Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB)

Go Back   Ken's Corner (Bass Forums Sponsored By KSB) > Double Basses > Bows (and Rosin etc)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 09-04-2009, 10:25 PM
Richard Prowse Richard Prowse is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-21-2007
Location: Wainuiomata
Posts: 0
Richard Prowse is on a distinguished road
Default Frog Question

Any thoughts on this frog? A luthier made the frog about five years ago to replace a French frog. He said that this style would balance the bow better than a regular German shape.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	002.JPG
Views:	529
Size:	591.2 KB
ID:	1234  Click image for larger version

Name:	003.JPG
Views:	547
Size:	641.9 KB
ID:	1235  
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-05-2009, 01:10 PM
Eric Rene Roy Eric Rene Roy is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 04-28-2007
Location: Warwick, RI
Posts: 38
Eric Rene Roy is on a distinguished road
Default

I think the popularity of the double bass coupled with the demands of double bassists for instruments and bows that offer a higher degree of tonal and playability are pushing luthiers to elevate the art. Smaller basses that equal or rival larger ones, ergonomic models, detachable necks, etc. There is a lot of very cool stuff going on today from all corners of the globe.

Bow makers are doing the same, both individually and commercially. For instance Coda has a model with a "different" frog design:

http://www.codabow.com/features/deta..._inf_frog2.jpg

And although very different from yours, when I saw your picture the Coda bow was the first thing I thought of.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-05-2009, 01:41 PM
Anselm Hauke's Avatar
Anselm Hauke Anselm Hauke is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-05-2007
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 51
Anselm Hauke is on a distinguished road
Default

hi eric

i am a german-bow player. can you please explain me, what is special about the coda frog?
thank you

anselm

Last edited by Anselm Hauke; 09-05-2009 at 03:54 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-05-2009, 03:56 PM
Eric Rene Roy Eric Rene Roy is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 04-28-2007
Location: Warwick, RI
Posts: 38
Eric Rene Roy is on a distinguished road
Default

The hight of the frog off the stick is higher and the depth of the throat is a lot deeper. It gives the player a sense of "more hair" and getting into the string more, as well as shifting the balance point.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-05-2009, 03:59 PM
Eric Rene Roy Eric Rene Roy is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 04-28-2007
Location: Warwick, RI
Posts: 38
Eric Rene Roy is on a distinguished road
Default

a good side by side shot here for you:

http://www.codabow.com/bass_french.html
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-05-2009, 04:07 PM
Richard Prowse Richard Prowse is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-21-2007
Location: Wainuiomata
Posts: 0
Richard Prowse is on a distinguished road
Default

I asked the guy to make a German frog. It's almost as wide as an average German, but not quite. The angle at which the string leaves the frog is different too - straight like a French. I've played it next to some good German bows and there really isn't a lot of difference - it has always been a good bow. Bassist David Walter once played it when he was in NZ and it was a French bow - my brother owned it then. He told my brother he thought it was a very good bow.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-05-2009, 04:16 PM
Anselm Hauke's Avatar
Anselm Hauke Anselm Hauke is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-05-2007
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 51
Anselm Hauke is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Rene Roy View Post
a good side by side shot here for you:

http://www.codabow.com/bass_french.html

thanks, this picture helps me to see the difference
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-06-2009, 03:12 PM
Richard Prowse Richard Prowse is offline
Senior Posting Member
 
Join Date: 01-21-2007
Location: Wainuiomata
Posts: 0
Richard Prowse is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Prowse View Post
Any thoughts on this frog? A luthier made the frog about five years ago to replace a French frog. He said that this style would balance the bow better than a regular German shape.
So, any thoughts about my bow then?
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-06-2009, 03:24 PM
Nathan Parker Nathan Parker is offline
Posting Member
 
Join Date: 02-20-2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 34
Nathan Parker is on a distinguished road
Default

It certainly seems to have lessened the camber. Don't know if that makes a big difference or not, but I would guess so. It's hard to say without playing it.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:07 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2007 - Ken Smith Basses, LTD. (All Rights Reserved)