love to be whatever it's going to be. That may affect your calculus when considering a potential trade.

If, for some reason, I correctly suspect that you're considering offering this bow to Glasser in trade for one of their braided CF bows, I can confirm that those are really great. The stock hair is only OK but that's cheap and easy to remedy.

Yup. This is the one. Finally got around to taking pictures. I sent it in to a local bow repair person who promptly sent it back saying it was useless to have it repaired because Glasser only made cheap fiberglass bows. Odd that they've never seen one either.

 

[bassmastan]

If this is indeed a real Leon Glasses, know this was made in a very small workshop by Leon in the Bronx. From what I understand Leon was already a talented bow maker, but wanted to make something for beginners. Before you get rid of it I would consider the work. This could be a really great bow, looks like pernambuco wood and either silver, nickle or aluminum metals. If its reap its not a shop bow...

 

[krfoss]

From what I understand it is pernambuco. I bet it could be a great bow, but worry it would cost so much to have it fixed that it wouldnt be worth it. Does anyone know someone in SoCal that could give me a decent quote?

 

[Michael Eisenman]

I'd like to see what the inside of the frog looks like and how the hair is held in place. Glasser don't do it in the usual way—at least with their cheaper bows.

 

[brianrost]

If you mean Glasser the company that makes the fiberglass bows most students start out with, they have had wood bows in their catalog for decades.

 

[Mgaisbacher]

All it really looks like it needs is a new tip plate and new hair, depending on what folks charge around you I assume it could be done in the ball park of $200 total, especially if they just put a plastic tip on since that what it looks like is on it now.

 

[krfoss]

I'd like to see what the inside of the frog looks like and how the hair is held in place. Glasser don't do it in the usual way—at least with their cheaper bows.

Here are some pics. Let me know if you'd like to see others.

 

[Mgaisbacher]

I think Michael Eisenman was referring to the mortise inside the frog where the hair is held in place. The fiberglass glasser bows just have a screw to hold the hair in, so it would be interesting to know if they did the same for a wood frog or if it has a traditional mortise.

 

[krfoss]

I think Michael Eisenman was referring to the mortise inside the frog where the hair is held in place. The fiberglass glasser bows just have a screw to hold the hair in, so it would be interesting to know if they did the same for a wood frog or if it has a traditional mortise.

Hopefully these pictures are what you were looking for. I didn't see any screws, but here you go.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Hopefully these pictures are what you were looking for. I didn't see any screws, but here you go.

I was thinking about inside the frog, after you remove the ferrule and slide. As @Mgaisbacher said, Glasser's lower-end bows retain the hair with a screw, rather than with a wooden plug. (They also use plastic for the head plug and spreader wedge, though I've replaced some of them with wood, since I don't keep a stock of Glasser parts.) I'm not certain, but I don't think they limit that method to their fiberglass models. It's actually a pretty good idea when all bows are made alike. I'm guessing that on a bow as old as yours, it might have been done in the traditional manner.

 

[krfoss]

You mean like this? If it's not obvious, I'm not a bow guy...

 

[Mgaisbacher]

We are talking about this, What is under the pearl slide on the bottom of the frog. I wouldn't suggest doing it if you want to use the bow unless you are familiar with how to do it properly. Here's a picture of what a traditional frog looks like (not a really well made one but ti serves the purpose and its what I had laying around) There is a wooden plug that holds the hair in, the plug and the mortise the plug and hair is in is carved in a way that there is no need for glue or anything more than a good fitting plug to make the hair stay in place. On the fiberglass glasses bows there is just a screw in the frog which you just tighten the hair under.

 

[krfoss]

Ahh. This bow seems to match your photo. However, tell me if I'm wrong. I've never done this before.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Ahh. This bow seems to match your photo. However, tell me if I'm wrong. I've never done this before.

Yes, it's a traditional frog. My curiosity is satisfied. Now you can take it someone who can fix the tip and do the rehair, assuming you want to have it fixed.

 

[suegmc]

I just purchased a 1938 Kay double bass that came with this exact bow. What did you end up doing with it? I just need to get mine rehaired.

 

[krfoss]

I just purchased a 1938 Kay double bass that came with this exact bow. What did you end up doing with it? I just need to get mine rehaired.

The glassed company traded mine for a new braided carbon bow. I ended up selling that one too since I didn’t use the bow much. He said there aren’t many of his grandfathers original bows around, and mine was the only German example he found at the time. Reach out. He may make you a deal. Otherwise, go have it repaired and play it. Also, pics or it didn’t happen!

 

[suegmc]

I want to keep this bow. It is beautiful.

 

[suegmc]

I just looked at the glasser website. Nice bows! Which one did they give you?