Re: bows for guitars

[Per Boysen <perboysen@gmail.com>]

On 4 jul 2007, at 01.00, L.A. Angulo wrote:

> Hi Gang,
> id like to start experimenting with bows which work
> better for guitars and can you spare some techniques
> string gage etc.?Although Jimmy page has been an
> inspiration i didnt find his bowing technique
> particulary exciting,any other artists out there?
> thanx!
> Luis


Most guitarists seem to like the cello bow best. Myself I went for  
that size by recommendation, but I have not really tried a different  
type. More important than string gage is the shape of the guitar's  
body to actually make it possible to get at the strings with the bow  
in a comfortable way. On Fender guitars it's generally hard to bow  
because the plane of the fret board is so close too the top of the  
body, so you are constantly risking to hit the side of the guitars  
body with the bow instead of the string. On my Stratocaster I can  
only bow the lowest E string without major effort.

The way bowed instruments are built they have a much more convex  
finger board than any guitar has, so that's why it's so difficult to  
bow only one strings, especially one of the center strings. The trick  
here is to mute other strings with your left hand rather than being  
picky about not bowing non intended strings by mistake.  Least  
problem are with the E strings that are on the sides and as such  
gives you a better bowing angle.

To get a good vibration you need to grease the bow with wax an this  
grease is ruining the strings completely for any normal guitar  
playing. Therefore it's a good idea to use the bow last during a  
recording session because afterwards you need to take a brake to put  
on new strings ;-))

Greetings from Sweden

Per Boysen
www.boysen.se (Swedish)
www.looproom.com (international)