Re-cambering questions

[Jonathan Stefaniak]

I read this thread with great interest since I've been basically scouring the internet for information on bows. I stumbled across Charles Espey's Blog and read every post about bow making he wrote. This post about the relationship between bow camber and the overall concept for the bow warns against corrections that depart from the maker's intentions. A very interesting variance of opinions must be held by many people. When I called Susan Lipkins to put my name on her list, I mentioned one bow of mine(an overly flexible/weak Steven Reilly bow). She suggested that she could make adjustments to the camber and improve the bow. I don't doubt that she could greatly improve this stick's performance - she can. It may just be better to get a new bow (which I already have) then bother with correcting a bow I have begun to outgrow anyway. I haven't decided whether I will go down the road of correcting the bow or simply sell it as is and buy another.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Stefaniak

I read this thread with great interest since I've been basically scouring the internet for information on bows. I stumbled across Charles Espey's Blog and read every post about bow making he wrote. This post about the relationship between bow camber and the overall concept for the bow warns against corrections that depart from the maker's intentions. A very interesting variance of opinions must be held by many people. When I called Susan Lipkins to put my name on her list, I mentioned one bow of mine(an overly flexible/weak Steven Reilly bow). She suggested that she could make adjustments to the camber and improve the bow. I don't doubt that she could greatly improve this stick's performance - she can. It may just be better to get a new bow (which I already have) then bother with correcting a bow I have begun to outgrow anyway. I haven't decided whether I will go down the road of correcting the bow or simply sell it as is and buy another.

If a bow or stick rather is weak or soft, then you may not know the makers intention if the stick changed over time from being weak under hair tension. Correcting a bow camber is like pressing out a sunken top of a bass. You do what you need to to make the bass more playable and as healthy as possible. The same goes with bows. The best makers cannot correct a weak stick. Rather only care for it over time.

As I mention about my old Bazin (now in a new happy home), I have another similar bow by Fetique that has a bit more side camber than I would prefer. I was about to re-camber it but in flexing the stick I realized how stiff it was. Concluding that this is mainly settlement of the old wood and would be dangerous to try and change it. Then, I took the bow out a few times, tried it as-is and decided it was fine the way it was.

If a bow feels less than playable without re-cambering, I think it's worth the effort to try something to make it work again than leave it aside unused. We are way past the makers intentions at this point. The bow was made to be played.

[Jonathan Stefaniak]

That seems reasonable for sure. It is a bit of pity to let the bow just sit there unused. It was probably a pretty poor choice of wood on the maker's part that led to it loosing camber over time, if that is what happened.
BTW, how do you like that Fetique? How would you describe the tone, balance, strength, tonal flexibility etc.? I am really in love with the Andre Richaume bow I got last year - a dense, clear tone that leaves of room for the string to sing. Since Richaume apprenticed with his uncle Victor, I would be curious to hear more of your impressions for comparison. Thanks!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Jonathan Stefaniak

That seems reasonable for sure. It is a bit of pity to let the bow just sit there unused. It was probably a pretty poor choice of wood on the maker's part that led to it loosing camber over time, if that is what happened.
BTW, how do you like that Fetique? How would you describe the tone, balance, strength, tonal flexibility etc.? I am really in love with the Andre Richaume bow I got last year - a dense, clear tone that leaves of room for the string to sing. Since Richaume apprenticed with his uncle Victor, I would be curious to hear more of your impressions for comparison. Thanks!

On the wood choice, I don't think it's the makers choice of wood all the time. It could be the player not loosening his bow of just tightening it more than that stick likes. On some stiff bows, I have seen players tighten them till almost straight so they can play real hard with downward pressure. As long as the hairs stay off the stick in the FFF passages, it's tight enough. I have learned over the years to pull the bow rather than to only press it down when needing more sound. My softest bow works just fine but doesn't have as strong a spine as some other bows for heavy orchestra playing. It was at one time my main and favorite bow. I grew out of it as my arco got stronger.

The Fetique grabs great and for a bow its size and weight, the best I have seen. Comparing it though to my 2 Bryant bows, the Fetique is a stronger stick than my 136g but my 152, that pulls a bigger sound. Also, it depends a lot on what I am playing and on which bass.

Playing these bows, even new ones like the Lipkins of which I have had several of them, I find them as different from bow to bow as I do bass to bass in feel and sound.