Ringing Strings Bowed Psalteries
handcrafted by Rick Long
Clinton, Tennessee
(865) 660-4026
psalteryman@gmail.com
psalteryman@gmail.com
Bowed Psaltery Bows
1-30-12
1-23-12 Several more bows and pairs added today.
This page lists some of the psaltery bows that I build. There will always be a wide variety of woods they are made of. I make two types of bows. For psalteries with plain steel strings, I build a bow that is strung with white synthetic hair and is non-adjustable. For psalteries that have wound strings, I build bows that can be strung with either white or black horsehair and are adjustable for tension.
I have built and played the bowed psaltery for over thirty years now. I have experimented with a lot of different bow types and the materials to use for hair. Here's what I have concluded.
The brand of synthetic hair I use is best for psalteries with plain steel strings, most soprano psalteries fit into this category. Very smooth sound and no adjustment of the hair needed, because it is a synthetic. Very good string vibration and overall just a good material. These are a little over 14", though the actual usable length of the bow hair is right at 13".
For psalteries having wound strings, I use black horsehair. It is a coarse hair and is just right for the best sound on those rough wound strings. This being said, I have noticed the black hair will smooth out over time, so they will work with plain steel strings, if you would prefer horsehair. These bows are a little over 15", but the usable length of bow hair is about the same as the synthetic haired bows, at 13". That extra length is for the sliding piece I use to adjust the tension on these bows. Horsehair will react to humidity changes and will also stretch over time. This is why the adjustment is needed.
Update -
I now offer either white or black horsehair. The white has the same playing qualities as the synthetic. I know there are folks out there that prefer horsehair over any synthetic, so having this option will fill their needs. The white horsehair works great with the non-wound strings, such as on a soprano psaltery. It's just not as coarse as the black hair.
So you see, the playing length of the hair is the same on the two types of bows. That 13" may sound pretty short to you. A common misconception is that you need a longer bow to hold out the long notes or drones. That falls back to using the proper technique while playing. Rushing through the bow stroke is never a good idea. Any note you hold out, the bow stroke should be fairly slow and controlled. It is time well spent, to work on your bowing technique.
My bows are also extremely light in weight. A lighter bow is much easier to maneuver around on the bowed psaltery strings. A violin bow is heavy, but that is needed on a violin, you stay more in contact with the strings all the time you are playing. On a bowed psaltery, you are constantly lifting and moving to the various notes you need. A heavy bow will slow you down.
The key things are to have a lightweight bow, not too long, and the proper hair to give you the best sound.
Below are the listings of the bows I have available. Pricing is basically $20 for a plain wood on a synthetic hair bow and $25 for a black or white horsehair bow. I add $5 for the bows with figured woods. The matched pairs are double the price of a single, but I won't split them up to sell one of the pair. They have been cut and shaped side by side from the same board. This way the color, grain, shape, and weight all match. The pairs are great if you are getting into double bowing.
I will mark them as SOLD when someone buys them. There may be a time when two folks will contact me about the same bow or bows. I will sell to the customer with the first email or phone call letting me know which ones they want.
Copyright Ringing Strings Music 2004-2012 All Rights Reserved
Scroll down to the bottom for the listings of the bows that are available
- Item Number - B038
- Wood - Quilted Maple
- Price - $60
Where's the hair?
I now offer the option of either black or white horsehair. Choose the black if you're psaltery has wound strings on it. If it has plain steel strings, choose the white. I will put the hair on the bows just before shipping them to you.
To be honest, I don't hear much difference between the white horsehair and the synthetic. I know some folks prefer horsehair for their bows.
- Item Number - B039
- Wood - Figured Walnut
- Price - $60
Where's the hair?
I now offer the option of either black or white horsehair. Choose the black if you're psaltery has wound strings on it. If it has plain steel strings, choose the white. I will put the hair on the bows just before shipping them to you.
To be honest, I don't hear much difference between the white horsehair and the synthetic. I know some folks prefer horsehair for their bows.
- Item Number - B017
- Wood - Curly Maple
- Price - $25
- Item Number - B041
- Wood - Figured Walnut
- Price - $60
Where's the hair?
I now offer the option of either black or white horsehair. Choose the black if you're psaltery has wound strings on it. If it has plain steel strings, choose the white. I will put the hair on the bows just before shipping them to you.
To be honest, I don't hear much difference between the white horsehair and the synthetic. I know some folks prefer horsehair for their bows.
- Item Number - BO42
- Wood - Curly Maple
- Price - $60
Where's the hair?
I now offer the option of either black or white horsehair. Choose the black if you're psaltery has wound strings on it. If it has plain steel strings, choose the white. I will put the hair on the bows just before shipping them to you.
To be honest, I don't hear much difference between the white horsehair and the synthetic. I know some folks prefer horsehair for their bows.
