which bow?

[jonathan_matos5]

i looked through the newbie links and there in no info for buying a bow. ive heard whatever you teacher says you should learn on is what you should get but in my area there are few teachers for bass guitar and much less for db.

so what should i look for in a first bow?
what is the price range for a ok beginner bow?
who are some reputable dealers and makers of bows?
is it easier to play with a german style bow or a french style bow and what are the differances in tone that you will get from each bow?
does the material that the bow is made from make a differance in how your bass will sound?

help me out.

thanks
jonathan

[Machina]

1. The first concern is the material the bow is made out of.
- Fiberglass, Brazilwood, Carbon Fiber, Pernambuco, Snakewood.
Pernambuco and Snakewood are the most expensive, while fiberglass and brazilwood tend to be much cheaper. Obviously they do not produce as good of sound. As for Carbon Fiber, I don't like them, but many people do.

Next is the hair type. I prefer White Russian, but they also sell Black and Salt and Pepper (S&P is a mixture of white and black)

Also find out if you like French or German style better.

2. I would say a good price would be from $90 for a Glasser Fiberglass bow to up to $200 for a cheap brazilwood. This being for a beginer in mind, not a student or professional.

3. Depending on where you live, you may have tons of options to go bow shopping. However online I choose: www.lemurmusic.com

4. German or French depends on individual needs. Both have the same abilities and can produce the same tone. Some things tend to be easier with one compared to the other, but in the end one is not better than the other.

5. The material of bows is very very important. The higher price woods offer a faster response from the bass, project better, can improve control, and also are works of art. I personally recommened bow shopping before changing what instrument you play on. Bows match better with different basses and the combination of a great bass and great bow is something that takes time to find.

[KSB - Ken Smith]

I think that one of the most important feature is the Design of the Bow. Having all the best materials doesn't mean the Bow is good. Do not buy a Bow by Specs alone. I have seen many Bows of grat material that just don't play. I have played and owned many Morizot Bows that are 4-6k now that don't play as well as my my $600. Loveri model. Why is that? That is because of the individual maker. Brazilwood on the exact same Bow, same model, same maker with sound and feel only slightly different within the ranges as the Pernambucco. I tested 10 new Bows last month and it was difficult telling them apart without looking closely. A good Bow is a Good Bow and not because it is made with Pernambucco. I have seen many Bows from 2-6k that to me were just a waste of a good stick.

I prefer French as you can feel the bow doing the work or not. You need a teacher so you learn properly. Germay style allows you to use pressuer with the Bow to make up for a poorly made Bow. It will more difficult to tell which is better in the German model unless you are an experienced player. There are great players that use both styles of Bows. Tough choices ahead of you. Good luck.

There are only a few Bows under $200 that I think are workable and will not cause too many bad habits from the start. Many though are best left in the garden for the tomatoe plants.