How to Fit a Bow

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I’ve gotten a few emails and comments regarding how I fit a bow to a string, so I thought it would be fun to do a little write up on my process. This is mostly a blog about how to do things improperly, so when I get around to doing this properly, it will be even more fun.

So, the first step is to have an unstrung bow:

I’ve gotten a few emails and comments regarding how I fit a bow to a string, so I thought it would be fun to do a little write up on my process. This is mostly a blog about how to do things improperly, so when I get around to doing this properly, it will be even more fun.

So, the first step is to have an unstrung bow:

I’ve gotten a few emails and comments regarding how I fit a bow to a string, so I thought it would be fun to do a little write up on my process. This is mostly a blog about how to do things improperly, so when I get around to doing this properly, it will be even more fun.

So, the first step is to have an unstrung bow:

Now that that’s out of the way…

If I had to guess how many times someone has asked me how to fit a bow, I’d say, roughly 100. Based on that number, and the frequency with which I get asked, I’d estimate that between 700 and 800 people have been discussing it with each other; that number seems high to me, but so does the fact that people are still emailing me about it.

So in the interest of saving my fingers from carpel tunnel syndrome and my readers from having to write a novel-length explanation for all comers, here is a guide for string players on how to fit a bow. The following instructions are not meant to be taken literally; this is not a step-by-step photo essay of what you should do. Rather, it is a guide for people who don’t know yet what they’re doing. The steps presented here are the sort you might have tried if you had no idea what you were doing but wanted to give an educated guess about it. The only person who seems to have actually followed them was Yousuf Karsh.

First, go find yourself a bow maker whose work you like. Check out his or her website. If there isn’t one, go find another bow maker whose work you like better (a good

It is a month since my last blog entry. I have been working on the bow and am ready to start fitting it to the violin. I have heard this can be tricky, but I have some experience with bows. I figure if you can fit a new shoe, you can fit a bow.

I went to the local luthier supply store and bought a box of Popsicle sticks (this is what most violin bows are made of). I also bought some varnish and rosin. The rosin, by the way, is sap from pine trees that you rub on your bow to make it sticky so that the strings will vibrate when you draw it across them. You may not know that there are two kinds of rosin: dark and light. The dark one is for cellos and violas, but violinists use the light. Don’t ask me why they don’t all just use the same kind of sap. They don’t even use it in Canada or Europe, where they speak different languages than we do.

When I got home, I opened up my box of Popsicle sticks, which were about an inch thick and about as long as my hand. Then I glued them together with this stuff called hide glue that supposedly makes

It is my belief that most beginner violinists and violists do not know what a good bow is and how to fit one to their instrument. Like a beginning mechanic trying to fix an engine without the knowledge of how it works, they pick up a bow and expect it to work well. Unfortunately, the violinist is working with an instrument that has many more moving parts than any car.

There are many things in common between the two hobbies; both require patience, attention to detail, and willingness to start over when things go wrong. But unlike working on a car, most violinists will never be able to take apart their instrument and put it back together again without breaking something. The same goes for bows; while they may be simple in construction, there are many subtle parts that can cause problems if adjusted improperly, such as the stick height or camber between the head and tip of the bow.

I wanted to share with you a few things I’ve learned about making bows. These are not your usual how-to articles, but more like how-NOT-to articles. You may think that this is the wrong way to do it, and you would probably be right. But it’s fun!

I had seen a couple of these bows, and they looked like they’d be fun to play around with. I found a book at the local library (The Traditional Bowyers Bible Volume One) that gave me some ideas. I then went and got a stick…..

Humans have been making bows for thousands of years. Most luthiers today use machines to make their bows, but some still make bows the old-fashioned way. Luthiers who are interested in the history of bow making or want to understand how the instruments work should be able to make a bow without a machine.

The most important tool you will need is a bow lathe. A bow lathe is a device used to shape and straighten the wood that makes up the limbs of the bow. The lathe was invented in medieval times and has been used by luthiers ever since. To make a bow, you’ll need at least two lathes: one for shaping the wood and one for bending it. The lathe is also used to straighten the wood if it has been bent out of shape or cut too short. You can buy a cheap lathe at any hardware store or you can build your own using plans found online.

You’ll also need some tools to help you shape the wood on your lathe. You can use an axe, chisel, saw and sandpaper to get started, but you’ll probably want more specialized tools as you progress with your project. In addition, some luthiers like to use a hand plane

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