Old bass bows

[CPike]

Yesterday evening I was assisting a cellist colleague of mine in testing some bows he is auditioning, and he stumped me with a line of inquiry to which I was embarrassed to admit ignorance. He asked if any of the big name, Tourte-era bow makers made any bass bows that are still in use today. The only name I could come up with was Sartory (I know, much later than Tourte), and I just told him that bass bows from the 18th and 19th centuries probably aren't common and few have survived from that period. Luthiers and historians please chime in - can anyone give some insight into bass bow use then and now, and if any players today are actually using bows from this period?

Chris

[Phil Rowan]

I was thinking Vigneron, but upon further inspection, he was born 16 years after Tourte passed away. O bow experts, care to chime in?

ps - Did Cramer make any bass bows?

[dchan]

You might want to ask Ken Smith this question on his forum

[Phil Rowan]

I wonder if the moderators can move threads onto his forums, the way they move threads from one section to another on here.

[JoeyNaeger]

I doubt it. Since no real discussion has taken place, the OP would be better off just starting a new thread.

[bassrome]

Most of the bows made in the early 19th century are bows of a transitional style and not suitable for modern steel strings. They are probably fine for early music. Lupot made bass bows as did Voirin. At the turn of the century all of the great bowmakers of Mirecourt made bass bows - Bazin, Husson, Lotte, Fetique, Morizot, Sartory, Vigneron. This was the golden age of bass bow makers.

Cheers,
Jack Hill
jdhillmusic.com

[Eric Swanson]

I don't know too much about anything, but do I see quite a few older bows are around. My Morizot is still going strong...