How to care for a backpack? Transport, bridge and arch

The bottom gets damaged more by the moves than by using them. Take care of them on three fronts: always move them by the mast close to the body and look at where the paddle goes, watch the bridge as the climate changes (and title its height if it has tipping wheels) and treat the arch and resin with the same care as any arch instrument.

Due to its size, it's the instrument that suffers most from doors, stairs, elevators and cars. That's what an experienced backpacker teaches his pupil before his first note.

To sum up

Load him up his mast, close to his body, never by his paddle, his cordage or his ropes, and at every door his paddle and his bridge.
If the bridge has matching wheels, you can get up or down the height of the ropes as per the season, turning both equally.
The contraption ropes last a long time but they are transformed from one to one so as to avoid moving the bridge and the soul.
The French or German arch care about each other as well: loosen the sows, do not touch them and protect the tip.
The contraple resin is very soft: it deforms with heat, so it's covered up, in a cool place and never in the car.

How to Load and Move a Retirement

Hold him up his mast, close to his body and put him up with his face or his hip. Never put him up with his paddle, his cordage or his strings.
Take it vertically with the pica collection or with a transport wheel if you have a (there are models that are put instead of pica).
Before crossing a door, look up: The paddle is the first thing to hit against low frames and ceilings. It goes by and care that the bridge doesn't spray the frame.
On stairs, go slow and without bearing other things in the same hand.
In an elevator, get in last, with a drawback against a wall and your body protecting the bridge.

If you leave him on the floor, lay him from his face onto his face, far from his step, or use a backend. Standing and resting against his wall is the most common way for him to end up on his ground.

By car, bus and plane

It doesn't cover all cars: normally we have to put down the co-pilot's seat or back and put them up with a diagonal with a bridge free from any pressure. Test them before the day of the concert, and not that day.
Never in the trunk with things up or inside a car parked in the sun.
In taxi or transport applications, call for a large car and notice that you have an instrument that measures about 1.80 meters.
At bus or TransMienma, it's possible but difficult at peak hour. If you're going to do that more often, invest in a very padded cover.
A rigid, heavy and expensive flight box is necessary for an aircraft and so many counterparties prefer to rent or borrow an instrument from their destination town.

The bridge and height adjustment by climate

The bottom has huge tops that move with moisture, and that can be seen at the height of the strings: with moisture, the cover goes up and the ropes come up and with dryness they come down and they can start to get up against the diapason.

That's why a lot of drawers have matching wheels at the bridge's legs: two padded discs that let them up or down. If yours has them:

A little lower the tension of the ropes, without loosen them at all.
Turn both wheels with the same amount, little by little, so that the bridge goes up or goes down with each other.
Check that the bridge remains straight and supported throughout its base.
Reafine and try. If something feels weird or the bridge leapes, stop and consult the luthier.

If you have no wheels, the tipstick does. In Colombia we do not talk about four stations, but about rain and dry seasons, and about climate trips: if you have to get the bottom of Bogotá to hot ground, the height of the ropes will likely change. Like with violin and cello, the bridge also leapes to the diapason while tuning and check them out every week.

Rods: types, duration and change

Types and care of drawstring
Tipo	Typical use	Cuidado
Acero	Orchestra and arch and many popular styles	Dry them after touch: moisture oxide
Synthetic core	Jazz, pizzicate and mixed use	Clean them with a dry cloth and put them out with the fat of their hands
Tripa	Old music and some jazz styles	Very sensitive to moisture and temperature and have more and more

The contras last far longer than those of guitar: depending on the type and use, they can be spent years before changing them. Since they are expensive, they are worth care for: clean hands, dry cloth at end and no moisture.

He's always changing a string at once so that the bridge doesn't move and his soul doesn't fall.
Check that the end of the new string will be well established on the string before stretching.
The new ropes can take a few days to stabilise and sound as you hope and while, back up at the [online contraple tuner]](/herramientas/afinador/contrabajo).

French or German arc: differences and care

French and German contraband arch
Aspecto	French arch	German arch
Agarre	That's his cello with his hand above his stick.	The nut's been put aside, between his thumb and his fingers, as a saw
Fur (heel)	lower and narrow	Higher and more widely
Cuidado	Loosen dregs, don't touch them, protect the end	That's exactly the same.

None of them are better in themselves: they are both used in orchestras and popular music, and choice often depends on your teacher's school. The important thing is to avoid alternating with one another without a guide while you learn.

Loosen up the sows every time you put the bow.
Don't touch them: Fat prevents resin from clinging.
Keep it in his cover's arch pocket or his own case, never loose at his back.
Take care of the pounding point at the atril, chair or floor.

The contraple resin

It's far more soft and sticky than violin or cello, because it's got to get some very thick strings. That's got practical consequences: with heat, it's soft and bad and hot ground it can get almost picky if it's in the sun or a car. At the cold of Bogotá, it's hard to get caught at the start of the essay. Keep it covered up and put it in his box and in a cool place.

Fold, case and climate

Most of the contraptists wear padded cover, and the rigid flight box will be reserved for long travel or cellar transport. When choosing cover, check out:

A thick padded, especially in the area of the bridge and the paddle.
Mordage strap and handles at several points to load and put him to bed.
Retiring zipes and arch pocket.
A pica or transport wheel opening.

The construction also counts: laminated drawers better resist moisture changes and blows, so they are common among students and with popular music and carvings are more sensitive and demand more climate control. If you are choosing one, read [how to choose a backboard to start with]](/blog/como-elegir-un-contrabajo-para-empezar).

A crack, an open union or a new buzzing are a reason to visit the luthier. If you are starting at [bottom up]](/clases/contrabajo)Your teacher will teach you how to move and leave him secure from first class. Many care are the same as [cello].](/blog/como-cuidar-un-violonchelo).

Frequently asked questions

How do you get a drawback in the car?

Inside the car, with seating down and lying and with a bridge free from any pressure. Test first how and never put them in the trunk with things above and leave them in the car to the sun.

What's best to start with: French or German arch?

No one's better at his own best. The most useful thing to do is to use his teacher, because his best will teach you how to get his grip from the start.

How often do you change the drawdown's strings?

A lot less often than with other instruments: depending on type and use, they can last for years. Change them as they sound out, do not tuning well or the jammer will be worn out.

Why does my contraple get more worked up at some times than at others?

Because the cover moves with moisture and changes the height of the ropes and sometimes goes down at dry periods. If the bridge has tipping wheels, you can get up a little while, otherwise, the luthier fixes it.