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Old 03-12-2010, 06:30 AM
Eric Swanson's Avatar
Eric Swanson Eric Swanson is offline
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Default Don't do this! (But then again, you probably wouldn't.. also posted on TB)

This is embarrassing, but I am offering it here so that I might save some other soul from a similarly lame move.

Yesterday I rented a bass because I found myself needing an instrument, short-term. The bass' bag wouldn't accomodate my bow case. I put the case on top of my car, and loaded up.

I got to my destination, unpacked, and noticed the missing bow case. Panic, self-admonishments, and dread ensued. I retraced my route.

I found the smashed bowcase and my Louis Morizot french bow lying in the street. Let's just say that driving over a bow repeatedly is not a great way to care for it.

The frog is crushed, the inlays gone, the stick dented all over from the asphalt, the grip a tangle of silver wire. Miraculously, the stick didn't break. It just looks as if a puppy chewed on it for a couple of hours.

The bow was a gift from a former teacher. It was one of my most cherished sacred objects.

The only good part; it was insured through my homeowner's policy, listed as a line item (Amica, hooray for Amica!). I put in a claim this morning; sure enough accidental damage is covered. We did this when we took out the policy; I got the bow professionally appraised, submitted the appraisal form, and had it written into the policy as an "additionally insured item."

The bow can't be replaced, really, in terms of its value to me. Hopefully, it can be repaired. If it can't, at least I will have the resources to try to replace it.

Thanks solely to my wife's wisdom; at least it was insured. Wisdom surrounds me in my family, even if I don't share in it. My five-year old summed it up best, "Daddy, maybe you shouldn't put anything on top of your car again."

Lessons:
- don't put anything on top of my vehicle (like my bowcase)
- make sure musical stuff is fully insured
- slow down, stay in the present moment, more, and try not to rush, when loading up

Humbly submitted,
Eric
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Last edited by Eric Swanson; 03-12-2010 at 09:04 AM.
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Old 03-12-2010, 08:18 AM
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Ken Smith Ken Smith is offline
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Exclamation on top of a car?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Swanson View Post
This is embarrassing, but I am offering it here so that I might save some other soul from a similarly lame move.

Yesterday I rented a bass because I found myself needing an instrument, short-term. The bass' bag wouldn't accomodate my bow case. I put the case on top of my car, and loaded up.

I got to my destination, unpacked, and noticed the missing bow case. Panic, self-admonishments, and dread ensued. I retraced my route.

I found the smashed bowcase and my Louis Morizot french bow lying in the street. Let's just say that driving over a bow repeatedly is not a great way to care for it.

The frog is crushed, the inlays gone, the stick dented all over from the asphalt, the grip a tangle of silver wire. Miraculously, the stick didn't break. It just looks as if a puppy chewed on it for a couple of hours.

The bow was a gift from a former teacher. It was one of my most cherished sacred objects.

The only good part; it was insured through my homeowner's policy, listed as a line item (Amica, hooray for Amica!). I put in a claim this morning; sure enough accidental damage is covered. We did this when we took out the policy; I got the bow professionally appraised, submitted the appraisal form, and had it written into the policy as an "additionally insured item."

The bow can't be replaced, really, in terms of its value to me. Hopefully, it can be repaired. If it can't, at least I will have the resources to try to replace it.

Thanks solely to my wife's wisdom; at least it was insured. Wisdom surrounds me in m family, even if I don't share in it. My five-year old summed it up best, "Daddy, maybe you shouldn't put anything on top of your car again."

Lessons:
- don't put anything on top of my vehicle (like my bowcase)
- make sure musical stuff is fully insured
- slow down, stay in the present moment, more, and try not to rush, when loading up

Humbly submitted,
Eric
Years ago, c.1975 I was doing a gig in Pittsburgh and we all 3 (the Bobby Cole Trio) drove from NY in one car with the Bass (my old Italian), amp of sorts (forget which one) and the drums.. The car, a station wagon I think and it was packed!

While at the gig (a week or two maybe?) I met a bass player selling an old bass. It was a nice German bass but needed some repairs. I got an advance from the leader and bought it. Then in the hotel room I grabbed a kitchen knife and with a bit of warm water slowly removed the top. At the end of the gig the leader decided to fly back and the drummer and I drove. I had to put the bass on the roof of the car. The top loose and all packed in a canvas bag. Guess what? It rained the whole drive back, about 6 hours.

