| I went with a heavy bow after playing numerous types of bows. I have a played on a wide selection of bows from a $90 fiberglass Glasser bow to $3000 Snakewood and Pernambucos. Before I bought the Snakewood, I was using a very light Carbow. It is made out of carbon fiber and cost around $900. My school owned it and I needed a rehair for my Brazilwood bow, so it was what I was using.
The Carbow, for my taste, was too light and I felt that I had to do too much work in order to get the sound that I wanted. In addition to this, the bow had black hair. This type of hair, in my experience, did not hold onto the rosin as well as white hair and I had to clean off my strings, because the rosin was collecting at an extraordinary amount.
The weight issue: The carbow and this may have been partly due to the black hair, never seemed to vibrate the string enough. The bow was sometimes creating a very weak sound, when I knew technique wise everything I was doing was correct. During double stops, I felt like I had to press and squeeze my hand with the carbow. The weight of my new bow makes double stops easy and does not require me to work as hard.
The weight of the bow is not so much associated with the sound, but with the issue I talked about in the last paragraph. Now a select level wood like pernambuco or snakewood is going to creat the big, full sound that you are looking for. Some people don't understand why these bows are so expensive, but the difference is amazing. The bow I am currently using makes a world of difference in my sound.
Does weight make me tired during a performance?
Well I can tell you I noticed a difference in the first weeks of playing. I did think that my hand was tired at first, but like anything I have grown used to it now. We are currently playing Petrouchka, a ballet by Stravinsky. There are not too many fast and crazy passages, but there are a few. I don't feel like weight has been an issue at all.
The debate over weight (light vs. heavy) and hair (white, salt and pepper, or black) has been going forever. Every 5 years something comes along and everyone has to have it, even though it's been forever. It's more what you are happy with and what makes you perform your best.
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P.S. Also as a german bow player, I looked for a very small frog and have noticed that german frogs are crafted much smoother as bow price increases. The lower priced bows frog seems to be more squarish. I prefer smoother frogs, because I think it is easier on the hand and give a better grip to the bow.
Last edited by Machina : 03-09-2006 at 08:41 AM.
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