Replacement Frog & Button for Ivory Mounted Dodd Cello Bow

 

This is a replacement frog and button for a customer’s Dodd cello bow that was mounted in ivory. Earlier in the year I did the same job on a viola bow by the same maker.

Making a new frog and button for a bow like this has several purposes. First, it makes the bow safe for travel due to the new ivory laws and second it preserves the original frog and button. Ivory is definitely more fragile and more difficult to repair, so it can be a good option for some musicians to commission an ebony substitute.

The challenge is to make a replacement that meets weight and balance requirements as well as preserves the original feel and style of the maker. I don’t believe an exact replica is necessary in these circumstances – especially with early bows of this type that frequently have very long, thin tongues. However, I do like to copy as closely as possible the wear pattern on the thumb projection because players will notice if it isn’t right.

Here I chose a solid black ebony frog with a matching solid button. The height of the frog is identical to the original, which is necessary for playability, but because ivory is denser than ebony, the frog is a bit longer and definitely thicker in cross-section.  I also moderated the length of the tongue.  There is no backplate, only a long pearl slide.

Inside, behind the frog mortise, I drilled a hole and filled it with lead to aid proper balance.  I could’ve changed to a heavier grip and wrap but I wanted the owner to be able to swap the ebony frog and button with the ivory frog and button without having to change anything else about the bow.  Another option to add weight would’ve been a solid silver button, but I wanted to try an ebony one.

One interesting thing about making a replacement frog is that the procedure is the opposite of making a new bow.  When you make a new bow, you make the frog and fit the stick to the facets of the silver underside.  With a replacement frog, you have to fit the new frog to the existing stick.

I like the results – so did my customer!

Dodd viola bow with replacement frog and button in progress