I NEED A BOW

[Bassist4life89]

Alright, so I'm a freshman in college at the University of Illinois and I need a bow. I am in the process of buying a new Rumano Solano bass, but my $300 Erich Steiner bow just isn't working for me any more. I need a new bow and I don't know where to look. I have heard that new bows is the way to go, but I don't know any great makers off hand. My teacher has a couple good ideas, but I want to see what else is out there. Any help would be fantastic. Thanks.

[EJ_Dad]

You didn't mention your budget.

Mine is $500 to $1,000.

I'm planning on looking at:
Tom Owen - $750
http://www.tomowenbassbows.com/

David Gage Metropolitan - - $800
http://www.quinnviolins.com/qv_bowsbass.shtml - $755

Cincinatti Bass Celler – Brazil – Marco Raposo
http://www.stringbass.com/ - $850
http://www.marcoraposo.com/

Lemur - http://shop1.mailordercentral.com/le...ts.asp?dept=16
Seifert – $750
Durrschmidt - $775 - $1,100
Schicker - $1,100

KC Strings - http://www.kcstrings.com/sobol-bass-bows.html
Sobol - $1,200
Don Smith - ????

Robertsons
Raposo
Dorfler

Are there others that price range I should also look at?

[Mr.Phil]

I've read great things about Ken Smith bass bows, you should give those a look too.

[Silversorcerer]

I just got a new custom bow from Martin Brunkalla. I've only played on it enough to know it is my first really good bow. I'll post some photos a little later, but the workmanship is just exquisite and it plays so smoothly and evenly that I think it has the qualities a professional could appreciate. Martin is a busy maker well worth a close look. I would say his prices are in the medium range and very competitive for custom made.

[txstatebass]

I'm a fan of the Pruchownik. Great bow at around 1300. Slava publishing sells them.

[mjt0229]

Originally Posted by txstatebass

I'm a fan of the Pruchownik. Great bow at around 1300. Slava publishing sells them.

Just got one of these and I love it. George Vance sent me 8 to try and I mailed all but one back.

[Bass Barrister]

I just bought one of Ken Smith's C. Loveri bows (french frog) and am very pleased. I got mine from his ebay sale and some might feel that those bows, at 146g, are a bit on the heavy side. My feeling is that the bow is well made and very well balanced - it feels lighter than it's weight suggests. If you contact Ken, he may have some that weigh less but they'll cost slightly more. I had tried several bows selling between $400 and $850 locally, and found Ken's C. Loveri to be much better. If you try one, you just might feel the same way.

[dchan]

I would also recommend Ken Smith's bows because I know that they're all going to be pretty good. Also, I don't have much experience with any other bows.

A higher budget will probably get you a better bow. But more expensive bows do not necessarily mean better bows. Make sure you try out your bows over a trial period so that you can get a good feel for them over a longer period of time.

[sybarite]

Hey man,
I've been thinking about selling my Clark bow. Its a great french bow, on the heavy side but VERY quick to articulate. It would be a great bow for college and beyond.

Let me know if your interested.

All the best,
Louis