I restored the bass over the years but sold it just before completing it so all that was done was fine. Anyway, I DID actually put an old German bass on the roof of a car. Not something I would ever suggest doing but I had no choice at the time.
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Old 07-12-2010, 04:04 PM
Dave Whitla Dave Whitla is offline
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Were you able to get the bow restored? I could so easily have done what you did. I'm always putting coffees on the top of the car and have driven off a few times. A friend recently did it with his iPhone, but it has a grippy cover and miraculously didn't fall off the car. None of these compare to a Morizot, of course.
I hope it was able to be saved. I have one of my teacher's bows and I would be gutted if anything happened to it.
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Old 07-13-2010, 10:48 AM
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Eric Swanson Eric Swanson is offline
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Yes, "gutted" expresses my feelings pretty well, especially right when it happened. Thanks for your empathy.

I got a referral to Jerry Pasewicz, as one of the few people who would do well with the restoration. I spoke with him a couple of times; he certainly knows his business. Moreover, his firm has been a joy with which to work:

http://www.trianglestrings.com/store...content&page=4

They are busy, so it will be a few months until my bow moves up the line for restoration.

He offered rebuilding the frog (which was crushed), to match a Morizot pattern or making a new one and saving the old pieces for a future restoration. We discussed pros and cons for each option. I opted for the new frog.

He says that it will play as well as new, because the stick didn't break. I look forward to seeing it again. He also says that the stick damage, when steamed, filled, and finished, will be virtually undetectable.

The bow will come back to me, with the new frog, haired, and recambered, before he does filling/refinishing on the stick. If the curve/action is right, he will then finish up the cosmetic part of the work.

Bless him, his talent, and his skills. I'll report on the results.
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Old 07-13-2010, 11:45 AM
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Exclamation new frog?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric Swanson View Post
Yes, "gutted" expresses my feelings pretty well, especially right when it happened. Thanks for your empathy.

I got a referral to Jerry Pasewicz, as one of the few people who would do well with the restoration. I spoke with him a couple of times; he certainly knows his business. Moreover, his firm has been a joy with which to work:

http://www.trianglestrings.com/store...content&page=4

They are busy, so it will be a few months until my bow moves up the line for restoration.

He offered rebuilding the frog (which was crushed), to match a Morizot pattern or making a new one and saving the old pieces for a future restoration. We discussed pros and cons for each option. I opted for the new frog.

He says that it will play as well as new, because the stick didn't break. I look forward to seeing it again. He also says that the stick damage, when steamed, filled, and finished, will be virtually undetectable.

The bow will come back to me, with the new frog, haired, and recambered, before he does filling/refinishing on the stick. If the curve/action is right, he will then finish up the cosmetic part of the work.

Bless him, his talent, and his skills. I'll report on the results.
The bow will hold it's value MUCH better with a RESTORED Original Frog. On vintage Bows with Replaced Frogs you can expect about a 40% devaluation for not having it original. For repaired/restored, maybe 10-20% depending..

If the Stick was broken and it's just getting pieced together then the value is not an issue. Just play it.
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Old 07-13-2010, 12:11 PM
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Eric Swanson Eric Swanson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken Smith View Post
The bow will hold it's value MUCH better with a RESTORED Original Frog. On vintage Bows with Replaced Frogs you can expect about a 40% devaluation for not having it original. For repaired/restored, maybe 10-20% depending..

If the Stick was broken and it's just getting pieced together then the value is not an issue. Just play it.
Interesting point. I went back and forth with Mr. Pasewicz, over a few days, on that very issue. I was concerned about both being a good steward for the bow and with resale. I was also concerned with his opinion as a craftsman, as to which would yield a more "sound" bow.

He said, that in this case, the devaluation would be a "wash." The original frog had nickel mounts. The new frog (with matching nut) would have silver mounts, hence, higher value. He also said that a modern frog and nut would yield a more structurally sound bow, in his opinion.

Thus, in either case, he estimated a drop in value of about 15%; either with the restored frog and nut (with nickel) or the new frog and nut (with silver)

He also, with some humility, said that while the repaired frog would look almost as good as new, in a few years, there may be even better adhesives/technology for such restoration efforts. He talked about the significant advances that have happened in the world of epoxies, within the last few years.

He was willing and able to complete either option. The new frog will actually cost more than a rebuilt one. It seemed as if it would yield a more stable bow, however, of similar (but, as you say, reduced) value.

I am certainly no expert on these things. I am only sharing the little information/perspective I have on this particular case.
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