Grips on German bows - why?

[Calvin Marks]

Good question but you wouldn't be able to just slap on a different frog without altering the camber of the stick, which for a French to German conversion would be fairly drastic (or visa versa). I play both bows and don't use a grip or winding on EITHER...Yes, not even on a French bow. I find that they mute the stick and stop vibrations. Rubber tubing for a French bow is also not the greatest idea as you can develop some poor technique habits.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Charles Stark

Good question but you wouldn't be able to just slap on a different frog without altering the camber of the stick, which for a French to German conversion would be fairly drastic (or visa versa). I play both bows and don't use a grip or winding on EITHER...Yes, not even on a French bow. I find that they mute the stick and stop vibrations. Rubber tubing for a French bow is also not the greatest idea as you can develop some poor technique habits.

Really, have you told Hal Robinson about this discovery?

Also, Switching Frogs is no way to use a Bow. The German Bow is longer in general and with a smaller head. This is because of how it's used. The French Bow has a larger head and a shorter stick because that is what works.

A German bow stick with a French Frog will feel pretty horrible in comparison to a real French bow of any quality.

As far as stopping vibrations, when your body touches the bass, you are stopping vibrations. Try playing with thought instead of body, hands and fingers. The notes will ring more freely..

I play with a Bow quiver. Some say it dampens the sound like a Mute. I say it kills unwanted overtones!! Also, I am used to putting my Bow in it for safety and convenience. Rarely in my world does someone have a better Bass on stage than me in the Orchestra with or without a Bow Quiver.

It's all about comfort, Grips, Rubber, Quivers, etc..

If you want a better sound, buy better instruments (and/or Restore the one you have to optimum condition if it's worth it), take more lessons, practice more and GET OFF THE COMPUTER>>>

[Thomas Erickson]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

If you want a better sound, buy better instruments (and/or Restore the one you have to optimum condition if it's worth it), take more lessons, practice more and GET OFF THE COMPUTER>>>

Yeah people, really, I mean quit spending so much time contributing to Ken's forum; nobody ever learned anything by sharing and discussing their knowledge and ideas with others!

Anyway, back on topic, sort of - the idea of a grip damping the stick hadn't occurred to me. Interesting. I don't play French bows much, but I guess a comparison might be if the frog and stick on a German bow were wrapped in leather - I don't think that would be very nice... seems like it would feel pretty dead and clumsy.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

Yeah people, really, I mean quit spending so much time contributing to Ken's forum; nobody ever learned anything by sharing and discussing their knowledge and ideas with others!

Anyway, back on topic, sort of - the idea of a grip damping the stick hadn't occurred to me. Interesting. I don't play French bows much, but I guess a comparison might be if the frog and stick on a German bow were wrapped in leather - I don't think that would be very nice... seems like it would feel pretty dead and clumsy.

Hey, doesn't your hand dampen the sound of the Stick when you hold the Bow or do we all need our fingers re-graduated to sound its best?

You guys are so overly concerned about the small picture that you overlook the big picture. Give me a Sartory and make it comfortable in my hand and who cares what the grip is doing. It has a Million dollar sound on it's own so now it's down a few sheckles in output.. lol

[Thomas Erickson]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Hey, doesn't your hand dampen the sound of the Stick when you hold the Bow or do we all need our fingers re-graduated to sound its best?

I don't think the grip is going to damp the stick enough to make a significant difference in the sound produced, unless we're talking about some kind of laboratory situation. But it might change the way the bow feels in the hand, yes?

Ken - how much do you charge for the KSB signature finger-regraduation service? Does it make a difference if the customer has started the procedure and bailed out? I mean my knives and chisels are sharp, but I didn't have the nerve...

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

I don't think the grip is going to damp the stick enough to make a significant difference in the sound produced, unless we're talking about some kind of laboratory situation. But it might change the way the bow feels in the hand, yes?

Ken - how much do you charge for the KSB signature finger-regraduation service? Does it make a difference if the customer has started the procedure and bailed out? I mean my knives and chisels are sharp, but I didn't have the nerve...

lol..

Is there an actual serious question here? It's Friday, help me out here..

[Terry McDougal]

Originally Posted by wayne holmes

Ken, do you play with a German or French style quiver?

Well, for once, I disagree with everything you say.

Go easy on him Mr Smith!

What's all this about German and French style quivers? I thought they were all the same. Maybe you were talking about nervous twitches in these two countries?

[Ken Smith]

Easy on the Caffeine at night. Some of us have to sleep. I woke up with this voice telling me, "go on line, go in line, go on line"...

[Bin Hire]

[quote=wayne holmes;20845Will somebody please tell us what in tarnation tartan felicitaions means?--does it have to do with the new liquid rosin that's used on quivers?[/quote]
Did you mean 'tartan felicitations'?
A simple offer of good wishes and hopes for happiness from those who wear the tartin (kilts).

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Charles Stark

Good question but you wouldn't be able to just slap on a different frog without altering the camber of the stick, which for a French to German conversion would be fairly drastic (or visa versa).

My German frog was not just 'slapped on'. In fact, the luthier did a lot of research and altered the frog to suit the bow.