New Bow Buyer

druskhsk · #1 10-26-2009, 03:22 PM

I recently bought my first bass a lower level fully carved bass. Being only a student I figured that the cost of the bass was enough and opted for a fiberglass bow. I am now looking for a bow and completly open for sugestions. I also live in michigan so if ther are any opertunities to buy a bow you have or know about around that area I am interested.

druskhsk · #2 10-27-2009, 03:42 PM

sorry if I double posted

Greg O · #3 10-27-2009, 03:50 PM

the brazilwood bows on bob gollihur's site are nice....affordable too

Bill Bentgen · #4 10-28-2009, 07:59 AM

Where in Michigan?

ClassicalBassNY · #5 10-28-2009, 02:07 PM

The best advice I ever heard was that its better to have a good bow on a crappy bass then the other way around. Just spring for a quality well balanced bow. It will be worth it in the long run. You will progress a more rapid rate, the last thing you want is your equipment getting in the way of your progress

druskhsk · #6 11-01-2009, 03:02 PM

I am from the midmichigan area though willing to travel (I am also the son of a pilot) I understand I made a poordecision but my bow is just temporary

chancletarock · #7 11-02-2009, 12:04 PM

you would do well to look at the Finale carbon fiber. seriously.

druskhsk · #8 11-03-2009, 07:31 AM

Do you know if the sound quality is equal to that of wood?

KJPbop · #9 11-03-2009, 06:07 PM

Greetings! Telling us if you are a French or German bow user will help us assist you in your pursuit of a decent bow. Where in Michigan? I live in Fort Wayne, In, and have an extra bow or 2 I could stand to part with. Also an approximate price range? Good luck! KJPbop

dchan · #10 11-03-2009, 07:49 PM

Well, there's this place in Grand Rapids:

http://www.guarnerihouse.com/

Or you can go to Chicago and visit the multitude of bass shops and luthiers there. There are some luthiers and bass shops in Ohio as well. I'd recommend visiting as many shops and trying out as many bows as possible (preferably on your own bass) over buying a bow blind over the internet. But if you must buy over the internet, try out a bunch of bows on trial-basis.

Andrew McGregor · #11 11-04-2009, 07:09 PM

Carbon fiber is definitely the equal of wood, at least up to the very highest end bows (where everything gets very personal-preference based anyway). Carbon is better value too; no rarity value, just the rather high energy cost of making the material. I'm sure it's possible to make a really bad carbon bow, but I haven't ever come across one... there's a range from pretty good to great.

Carbon bows are a little different, but that's not of any practical significance unless you're super fussy; they play well and sound good, they just might not play or sound exactly the way you want. If you're that fussy, there may not be ANY bow that suits you.

Carbon is not fiberglass; the fiber is something like 5x stiffer once made into the composite, which is necessary for bowmaking. Fiberglass bows are a bit floppy and dead; carbon bows tend to have a lot bit more life to them, almost too much if you like a really dark bass sound.

William Hoffman · #12 11-05-2009, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg O

the brazilwood bows on bob gollihur's site are nice....affordable too

i bought a Bob G brazilwood bow some years back and still like it very much. it is light enough and quite nice in the hand. i think it's my favorite bow, and it did'nt cost that terribly much.

i also use a Gage Metropolitan carbon fiber bow, and had it re-haired with black hair. a mistake, i think, because it doesn't play as well as it used to. i definitely prefer the Bob G bow at this point.

the Bob G brazilwood bow would not be a mistake.

druskhsk · #13 11-06-2009, 03:33 PM

I have already contacted the Guaneri House. Do you know the names of any bass shops in Chicago or Ohio.
Thanks

druskhsk · #14 11-06-2009, 03:33 PM

I am also a french bow player.

Dave Irwin · #15 11-08-2009, 06:41 AM

First, to answer the question on Ohio bass shops, there is
Nick Lloyd in Cincinnati, Loft Violin in Columbus has codabow CF and some nice mid range wood bows, and maybe Martin's violin shop in Canton. Not sure about their bows but I found my Shen bass there. I know this isn't the part of Ohio you probably want but it's all I know about..

druskhsk · #16 11-09-2009, 07:02 PM

I am demoing a Bow it is marked dotschkail without stars is it a fake?

Daveming · #17 01-05-2010, 09:21 AM

i had a dotschkail once. i loved it. wish i hadn't been stupid enough to sell it.

druskhsk · #18 01-05-2010, 05:28 PM

I am not too sure that my bow is really a dotschkail I have enjoyed my my bow though so as of right now I don't care if it is real or not. Thanks to all of those who helped me with information on bows and the bow buying process.