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Flat_the_3rd_n7th - Posted - 02/12/2021: 12:22:24
My buddy in our band sometimes plays with a bow for effect. Nowhere to stow the bow when time to go back to plucking. I want to get him a gift of something like this:
stringemporium.com/upright-bas...uiver.htm
It looks like they all tie onto the tailpiece, though. A fiddler would not put something on his tailpiece to weight it down, right? I believe it would adversely affect the tone. What's your opinion? Wouldn't it be the same effect on a bass fiddle? Any experience with this? Thanks.
jimbopicks - Posted - 02/12/2021: 17:41:03
This is the kind of thing that double bass players discuss(argue) about ad nauseam. Yes, theoretically adding weight to the tailpiece changes the sound of a bass, such that some players don't use a quiver (bow holder). In practice the bass is a much bigger instrument than a violin, and the strings are much heavier, so the effect is likely much smaller.
I've played my bass both with and without a quiver and bow hanging from the tailpiece, and cannot discern a difference.
It's the kind of thing classical musicians obsess over, if this is a bluegrass band the most of the time the bass is just thumping along, then don't worry about it.
Flat_the_3rd_n7th - Posted - 02/12/2021: 19:43:47
quote:
Originally posted by farmerjones
I don't think this guy cares:
youtu.be/p-3eM-FIGy4
That's a generation (or two) downstream from me, but I'll be dogged if I wouldn't love to (be able to!) play such as that. Banjer needs him a Richard Petty hat, though.
Flat_the_3rd_n7th - Posted - 02/12/2021: 19:47:56
quote:
Originally posted by jimbopicks
This is the kind of thing that double bass players discuss(argue) about ad nauseam. Yes, theoretically adding weight to the tailpiece changes the sound of a bass, such that some players don't use a quiver (bow holder). In practice the bass is a much bigger instrument than a violin, and the strings are much heavier, so the effect is likely much smaller.
I've played my bass both with and without a quiver and bow hanging from the tailpiece, and cannot discern a difference.
It's the kind of thing classical musicians obsess over, if this is a bluegrass band the most of the time the bass is just thumping along, then don't worry about it.
I'm sure you're right, I appreciate that comment. Bass picking on a stage, a-dancing and a-slappin it probably doesn't care much about pure tone. I suppose instrument accessories are a pretty personal thing, though. I might just ask him what he thinks, first.
The Violin Beautiful - Posted - 02/12/2021: 23:19:53
Bassists who play a lot of music that requires them to switch from arco to pizzicato frequently often use bow quivers to make things easy, especially if they’re playing on stage and don’t have a good place to rest the bow.
Yes, extra mass added to the tailpiece can be a dampener, but many players feel it’s with the trade-off.
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