Double Bass Bow-hran Stick
Intriguing Kerry style stick. Slim & Curvy version also works for top-end playing.
These rustic Kerry-style bodhran tippers are handcrafted from genuine double bass bows. Most of the bows are acquired from two preeminent violin shops in Saint Louis, Missouri.
One shop is a third-generation family-owned business accustomed to dealing in old master instruments including those of Stradivari, Guarnari and Amati. This is where my daughter (who began Suzuki violin several years ago but now takes piano) and I originally acquired our violins. The other shop is owned by my old friend Geoff Seitz. It was Geoff, a violin maker and old-time fiddle champ, who suggested to me at a contra dance over twenty years ago that I try playing bones with two hands instead of just one.)
Genuine Double Bass Fiddle Bows
I had been meaning to offer double bass Bow-hran Sticks for the past several years. As it turns out, acquiring old bass fiddle bows is more difficult than I thought. The bows in this lot are the only bows I have been able to acquire thus far. And if the lack of raw material continues, then this lot might represent both the beginning and the end of double bass Bow-hran Sticks at my shop.
Bow-hran Stick Construction
There ain't nothing fancy about a Bow-hran Stick. It is just a hunk of double bass fiddle bow with the ends chopped off.
Sure, I sand the ends then touch 'em up with a buffer and tripoli polishing compound. But that is about the extent of it. And since the sticks come from a bow, none are perfectly straight. Some players consider this an
advantage. Others would call it a defect. So other than the fact each Bow-hran Stick is crafted from a bow acquired from a premier violin shop that caters to one of the world's leading symphony orchestras, there is nothing special about these drum sticks. Except maybe the name. I think Bow-hran Stick is simple, descriptive and kinda cool. The idea came from my 11-year-old son, Zak.
Uniquely Exotic Wood for Kerry Style Playing
Double bass bows are traditionally made from rosewood, brazilwood or pernumbuco. Brazilwood and pernumbuco come from the same tree and are prized by bow makers for its superior strength and light weight.
I cannot positively identify which wood is which. But if the color of your Bow-hran Stick has a tinge of orange, then it might be pernumbuco. Otherwise, it is rosewood or brazilwood. There is also the chance that your stick is another wood altogether. In any case, your Bow-hran Stick is a rare exotic wood that will serve you well for many years.
Four Styles:
Each stick measures 9 inches in length. You can choose from four styles: Grip, Grip w/coil, Plain, and Slim & Curvy. These styles reflect the nature of a fiddle bow.
Is a Double Bass Bow-hran Stick Right for You?
Those smallish Bow-hran Sticks made from violin and cello bows work fine for top-end playing. But if you want to play Kerry style, or if your drum has a thick rubbery skin like my unique Albert Alfonso does, then you will probably need a heavier stick. These 9" Double Bass Bow-hran Sticks work well for Kerry style, even on my rubbery Alfonso drum. And at 80% the weight of my 9" ebony "Mark Stone style" tipper, these Double Bass Bow-hran Sticks are certainly substantial enough for Kerry style playing. And of course, they're kind of cool too.
Low Price
These handcrafted Bow-hran Sticks run from a paltry $11.97 to $24.97. So go ahead and order a spare or two.
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Features:
- Genuine Old Double Bass Bow: A cool stick for the new millennium.
- Hefty and sturdy: Perfect for Kerry style playing.
- Original Stain: The natural look for a natural drummer.
- Buffed and Polished: Professional look and feel.
- Four Styles to Choose From: Pick the style that works best for you.
- Handcrafted: Made one-at-a-time, the old fashioned way.
- Budget Priced: Grab a handful without breaking the bank.
Specs:
Figures are approximate (but pretty darn close)--
- Length: 9 inches
- Diameter: 3/8" to 1/2"
- Weight, Grip: 1.0 oz
- Weight, Grip w/coil: 1.3 oz
- Weight, Plain: 1.2 oz
- Weight, Slim & Curvy: .7 oz
- Composition: Durable Old Double Bass Bow Hardwood
- Wood: Traditionally rosewood, brazilwood or pernumbuco.
- Camber (arc): Natural double bass bow curve
- Color: Original stain.
- Finish: Buffed and polished w/tripoli compound
- Four styles: 1. Grip, 2. Grip w/coil, 3. Plain, 4. Slim & Curvy
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