I don’t have a spalla bow yet. I have ordered one from Antonino Airenti. So I play it with a baroque violin bow. The d, a , and e strings sound very good but I cannot transmit enough energy to the g string with this bow. The c string is very resonant but somehow I think this is the least important string on a spalla. The g does sound good but only when I am only playing on it. Moving across is challenging. I am very pleased but I don’t have the full experience yet.
Antonino is a great choice, you’ll be impressed on how easier it will become with his bow! The G string is a recurring problem with these instruments. The curse of an odd number of strings instrument? Which strings are you using now? I think Eliakim Boussoir is the one who achieved a better balance on the G string, if you buy his whole set of basses.
I saw the picture again. You have Thomastick strings. They are modern strings, well balanced as well, and very expensive! So keep them until you try them with the new bow. Then, if you want a different choice but keeping it modern, switch to Aquila synthetics. Eliakim is more on the historical side, fat gut strings. Very colorful but maybe a bit more challenging.
Yes indeed expensive. The luthier negotiated the minimum order down to two sets. Still around $1000 total. I hope they last a while. I will investigate Aquila. My experience with violin gut strings has not been good. They sound good but they disintegrate in the Houston climate and it is hard to restring.
I received my spalla last week. I would love to share a photo with you. It is the first spalla by a very young maker. https://share.icloud.com/photos/02fEL4jGqxEzdVzgQKKVubIXw
Looks great! How does it feel under the bow? Are you enjoying it?
I don’t have a spalla bow yet. I have ordered one from Antonino Airenti. So I play it with a baroque violin bow. The d, a , and e strings sound very good but I cannot transmit enough energy to the g string with this bow. The c string is very resonant but somehow I think this is the least important string on a spalla. The g does sound good but only when I am only playing on it. Moving across is challenging. I am very pleased but I don’t have the full experience yet.
Antonino is a great choice, you’ll be impressed on how easier it will become with his bow! The G string is a recurring problem with these instruments. The curse of an odd number of strings instrument? Which strings are you using now? I think Eliakim Boussoir is the one who achieved a better balance on the G string, if you buy his whole set of basses.
I think that perhaps you referred me to Mr. Airenti. Thank you. I have other commend the choice as well.
I cannot remember which strings. I will ask the luthier.
I saw the picture again. You have Thomastick strings. They are modern strings, well balanced as well, and very expensive! So keep them until you try them with the new bow. Then, if you want a different choice but keeping it modern, switch to Aquila synthetics. Eliakim is more on the historical side, fat gut strings. Very colorful but maybe a bit more challenging.
Yes indeed expensive. The luthier negotiated the minimum order down to two sets. Still around $1000 total. I hope they last a while. I will investigate Aquila. My experience with violin gut strings has not been good. They sound good but they disintegrate in the Houston climate and it is hard to restring.