Double Bass Frog separating from the stick

[theweed42]

This week I got a chance to go bow shopping. I picked up a really nice French one - great sound, playability and feel. However, now that I've had it at home for a few days and had the chance to examine it closely, I notice that the frog isn't flush with the stick in back. When I tighten it to playing tension, it pulls up about 1mm, and I can wiggle it a little from side to side.

My main concern is that this is going to cause problems in the future. It doesn't affect anything about the bow that I can tell, other than that the stick is incredibly resonant (on fff notes it vibrates like it's alive, which I really like.) I picked it out of about 10 other bows, and I'm assuming it had the issue at the time. My guess is that the stick warped slightly since it was made.

Thoughts?

 

[George700DL]

This week I got a chance to go bow shopping. I picked up a really nice French one - great sound, playability and feel. However, now that I've had it at home for a few days and had the chance to examine it closely, I notice that the frog isn't flush with the stick in back. When I tighten it to playing tension, it pulls up about 1mm, and I can wiggle it a little from side to side.

My main concern is that this is going to cause problems in the future. It doesn't affect anything about the bow that I can tell, other than that the stick is incredibly resonant (on fff notes it vibrates like it's alive, which I really like.) I picked it out of about 10 other bows, and I'm assuming it had the issue at the time. My guess is that the stick warped slightly since it was made.

Thoughts?

Could tightening the eyelet by a turn take care of it?

 

[theweed42]

Hmm, I didn't know you could actually do that. I will have to attempt it.

 

[bejoyous]

For some reason I don't understand, the eyelet is made of brass so it wears out over time and use. There isn't a standard for the thread that goes into the frog nor for the thread of the tightening screw attached to the button.

For now, tightening the eyelet may help for a while.

Unscrew the button all the way. Visually inspect the hole in the eyelet. If it is oval instead of round, it may need to be replaced. Use the screw to turn the eyelet 180 degrees around so it goes a little bit more into the frog. Clean the gunk that has built up over time with some kleenex and lubricate the threads of the eyelet and screw with some pencil lead. I put some pencil on the steel part of the frog and on the stick where they meet as well to reduce the friction when tightening the hair.

Make sure the eyelet is straight before you reinsert the screw. It'll probably feel tight when you first do this until the graphite spreads out.

If it is too worn, take the whole bow to the luthier rather than just the eyelet. Because the threads are not standardized and differences are so slight, it would be hard for the luthier to pick out the correct replacement without fitting it to make sure.

Also, the hole in the frog may be worn out, in that case, the luthier may have to retap the hole.

Get an extra or two while there and put them in your bow case for next time.

 

[George700DL]

For some reason I don't understand, the eyelet is made of brass so it wears out over time and use. There isn't a standard for the thread that goes into the frog nor for the thread of the tightening screw attached to the button.

For now, tightening the eyelet may help for a while.

Unscrew the button all the way. Visually inspect the hole in the eyelet. If it is oval instead of round, it may need to be replaced. Use the screw to turn the eyelet 180 degrees around so it goes a little bit more into the frog. Clean the gunk that has built up over time with some kleenex and lubricate the threads of the eyelet and screw with some pencil lead. I put some pencil on the steel part of the frog and on the stick where they meet as well to reduce the friction when tightening the hair.

Make sure the eyelet is straight before you reinsert the screw. It'll probably feel tight when you first do this until the graphite spreads out.

If it is too worn, take the whole bow to the luthier rather than just the eyelet. Because the threads are not standardized and differences are so slight, it would be hard for the luthier to pick out the correct replacement without fitting it to make sure.

Also, the hole in the frog may be worn out, in that case, the luthier may have to retap the hole.

Get an extra or two while there and put them in your bow case for next time.

Good points. The eyelets are cheap - get some extra ones. BUT... isn't this a new bow? Wear and tear shouldn't be an issue in that case.

 

[theweed42]

Thanks for the great suggestions.

The bow is actually not new - more like gently used. I did open up the frog as everyone suggested, and tightened the eyelet a turn. It worked like a charm.

There was a substantial amount of graphite grease in there too, which I cleaned up and reapplied to the screw and eyelet.