Buying First Bow, No Idea Where to Start

[kugelspot]

Titles pretty self explanatory. I've been playing bass guitar for a while and got an upright for christmas. My mom said she'd pay for a bow. I don't think she'll pay more than $250 for one, maybe $300.

I'm pretty sure I want a French bow. I've never tried a German but I tried a French and it felt natural enough. I'm already taking electric bass lessons and I don't want to have to pay for upright lessons, so I can't take the "use what your teacher uses" route (please don't flame me for this. I know they are very different instruments, and I'm working at developing good upright technique. Its just that bass guitar is my main instrument and I don't want to have to pay for more lessons). Plus, if I learn French and forget my bow I can use a violin or cello player's in a pinch.

Anyway, I have no idea what I want or even what to look for. Any suggestions?

[Fletcher Lanning]

I've heard great things about the Finale CF bows and they're somewhere around the 300ish range I think (I'm going to pick one up when I get the cash).

As a fellow EB convert, arco technique is painful to learn alone (and I do mean physically painful; bad technique with a bow could cause injury to your wrist). If you're not going to get together with a teacher on a regular basis (as I do not) you could do what I do/did. I took one lesson to start to get basic techniques and some practice material. A months later, I got another lesson to get a few reminders. Now, if I have a question I just send the guy an e-mail. If I think that I need to go in for a lesson to firm some things up or to figure out something tricky, I go and get a lesson.

I'm also really lucky that there was a mid level community orchestra for me to play in to get lots of practice.

[JtheJazzMan]

I would say youd benefit more if you swapped to a double bass teacher, and a good arco teacher at that.

You can translate things from DB to electric easy enough, but an bass guitar teacher cannot teach you how to play double bass arco.

Sorry to shoot you down, but if you intend to play arco, its too slow trying to work everything out for yourself.

[Baird6869]

I have been playing EB for 25 years and recently bought an EUB. I picked up the EUB very quickly and within a few days I was playing a gig with it.

Having said that, I picked up my first bow yesterday and I am amazed at how hard arco is to self teach. It is almost like picking up a violin for the first time and I sound terrible. I sound like a 5 year ond playing a cello for the first time. Seriously.

I will be taking a few lessons before spending any more time with a bow.

I would have a teacher recommend your options as IMO the different types of bows are hard to differentiate unless you know what to look for...

[Andrew McGregor]

Seriously, you DO need a few lessons, or you're going to hurt yourself. DBs are big enough and you use enough force playing them to seriously damage your hands if you do it wrong. Even two or three lessons will get you a reasonable physical approach to the instrument and save you a lot of pain and frustration... hand injuries really and truly suck, they effect everything you do but most of all stop you playing.

That said, Finale CF or another of the well regarded CF bows... anything else pretty much requires playing a whole bunch and figuring out which suits you best, which is hard to do if you don't know how to use one yet. CF bows vary, but not enough that you can't sensibly talk about the different models.

[fryBASS]

Originally Posted by JtheJazzMan

I would say youd benefit more if you swapped to a double bass teacher, and a good arco teacher at that.

You can translate things from DB to electric easy enough, but an bass guitar teacher cannot teach you how to play double bass arco.

Sorry to shoot you down, but if you intend to play arco, its too slow trying to work everything out for yourself.

Quoted for truth and emphasis. I've been taking double bass lessons for years, am still pretty average at it, but can destroy a bass guitar by being self taught for 4 years.

[longfinger]

Originally Posted by kugelspot

Titles pretty self explanatory. I've been playing bass guitar for a while and got an upright for christmas. My mom said she'd pay for a bow. I don't think she'll pay more than $250 for one, maybe $300.

Congratulations! For $250 all in, you can get a decent wood bow. But it's hard to choose one if you don't know what to look for, listen for, nor play it properly to test it.

I'm pretty sure I want a French bow. I've never tried a German but I tried a French and it felt natural enough. I'm already taking electric bass lessons and I don't want to have to pay for upright lessons, so I can't take the "use what your teacher uses" route (please don't flame me for this. I know they are very different instruments, and I'm working at developing good upright technique. Its just that bass guitar is my main instrument and I don't want to have to pay for more lessons).

Understandable. Maybe you're current teacher also plays upright bass, ask him/her. Try out French and German bows. You won't develop good upright technique without proper guidance in those first few months.

Plus, if I learn French and forget my bow I can use a violin or cello player's in a pinch.

Hah ha , no way! You're funny. That won't work at all!

Anyway, I have no idea what I want or even what to look for. Any suggestions?

My suggestion is
- ask your electric teacher if he also plays upright. Ask if he can teach you that too.

if no, then

- alternate your electric and upright lessons. If you take electric lessons 1/week, then take them 1 every two weeks, and take upright lessons 1 every two weeks, alternating weeks between the two. It will cost you the same, and you'll get both traditions. A great way to do both while not spending more.


FWIW, In public I'm mostly an electric bass player, but I've only taken bass lessons from a double bassist. He played upright, I played electric. We dealt with music, sound, rhythm, time, form, songs, etc.. it all worked out well enough for those years until I started on upright.

[Square Bear]

agreed with everything above. you can learn more by switching off week to week. you'll probably just have more questions every week and as a result more productive lessons by doing this. the finale carbon fiber bow is a great deal and right around your price range. you probably can't get a pernambuco stick for that price, but the finale is a much better bow than the other brazilwood bows i've seen in the $300 range. good luck!

[AMJBASS]

I know you probably didn't want to hear these recommendations regarding a teacher, but they are spot on. Learning a DB on your own is not a good idea. I started on the Double Bass, and have had several good teachers. Conversly I am self taught on the bass guitar and developing good technique is in comparison fairly easy. Even if you took lessons once a month just to get to make sure you aren't hurting yourself it would be an excellent idea.

Regarding inexpensive bows, there are plenty on the market. Buying from a reputable dealer such as Upton, or Gollihur will get you a decent student bow.

[longfinger]

Someone in the TB classifieds is selling a German Finale Carbon Fiber bow right now. You can save on shipping and taxes, and bow price by buying used. It will take you years of constant practice to out grow that bow. Something to consider.

[mje]

I wouldn't buy a bow until I'd had a chance to try both French and German bows, preferably with the help of a teacher. You may well find one is preferable.