I took my 9 year old son down to our local session last night for a few tunes before betime and was talking to a session regular, Greg Dahms, who is a bow maker. Recently Greg made a bow for Martin Hayes and he showed me an e-mail from Martin on tour in Europe saying he's been using Greg's bow every night. I know nothing about bows but I understand their importance in the production of the fiddle sound is often understated. Greg doesn't have a web site yet, so if anyone happens to be interested in communicating with him drop me an e-mail and I'll forward it on to him.
Cheers,
Ian.
That's interesting, Ian. I'm wondering how much give-and-take Martin and Greg went through to produce a bow to meet Martin's preferences. The feel of a bow is a highly personal thing--some like the balance even, some shifted toward the tip, some toward the frog, some prefer a stiffer stick, some prefer livelier, etc.
Kevin Burke uses a bow made by his brother Neil, an award-winning bow maker. I'm sure Kevin got exactly what he asked for.
Sean Smyth says he like his bows very light, especially at the tip, which essentially means the balance is more toward the frog. he thinks of that as a much older style bow, not a common design of today's makers.
When I said Greg made it for Martin, amazingly it was without any consultation - but apparently Greg knew what would work from knowing Martin's playing style.
Will, that comment about Sean Smyth's bow brings to mind a fine lady fiddler we see occasionally at sessions who uses a baroque bow for preference. She says it suits ITM better than the modern style of bow.
Trevor
Sean hated my bow, which used to be Mike Dugger's, and which is a very nicely weighted and balanced bow -- French style, Japanese hand-made. He said, very tactfully, "that's a very nice bow -- much too nice for the likes of me." ;)
Going to see Martin Hayes in the Concert Hall in Dublin this Friday night, can't wait.... Think there are still tickets available for anyone who's local that night.
Were any of you at Willie Week in 1999? Martin Hayes began a set at the fiddle concert. He was just beginning to build up the energy when his bow fell apart. You know, that little block at the far end that holds the hair in -- I'm not a fiddler -- it fell out and all the hair with it. He stopped in mid-stroke, looked at the remains of the bow, looked at us, and then stood, bowed, and left the stage. Rather funny, but disappointing to have the set stop in mid beat like that.
I can't say I am totally impartial (since I designed his web site) but I think Greg's handmade bows are really good. He also found me a very nice bow at a reasonable price that I am very pleased with.
Anyone else out there that uses one of Greg's bows?
Martin Hayes - new bow
Martin Hayes - new bow
I took my 9 year old son down to our local session last night for a few tunes before betime and was talking to a session regular, Greg Dahms, who is a bow maker. Recently Greg made a bow for Martin Hayes and he showed me an e-mail from Martin on tour in Europe saying he's been using Greg's bow every night. I know nothing about bows but I understand their importance in the production of the fiddle sound is often understated. Greg doesn't have a web site yet, so if anyone happens to be interested in communicating with him drop me an e-mail and I'll forward it on to him.
Cheers,
Ian.
# Posted on March 23rd 2004 by ian clark
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
That's interesting, Ian. I'm wondering how much give-and-take Martin and Greg went through to produce a bow to meet Martin's preferences. The feel of a bow is a highly personal thing--some like the balance even, some shifted toward the tip, some toward the frog, some prefer a stiffer stick, some prefer livelier, etc.
Kevin Burke uses a bow made by his brother Neil, an award-winning bow maker. I'm sure Kevin got exactly what he asked for.
Sean Smyth says he like his bows very light, especially at the tip, which essentially means the balance is more toward the frog. he thinks of that as a much older style bow, not a common design of today's makers.
# Posted on March 23rd 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
When I said Greg made it for Martin, amazingly it was without any consultation - but apparently Greg knew what would work from knowing Martin's playing style.
# Posted on March 23rd 2004 by ian clark
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
FYI, Kevin Burke's brother is called Noel
Chris
# Posted on March 23rd 2004 by milesnagopaleen
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
Will, that comment about Sean Smyth's bow brings to mind a fine lady fiddler we see occasionally at sessions who uses a baroque bow for preference. She says it suits ITM better than the modern style of bow.
Trevor
# Posted on March 23rd 2004 by lazyhound
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
Sean hated my bow, which used to be Mike Dugger's, and which is a very nicely weighted and balanced bow -- French style, Japanese hand-made. He said, very tactfully, "that's a very nice bow -- much too nice for the likes of me." ;)
# Posted on March 23rd 2004 by Zina Lee
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
Yeah, but Zina, he preferred his stick with two hairs left on it, after the concert the previous night. Still got great tone and volume out of it....
# Posted on March 23rd 2004 by Will CPT
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
Going to see Martin Hayes in the Concert Hall in Dublin this Friday night, can't wait.... Think there are still tickets available for anyone who's local that night.
# Posted on March 23rd 2004 by DG
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
Martin Hayes gets around,doesn't he? I'm going to see him and Shantalla on April Ist in Brussels.
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
Were any of you at Willie Week in 1999? Martin Hayes began a set at the fiddle concert. He was just beginning to build up the energy when his bow fell apart. You know, that little block at the far end that holds the hair in -- I'm not a fiddler -- it fell out and all the hair with it. He stopped in mid-stroke, looked at the remains of the bow, looked at us, and then stood, bowed, and left the stage. Rather funny, but disappointing to have the set stop in mid beat like that.
May his new bow never disintegrate!
# Posted on March 26th 2004 by KenC
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
I have one of the first bows Greg made - I use it every night. I like a fairly stiff bow with the hair somewhat loose.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by wil macaulay
Re: Martin Hayes - new bow
I'm pleased to announce that Greg Dahms now has a web site: http://www.gregdahms.ca/
I can't say I am totally impartial (since I designed his web site) but I think Greg's handmade bows are really good. He also found me a very nice bow at a reasonable price that I am very pleased with.
Anyone else out there that uses one of Greg's bows?
Judy, box player and aspiring fiddler
# Posted on April 16th 2005 by JudyK