Why does everybody want to skimp on a bow?

[bdengler]

You can't compromise on the bow if you're serious about doing arco; especially in a classical or solo setting. A crappy bow sounds thin and won't get your strings to speak. Simply look hard and you'll find a value and make sure the bow works with your bass. A $2,500 bow may sound great on one bass and mediocre on another. I have a used, German bow made in Russia and formerly used by the principal of the North Carolina Symphony; I paid $500 for it and it blows away another German bow in which I paid $1,200. Here are some of the things to look and listen for: (1) what type of sound do you get? Dark? Bright? Clear with fundamentals, or dark and muddy? (2) Does the bow track well from frog to tip? (You'd be surprised to see how some exensive bows lose steam about 2/3's of the way from the frog). (3) How easy can you do spicatto on it?

Good luck, Brian

[Dave Irwin]

I havent compromised on the bow yet since I havent found one I like better than my current one.
Maybe you could say I've been price "driven" in that I have not had anyone send me a bow on approval that would cost me 500.00+ if I did like it better, and I have researched the composite bow options.....
Maybe I should get with you some time, when you have the time and I can compare my bow to the quality ones you own.
Otherwise, I'll look forward to the ISB.

Thanks for the tips re: bow qualities, I'll keep them in mind.

Originally Posted by bdengler

You can't compromise on the bow if you're serious about doing arco; especially in a classical or solo setting. A crappy bow sounds thin and won't get your strings to speak. Simply look hard and you'll find a value and make sure the bow works with your bass. A $2,500 bow may sound great on one bass and mediocre on another. I have a used, German bow made in Russia and formerly used by the principal of the North Carolina Symphony; I paid $500 for it and it blows away another German bow in which I paid $1,200. Here are some of the things to look and listen for: (1) what type of sound do you get? Dark? Bright? Clear with fundamentals, or dark and muddy? (2) Does the bow track well from frog to tip? (You'd be surprised to see how some exensive bows lose steam about 2/3's of the way from the frog). (3) How easy can you do spicatto on it?

Good luck, Brian

[mje]

People want a cheap bow because until you develop sufficient skill, buying a better bow probably makes less difference than anything else. As as Meyer show, you can make music with a $50 bow.

Is a good bow easier to play? Probably, but not until you have the skill to tell. I have a cheap violin I bought at an antique store that a lutheir friend restored. I'm no violinist, just a beginning country fiddler. My violin came in a case with two bows, one quite ordinary and one, I'm told, that's exceptional for what I paid. I can't tell the difference between them. But when a violinist friend of mine picked them both up, the differerence to him was unmistakable.

[bdengler]

Originally Posted by Dave Irwin

I havent compromised on the bow yet since I havent found one I like better than my current one.
Maybe you could say I've been price "driven" in that I have not had anyone send me a bow on approval that would cost me 500.00+ if I did like it better, and I have researched the composite bow options.....
Maybe I should get with you some time, when you have the time and I can compare my bow to the quality ones you own.
Otherwise, I'll look forward to the ISB.

Thanks for the tips re: bow qualities, I'll keep them in mind.

Dave, I'm down to two German bows but I have buckets of french bows that you're welcome to try out. I've had better luck finding less expensive, quality French bows than German bows. BTW, I'm not advocating that more expensive means better bows. The point I'm trying to make is that is very hard to find a good bow that works with a particular bass. I'd look into the composites. I think the carbon fiber bows will give you good tracking, something that you won't find uniformly with wooden bows. I have a french composite and it's crap. But my daughters both use composite bows for their cellos and they sound great.

Regards, Brian