We’ve been busy creating some new and exciting content and can’t wait to share it with everyone. In the meantime here are the top 5 of the most read articles over the past year.
Bow Making Tools
In this article I highlight some of the eclectic and unique tools that we use for bow making. Making bows combines skills and tools from woodworking, jewelry making, and machining. It is difficult to find tools that accommodate the small scale and level of detail we work to, so a number of tools we make or modify ourselves.
https://adbowsllc.com/2018/10/21/bowmaking-tools/
Round vs. Octagonal
The length of the violin bow can take on many shapes: Round/Oval, Octagonal, Half-Round/Half-Octagonal, Triangular-ish. The two most popular being round and octagonal. At the shop when I’m showing bows, a lot of people ask me the difference between the two and want to know which is better. This is a complex issue and requires a complex response:
https://adbowsllc.com/2016/01/10/round-vs-octagonal/
All Things Rosin
With all the different combinations of strings, hair, and rosin, it could be easy to get overwhelmed. My opinion is that good rosin should give you a good clean attack with a smooth draw producing a minimal amount of dust. This article gets into the grit of it:
https://adbowsllc.com/2018/09/25/all-things-rosin/
How Often to Rehair a Bow
How often to rehair a bow is really a factor of the number of hours the hair has been used, the type of repertoire being played, and the number of exposures to climate changes. The grip of the hair and quality of sound deteriorates so gradually that it usually goes unperceived until the hair has been replaced. It amazes me how many players think that their instrument is out of adjustment or that they need new strings when all they really need is just a good rehair. This article covers things to look out for:
https://adbowsllc.com/2018/04/11/how-often-to-rehair-a-bow/
Rehair Checklist for Parents
I always encourage my customers to carefully check over their bow when it is dropped off and picked up after service. Most of the time it is the player, but often enough a parent will pick up the bow. When I ask the parent to check over the bow, the most common reply is that they don’t know what to check for. It may seem like it’s something that our children and/or teachers should keep tabs on, but the responsibility really relies on us as parents. Checking our student’s equipment on a regular basis to ensure it is in good working condition, is a necessary part of setting our children up for success. The following checklist covers the bare minimum of what should be in good working order for a parent to check:
https://adbowsllc.com/2018/07/23/rehair-checklist-for-parents/
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