is it okay to use a viola bow for upright bass?

[Mr.Bassist]

Just wondering because I'm low on cash and the viola bow is 33 $ compared to 90$ for a bass bow ?

[reedo35]

are you kidding?

[Mr.Bassist]

No I'm not the viola bow looked like the same width and it has more material on it, it is longer , so I don't see Why it is cheaper same company as the bass bow

[Fletcher Lanning]

Buy the bass bow. The frog is a different size, which will matter a lot as your grip and hand position is very different between those two instruments. The balance and weight of the bow will also be different as they are meant for different types of strings. The bass bow will generally have a deeper camber (arch) because it is meant to be a little tighter because, as I said) the strings require more weight to vibrate properly.

I could go on but I hope that theres no need. There are a tons of reasons that you really should by the bow for the instrument that you're actually playing (especially if you want to make a sound that is worth a damn).

[LouisF]

You can find a GLASSER fiberglass bow for $50-75 or one of these

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001FB5Z2G/...SIN=B001FB5Z2G

LF

[eyvindwa]

Try this one: http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product...ORSE_HAIR.html

[PsychoScout]

Originally Posted by Mr.Bassist

Just wondering because I'm low on cash and the viola bow is 33 $ compared to 90$ for a bass bow ?

You need the weight of the bass bow to get a decent sound out of the bass, otherwise you'll have to push so hard you just snap the bow in two (I guess)

Just play pizz until you have the money to buy a bass bow.

[Andrew McGregor]

The viola bow is cheaper because the stick blank is smaller, and they sell a lot more of them. But, it's nowhere near strong enough to handle playing a bass, and also, a bow stick is a spring that is tuned to roughly match the tension of the instrument's strings; since a viola has way lower tension than a bass, the bow stick is also lower tension.

Don't go there, it won't work and will just waste your money.

[Square Bear]

i don't see a problem with it. i mean, think of how much you're saving...

[Steve Killingsworth]

Last week I tried my niece's cello bow and found it very difficult. It required far pressure and some unnatural wrist motion. I would assume a viola bow would cause even more problems.

[Co.]

Playing the bass with a viola bow to get a normal bass sound is not possible, but you can use it for other things.
Stefano Scodanibbio uses a cello bow in the first part of his piece "Voyage that never ends". In this piece he is playing spicatto on the open A string for about 20min an manipulates the harmonics and rhythms, like a concerto for the right hand if you want. He said it is much less tiring with the light cello bow and I guess he can get a lot more nuance in this particular piece.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Funnily enough, I was able to make this comparison at Jazz Summer School, as there was a professional Viola player on the course, who had come over to London from Switzerland to learn more about Jazz - she told me about how her instrument was insured for a huge amount and how she played in the Opera...but I remember when we got on stage at the nightly Jazz club, holding up my bow and saying something along the lines of : "Mine's much longer than yours!!"

[Bruce Lindfield]

The serious point is that her viola bow, was much shorter than my bass bow - even though mine was extremely cheap by comparison!!

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Thread split to a serious topical thread (this one) and a silly spinoff/tangential thread This one. Please do your best to keep both on topic.

[wdnewman]

As a current bass player and an old viola player, my experience in both fields forces me to answer this question concisely:

NO.

Not unless you can fit the bass with some viola strings.

[bassa]

Honestly, I just checked the posting date - i thought maybe April 1.

[robobass]

Originally Posted by Mr.Bassist

No I'm not the viola bow looked like the same width and it has more material on it, it is longer , so I don't see Why it is cheaper same company as the bass bow

The same width? Hair width? Something is wrong. Look at other bass bows. They should be much heavier and have a much wider band. If this bass bow has the same or less hair width than the viola bow, then I'd stay far away from it!

[JtheJazzMan]

YES.

Though it has to be one of those upright basses that goes under your chin.

[bamba22]

Don't try to save money over here...
There is a reson why that is a bass bow

[Barnsey]

You must be joking, I've got one or two that will get you started; just let me know.