Ok, Im a first time poster but I need some help. I bought a Gliga GEM viola from Gliga. Mostly because of the good reviews etc I have read about them on forums etc. (I know this is the violin forum but is way more active and I wanted a fast response).
My question is this. When I took it out of the case the bow's hair was really hairy. Like super lose and all over the place like spagetii but still connected at both ends. About 7 of the hairs are broken and when I tighten up the bow they are not all uniform and flat, also some are tighter than others. Is this normal? My daughters Glasser bow when it is tightened all of the hairs are smooth and even and have the same tightness. Even when she loosens the bow all of the hair keeps the relative "shape" of when it is tight. When I loosen this one the hair looks like its all over the place. Once Rosin is worked in on teh bow does this help? Please advise.
p.s. I am an electric bass player, this is is for my 3rd year student daughter who is 11, I know little about sting instruments outside of electric bass/guitar.
Well after a quick diagnosis I would say that the bow is...broken. You're not going to get a decent sound out of the instrument if the bow hair is as you say it is. Obviously.
Call back the manufacturer and tell them that the bow wasn't assembled properly or the people who sold you the instrument. That or get it re-haired at your nearest string shop.
You could also try fixing it yourself I suppose, but judging by how out of place the hairs are I doubt it'll be that simple
Dante
Thanks... I trimmed off all of the lose hanging hairs and I tried to rosin up the bow.....the free rosin they supplied is'nt really going onto the hairs ( I have some better rosins at home I can try and I am at the office now)
Even when the bow is tight some hairs are not that tight and I when I try and play the viola it just slides across the strings and makes no sounds. (wont bite)
I think I may take it to the local luthier after work, even though he is really $$$ even for any amount of work he does.
