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alternative bowing

 
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bowurfaceoff
Junior Member


Joined: 05 Sep 2013
Posts: 2

PostPosted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 3:29 pm    Post subject: alternative bowing Reply with quote

I am building a cello-range instrument that features a wheel that bows
cello strings. The bowing-wheel concept is somewhat similar to a hurdy
gurdy, but the instrument has a piano keyboard and has a different
string for each note. It sounds good so far, but I'm trying to improve
the instrument by finding a different material to use on the bowing
edge of the wheel. Right now the bowing edge is wood, which can sound
somewhat shrill. I would like to find more pleasant-sounding material
with a reasonably quick attack.

I've been thinking how some bow hairs these days are made out of
synthetic plastics or other synthetic material. Does anyone know what
some of these synthetic materials are in particular?

If so, does anyone have any idea how to get a material like that
around a wheel? Could such material be purchased in strips that we
might be able to wrap around the wheel?
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SooT
Member


Joined: 18 May 2009
Posts: 74
Location: Devon, UK

PostPosted: Fri Sep 06, 2013 10:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Contact the people at Incredibow http://incredibow.com/ they might be able to help you.
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Mat Roop
Senior Member


Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Posts: 911
Location: Wyoming Ontario

PostPosted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 11:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try Monofilament fishing line... here is another discussion on the topic...
https://www.violins.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1743&start=15
Good luck... Mat
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cotept
Junior Member


Joined: 22 Oct 2013
Posts: 2
Location: United States

PostPosted: Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:30 pm    Post subject: Re: alternative bowing Reply with quote

bowurfaceoff wrote:
I am building a cello-range instrument that features a wheel that bows cello strings.
... Right now the bowing edge is wood, which can sound somewhat shrill. I would like to find more pleasant-sounding material with a reasonably quick attack.

... some bow hairs these days are made out of
synthetic plastics or other synthetic material.
... does anyone have any idea how to get a material like that
around a wheel?

--------------------------------------------------------------------
I too am interested in "motor bowing," and looking for ideas.

Picking up on the monofilament line concept, and envisioning a mechanism that would more closely simulate a bow than does a wheel (which, as you say, is too shrill), I am envisioning creating a belt of such line that would travel around two small wheels (e.g. 1" dia pulleys) spaced about 4" apart, where the center of such a belt would be applied to the cello strings. Such a belt would be tensioned to have the same "give" as a cello bow.

But, how to make such a mechanism, you ask? Of course, it wouldn't be easy! Picture the two wheels (ball-bearing type) mounted, one at each end of a C-shaped metal arm. The belt bridges the open side of the C and so the open side of the C faces the strings. The back of the C would be adjustable so that proper belt tension could be achieved. One wheel would be driven by a small variable-speed motor (e.g. a Dremel motor?) while the other wheel turns freely.

The belt itself could be formed (I think) by "unreeling" a roll of monofilament fishing line onto the two wheels, while the drive wheel is being driven by the motor. The idea would be to distribute the line evenly across the two wheels to a belt-width of a normal horsehair bow.

How does that sound so far?
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Mat Roop
Senior Member


Joined: 24 Mar 2007
Posts: 911
Location: Wyoming Ontario

PostPosted: Fri Nov 08, 2013 5:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A cheap version of a variable speed motor would be s sewing machine motor... should be lots of them available in sewing machine repair shops.
Cheers, Mat
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cotept
Junior Member


Joined: 22 Oct 2013
Posts: 2
Location: United States

PostPosted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 12:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mat Roop wrote:
A cheap version of a variable speed motor would be s sewing machine motor... Mat


Right!... And seems like the pedal-adjusted speed feature would work well for a cellist. Thanks!
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