| I haven't been able to describe the difference between the two bows until I read your response, brianrost. That's exactly my impression. I like using my german bow most often and trying to mimic what I've been able to get away with on my french bow, especially the hopping on and off the strings to get that short note effect (isn't that what spiccato means?).
My teacher started off on cello when he was learning the alphabet, so french is his style and he doesn't even imagine holding a bow with an underhanded grip.
I watched two bass players on opposite sides of the stage performing St. Andrew's Passion during a concert I attended 2 years ago. The one on the left was standing and using a french bow, the other using a german bow and sitting. During this time I was shopping for my bass, so I watched those guys intensely and decided a german bow would be more intuitive for me to grasp...and it was, despite my efforts to mimic the way my teacher plays the bass. | 
