In a past life I built bamboo fly rods, great and sensitive instruments for fishing. In construction, gentleheat is used to straighten out any kinks in the shaft. Anglers are enjoined to store their rods in a perfectly straight state, lest the rod take a “set”.

Common wisdom is that pernambuco violin bows must be let down when not in use. I presume that the rationale is the same: that the desired shape of the stick may be lost.

But modern anglers store their carbon fishing rods in any old shape. Nobody cares if their rods are straight or bent when they leave them. And the method of storage doesn’t seem to make any significant difference: I cannot recall ever hearing a modern fisherman complaining about a bent fishing rod.

And what of carbon fiber violins bows? Is there a good reason -- other than our valued tradition -- to let the stick down? Why not keep it tight? What could happen if the CF bow stick is left in an “operational” state?

Strabo