Has anyone any tips in buying a new fiddle bow? I'm not quite happy with my current one, the hairs are quite loose and there's quite a bit of bounce to it. I'm only playing a year and a bit so my control could have something to do with it.
A good bow maker can take what is basically a good bow stick that has lost its shape and stiffness over the years and return it to its orginal condition.
I had that done to my old cello bow 5 years ago, including a rehairing and replacing the screw mechanism, and it has been superb ever since, and hasn't dropped a single hair (even got borrowed once by a pro soloist to play a concerto). And I had an old fiddle bow refurbished this year - a bow that was last rehaired about 75 years ago and hadn't been used since the outbreak of WW2. It's now my favourite fiddle bow. So it's worth having a bow looked at by an expert. If it isn't worth doing he should tell you and then you can consider a replacement.
Trevor
Buying a Bow
Buying a Bow
Has anyone any tips in buying a new fiddle bow? I'm not quite happy with my current one, the hairs are quite loose and there's quite a bit of bounce to it. I'm only playing a year and a bit so my control could have something to do with it.
Any help will be much appreciated!
D.
# Posted on November 4th 2003 by DG
Re: Buying a Bow
Take it to a bowmaker. There's any number of things that might be able to help your current bow before going to the expense of a new one...
# Posted on November 4th 2003 by Zina Lee
Re: Buying a Bow
At the very least, have someone check the adjusting screw in the frog, and maybe get it rehaired.
# Posted on November 4th 2003 by Will CPT
Re: Buying a Bow
definitely try getting the bow re-haired, unless you hated the bow even before it got loose & bouncy.
sarah
# Posted on November 4th 2003 by eleyne
Re: Buying a Bow
A good bow maker can take what is basically a good bow stick that has lost its shape and stiffness over the years and return it to its orginal condition.
I had that done to my old cello bow 5 years ago, including a rehairing and replacing the screw mechanism, and it has been superb ever since, and hasn't dropped a single hair (even got borrowed once by a pro soloist to play a concerto). And I had an old fiddle bow refurbished this year - a bow that was last rehaired about 75 years ago and hadn't been used since the outbreak of WW2. It's now my favourite fiddle bow. So it's worth having a bow looked at by an expert. If it isn't worth doing he should tell you and then you can consider a replacement.
Trevor
# Posted on November 4th 2003 by lazyhound