EBAY Pfretzschner bow

moschizzle · #1 06-24-2006, 07:21 PM

I just won a bow on ebay!!
It's a H.R. Pfretzschner, looks pretty used, but it was only 415 dollars. I was planning on buying a bow this summer and spending around 2000 dollars. I know that Pfretzner bows usually go for about 2000-3500... so I'm thinking if this bow is in decent condition, it should be a good buy. I can't really tell from the pics, so I'm pretty nervous/anxious to try it out. Also this is the first time I have ever purchased anything on ebay...

The link is to the ebay page. Any words of advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting

reedo35 · #2 06-24-2006, 08:21 PM

Not Bad, A couple nicks and scratches, looks like it needs a good cleanup and a rehair, but that's a really fair price for a Pernambuco Pfretzchner. Hope you like it!!

flint · #3 06-24-2006, 08:42 PM

good deal!

if it had been french I would have been bidding against your

bassist14 · #4 06-25-2006, 05:08 AM

sorry, imho this bow looks not like a H.R. PFRETZSCHNER at all.
i have seen and played several pfretzschners, no one looked like this.
and "stamped" means "stamped", not "made by".
but maybe its a decent bow, worth your 415$.
good luck!

moschizzle · #5 06-25-2006, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassist14

sorry, imho this bow looks not like a H.R. PFRETZSCHNER at all.
i have seen and played several pfretzschners, no one looked like this.
and "stamped" means "stamped", not "made by".
but maybe its a decent bow, worth your 415$.
good luck!

Why would he stamp the bow if he did not make it? Unless you are saying it is completely a counterfeit... I'm going to take it to my local luthier and to my teacher as soon as I get it. Hopefully I will get some good insight there. The seller said I can return it if I am not satisified.

As far as examining the pictures of the bow, The color of the wood, and shape of the tip/stick seem to look like traditional pfretzschner, the only thing that worries me is the frog, because I have never seen one of his bows with the inlay on the side like that.

In the mean time, thanks for making me really nervous about receiving this bow ;-) BUZZKILL!!!! hahahah

KSB - Ken Smith · #6 06-25-2006, 08:59 AM

It is very possible that it IS a counterfeit Pfretzschner as they are very famous just like Strad is in the Violins. I once bought a French model Pfretzschner on Ebay. When I contacted Pfretzschner on the Web thru Email they said it was a fake and not made by them.

If it was a real Pfretzschner it would most likely be sold out of a shop for market price. To be sure, google the company and show them the pics. They will let you know if it is from their shop.

moschizzle · #7 06-25-2006, 09:13 AM

Thanks Ken,
That's a great idea. I thought about it but I wasn't sure if they would be able to do that... It's good to know that you have before. I'm going to do it now, and I'll keep you posted on the results.

Now, I'm really anxious...

brandonwong · #8 06-25-2006, 11:19 AM

Hey Mo,

Sorry to tell you that Ken is right. A Pfretzschner bow frog doesn't look like that.
Attached is a photo of mine made many years back. They have a Pfretzschner imprint on the bow frog as seen on Pfretzschner website and the H.R. Pfretzschner imprint on the stick itself.
The price of a new bow made by them is at least 3-4K Euro if i'm not wrong.

I did almost bid for that eBay listing until i saw the frog.
It looks like a chinese bow. Make a refund if you can.

Cory Palmer · #9 06-25-2006, 11:43 AM

Does anyone know when Pfretzschner bows started have the seal of the king? I know all the new ones have them. I bought a new Pfretzschner last summer at the ISB convention and the representative from Pfretzschner was telling me about it but I don't remember if he told me when they started doing it.

Also, how many Pfretzschner's are there? I know the current one is H. Pfretzschner and the 1st one is H.R. I know there are a few more in there but I don't remember who they are.

bassist14 · #10 06-25-2006, 11:45 AM

maybe this helps:
http://www.hrpfretzschner.de/
the kings seal is used since 1901

Cory Palmer · #11 06-25-2006, 11:56 AM

I forgot about that website. That answers some questions. On there it says that they stamp their bows H.R. Pfretzschner but I know that there are bows with other Pfretzschner stamps.

bassist14 · #12 06-25-2006, 12:17 PM

it´s a big familiy.
a google search may find some more of them.
here in germany you also find PFRETZSCHNER bows with other stamps then H.R.

but the best are the old H.R.

KSB - Ken Smith · #13 06-25-2006, 01:19 PM

Heres a Fake that I bought. A friend of mine needed a Bow so I sent it his way fro cost; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/Double...n/alsatian.htm

KSB - Ken Smith · #14 06-25-2006, 01:21 PM

PFRETZSCHNER, Herman Richard ( b.1857 )was first a pupil of his father, then of Vuillaume in Paris. He established himself in 1880. He created the "Wilhelmj" bow. His sticks are not varnished. ( common with German bows ). Pfretchner worked for J.B.Vuillaume for a year (1874) in Paris. In 1888 he opened his own workshop in Markneuchirchen. This full-length model perfectly demonstrates what a brilliant maker he was. The head is elegantly carved and has neat, precise chamfers. The stick is round and made from wonderful dense pernambuco that is of an attractive light brown colour. It is strong yet full of elasticity. The frog bears a royal court-of-arms brand. In 1901 Pfretchner was appointed the title of Bow maker to the Royal Saxonian Court. Bows after this date were stamped with this brand. This superbly balanced bow is a delight to use. Silver mounted.

From this website; http://www.atelierlabussiere.com/bows.htm#GERMANY

bassist14 · #15 06-25-2006, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moschizzle

Why would he stamp the bow if he did not make it?

if you read "stamped XY", its in 99% not "made by XY". the only thing you can be shure of, is that its NOT mady by XY.
but it says nothing about the quality of the bow.

basmansam · #16 06-25-2006, 03:16 PM

http://www.hrpfretzschner.de/oldthings_engl.html

Here's a link to a real one (off their website)

moschizzle · #17 06-26-2006, 04:30 PM

Just wanted to let you know... I emailed the H.R. Pfretzschner shop just like Ken said, and sure enough, it is a fake. I'm really bummed out. I'm in the process of trying to cancel the transaction with the seller. I hope it all works out. Thanks everybody for your advice, it might have saved me from getting tricked into buying a counterfeit bow. I'll keep you guys posted on what happens...

moschizzle · #18 07-01-2006, 09:48 AM

I got my money back. Thanks again for the heads up everybody!

brandonwong · #19 07-01-2006, 11:04 AM

Congrats! Thank God they let you have your money back.

jneuman · #20 07-08-2006, 04:53 AM

I have, what I believe to be, is a Pfretzschner student or factory bow from the 20's. It is a great, well made bow but is a little heavy. It articulates like no other. If the bow performs up to price, buy it.

Jon