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Double Bass Bass vs bow

S

Sippy

Aug 1, 2005
1,341
4
42
Stuart,Florida
#1
If you were in the situation that you had an audition for a prestigious school or orchestra and you had the choice between an amazing bass and a crappy bow... or an amazing bow and a crappy bass. I know this is a silly question, but I'm curious to see what you all think is "more" important a good bass or good bow. I know they are both important in different ways, but for sounding good what is your opinion?
My personal opinion is I'd rather have better bow. I have used my instructors bow (Reid Hudson) and it sounded great on my bass. Then I used my student bow on a very nice bass and it sounded great. But I think it was a easier to play, and produced a bigger sound with a better bow.

Please keep the discussion civil, and polite. I realize it is dangerous to post something like this on a public forum. Let's just try to keep this peaceful!
 
#3
It's important to have a bow that you can manipulate well. I find this especially important with french bow. Though with either french or german it is very important.

There are things you can do on a good bass that you cannot do on a cheap bass and same goes with bows.
 
#6
All things being equal- I would play a crappy bass with a great bow. Really, the bass is a big speaker for what you can do with your bow. Just like a stereo, if the signal is distorted, it won't matter how great your speaker is...

Have you ever heard your teacher pick up your bass and make it sound much better than it actually is? That is the player, not the equipment. I can play any bass as long as I have my bow.

YMMV
Brian
 
#7
Heifetzbass said:
All things being equal- I would play a crappy bass with a great bow. Really, the bass is a big speaker for what you can do with your bow. Just like a stereo, if the signal is distorted, it won't matter how great your speaker is...

Have you ever heard your teacher pick up your bass and make it sound much better than it actually is? That is the player, not the equipment. I can play any bass as long as I have my bow.

YMMV
Brian
Click to expand...
I am used to crappy bows. Until this school year started I used a fiberglass bow. Now I use the $100 Lemur brazilwood bow (french). I am used to not having the greatest bows in the world. But, year my teacher has picked my bass up and the bass just gets louder (he's a german player and he'll still wild my bow). I am trying to be able to play the bass with that kind of power. I definitely would rather have the bass though. If I'm not mistaken Edgar Meyer plays lots of cheap/crappy bows ($1-200 range) and still sounds great on his bass.

I will agree that my brazilwodd sounds better than the fiberglass bows in my past but I can't see how much difference a "better" bow will make. Probably because of lack of experience.
 
#11
PaulCannon said:
Edgar Meyer gets away with using a cheap bow because he's Edgar Meyer.

I'm not as certain of it as everyone else is, but I think in the end the bow will have more of an immediately positive result than a nicer bass, which can takes months to get used to.
Click to expand...
I really have no choice but to agree there.

I personally (once again speaking from limited experience) think that if you have good bow skill than it wouldn't matter what kind of bow you use. I honestly would prefer a better bass. Even if it takes time to get used to. And, well so would a crappy bass. So, thats a given. I have played basses that make me sound incredible more than bows have done that for me.

Disclaimer: I have only played on 5 bows, 2 of them being fiberglass so I have a limited view on the subject.
 

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