- Item Number - B021
- Wood - Curly Maple
- Price - $25
- Item Number - B022
- Wood - Curly Golden Raintree
- Price - $25
The Golden Raintree is an ornamental
tree that grows here in the Southeast.
This wood had been cut and split for firewood, until someone saw that beautiful
tight curl and color.
- Item Number - B023
- Wood - Curly Maple
- Price - $25
- Item Number - B026
- Wood - Curly Maple
- Price - $25
- Item Number - B027
- Wood - Curly Maple
- Price - $25
- Item Number - B029
- Wood - Curly Maple
- Price - $25
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- Item Number - B030
- Wood - Bird's-eye Maple
- Price - $30
- Item Number - B035
- Wood - Figured Walnut
- Price - $30 SOLD
- Item Number - B037
- Wood - Figured Walnut
- Price - $30
To Order -
Email me at -
psalteryman@gmail.com
or Call -
865-660-4026
- Item Number - B040
- Wood - Curly Maple
- Price - $60
Where's the hair?
I now offer the option of either black or white horsehair. Choose the black if you're psaltery has wound strings on it. If it has plain steel strings, choose the white. I will put the hair on the bows just before shipping them to you.
To be honest, I don't hear much difference between the white horsehair and the synthetic. I know some folks prefer horsehair for their bows.
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- Item Number - B047
- Wood - Cherry
- Price - $50
Where's the hair?
I now offer the option of either black or white horsehair. Choose the black if you're psaltery has wound strings on it. If it has plain steel strings, choose the white. I will put the hair on the bows just before shipping them to you.
To be honest, I don't hear much difference between the white horsehair and the synthetic. I know some folks prefer horsehair for their bows.
- Item Number - B046
- Wood - Cherry
- Price - $50
Where's the hair?
I now offer the option of either black or white horsehair. Choose the black if you're psaltery has wound strings on it. If it has plain steel strings, choose the white. I will put the hair on the bows just before shipping them to you.
To be honest, I don't hear much difference between the white horsehair and the synthetic. I know some folks prefer horsehair for their bows.
- Item Number - B045
- Wood - Cherry
- Price - $50
Where's the hair?
I now offer the option of either black or white horsehair. Choose the black if you're psaltery has wound strings on it. If it has plain steel strings, choose the white. I will put the hair on the bows just before shipping them to you.
To be honest, I don't hear much difference between the white horsehair and the synthetic. I know some folks prefer horsehair for their bows.
- Item Number - B044
- Wood - Cherry
- Price - $50
Where's the hair?
I now offer the option of either black or white horsehair. Choose the black if you're psaltery has wound strings on it. If it has plain steel strings, choose the white. I will put the hair on the bows just before shipping them to you.
To be honest, I don't hear much difference between the white horsehair and the synthetic. I know some folks prefer horsehair for their bows.
- Item Number - B043
- Wood - Cherry
- Price - $50
Where's the hair?
I now offer the option of either black or white horsehair. Choose the black if you're psaltery has wound strings on it. If it has plain steel strings, choose the white. I will put the hair on the bows just before shipping them to you.
To be honest, I don't hear much difference between the white horsehair and the synthetic. I know some folks prefer horsehair for their bows.
- Item Number - B048
- Wood - Curly Maple
- Price - $50 SOLD
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- Item Number - B049
- Wood - Maple
- Price - $40
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- Item Number - B050
- Wood - Maple
- Price - $40
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- Item Number - B051
- Wood - Curly Maple
- Price - $50
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- Item Number - B052
- Wood - Walnut
- Price - $20 SOLD
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- Item Number - B053
- Wood - Maple
- Price - $20
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- Item Number - B054
- Wood - Walnut
- Price - $20 SOLD
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- Item Number - B055
- Wood - Maple
- Price - $20
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- Item Number - B056
- Wood - Walnut
- Price - $20 SOLD
Guess I'd better make some more of these walnut synthetic hair bows. These sold quickly.
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- Item Number - B057
- Wood - Maple
- Price - $20
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- Item Number - B058
- Wood - Plain Cherry
- Price - $25
This bow already has black horsehair
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Click on the picture to the left to enlarge it. You can see more detail and also have a good idea of the size of the two types of bow I make. My bows are really light in weight, they range from 1 to 1.3 oz each, depending on the wood. A lightweight bow is desireable for playing the psaltery. Your movement needs to be efficient. A heavy or long bow can hinder that and cause sloppy technique.
The bow on the left is my adjustable horsehair bow, you can have either white or black horsehair. There is a slider in the notch at the large end, just slide that back under the hair to increase the tension. The bow on the left is my synthetic hair bow. No adjustment required, the tension will stay put on it. The synthetic hair isn't affected by humidity.
