Handmade bows in the French tradition
Historical Bows As big name makers such as Sartory, Peccatte, Tourte, etc. are continually raising in value and are pushed out of the the price range of most working musicians. However, a repaired or incomplete example may be obtained for a fraction of the price. I anticipate that within the next decade we will see …
"Bow Bugs" are carpet beetles that find their way into your case. This article describes how to identify and get rid of them.
I have a huge passion for sharing with those working on bows around the world, especially those of atypical countries, and have made a wonderful connection with Jack Estephan of Lebanon. Though his country is in a dire state at the moment, Jack continues to pursue his passions in music. It’s an honor to have an international bow maker featured here sharing his insight on camber.
A violin bow was recently brought into the shop for some rehabilitation. Both holes for the screw and button, including the nipple, needed to be bushed and remade. The process is explained in detail here.
The following outlines the procedure for a headspline which reinforces a broken head with a thin strip of pernambuco inserted in the opposite direction of the grain in the stick. This type of repair when executed well can last indefinitely and restore many, if not all, the playing characteristics of the bow
When adding a winding to a bow, bow makers don't just put on whatever we think looks nice. There are several considerations that each material presents including, weight, balance, sound, and feel. Gold / Silver / Nickel Wire Metal wire can be obtained in different gauges but I mostly use 32 gauge which measures about …
I wanted to highlight some of the eclectic and unique tools that I 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.
Check out the video of this process at the end of the post! The old tip plate is removed before a new one is fit. Heat is used to weaken the bond of the old tip plate and liner material and then carefully sheared off with a knife. In this video you will notice how …
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 …
In the video below I show you how I check for crossed hairs in a bow. Just a single crossed hair can have a negative impact on your tone, giving you a gritty and/or metallic sound. Essentially, the bow is tightened to just above playing tension. A thin straight edge or small ruler (a business …
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