Double Bass bow prices

[Johnny L]

I wonder if [Edgar Meyer] uses the same Bow with his 5-string German Bass he uses in Chamber groups as I have seen him on TV.

To my own eyes, no, when I saw him perform Bach with a chamber orchestra on PBS.

When he came to Texas last year for a masterclass and performance, he was using a different French bow for the class as well. But in performance with the orchestra, he was using his famous $10 bow...it's an important part of his image for the "paying public".

Of course there will be response and tone differences between bows, as well as balance and comfort. My own bow plays fine, but I've also picked up $400 bows off the table at the Robertson's booth that, to me, kicked my own bow's ass and made me regret buying it (I paid $600 at the time).

But I'm one of those guys that also thinks these "tool perfection" conversations don't go anywhere near as far to help a player become a good player as can be had with conversations about technique and stroke development...and so with that I think Edgar Meyer's argument (to be clear, one that I infer and do not attribute to him) is a strong one and a very American one at that. However, at the same time, the elitist European flare that crowns classical music in the US with its emphasis on pedigree and history and family is both fascinating and important also.

Wanna play? Gotta pay regardless...but it sure helps to know your audience...

 

[PB+J]

Ray you misunderstand me--not trying to start a flame war. collecting is fine by me. I'm just ignorant.

I'm a competant pizz player but when i pick up the bow it's nasty. I really don't know what the qualities of a great bow are. I had a bad fiberglass bow, and I noticed right away that the brazilwood I bought was easier to handle and sounded better--or maybe I should say, it was easier to make a good sound. The weight was better distributed, and it was just less work. My teacher, who is an amazing player, has half a dozen bows but none of them are expensive--some are heavier, some darker, some lighter, etc. But he was a little dismissive of the idea that you need a custom handmade bow. he muttered something about practice being more important. But we didn't really get into it, as I was trying to get down a good fingering for the diminished scale at the time. What does a bowmaker strive for?

 

[anonymous0726]

I wasn't accusing you of starting a flame, just pointing out that what I thought you were on about was potentially a religious debate.

Bows, like basses, take some experience before you really know apples from oranges. Beyond that you get down to what works for you. If you're getting into arco playing, I would say that having your teacher pick out a good bow for you is a good start. A few years down the road you'll probably have acquired enough experience to start looking around.

Edit:
Oh - and with this comment I'm completely working around the collectability factor...

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

First off, if your Bass does not Bow well with the strings you use for Jazz, it's hard to judge the Bow. Second, if you are not a Good Classically trained Bower, it's hard to judge a bow in the upper $ ranges.

Now, if you bow a slow whole note without pressure from your hand or arm, listen to the eveness of tone and volume of sound or lack of it. When you use virbato, does it respond quickly or sluggisly. It the sound, thin, thick, clear, colorful, hollow, full, dark with bite, dark without bite.. Etc.. Classify the sound as compared with other bows using the same well adjusted Bass with good bowing orchestra strings........Other tests include Spicatto, Forte bowing, etc.

It does not take a Sherlock Holmes to tell a Good bow from a great bow. The difference is heard and felt immeadiatly!

 

[Johnny L]

All right Ken you've shamed me...when the opportunity comes (and it should come for me in a couple of months) I'll try out the bank-breaker bows and share my thoughts on them to whoever gives a care.

 

[AMJBASS]

It definitely isn't hype when it comes to great bows. I have only played a couple really good bows and I have to say that there is something magical about them. It is as Ken said...the bow almost plays you! Effortless playability, and strong tone. That said, of course it is possible to find an inexpensive bow with these qualities, but when you are spending upwards of 4K to 10K I think you know what you are getting.

 

[Jeremy Allen]

I don't know what makes a great bow, and I wouldn't know one if I held it in my hand, but I do know how great a proportion of one's sound/tone the bow is responsible for. I was studying with John Hood this summer, and although he plays French he used his German (Susan Lipkins) bow at our lessons for my benefit. He sounded great, of course; then one day, when he wasn't thinking, he grabbed his French bow to play an example and his bass sounded completely different. I was staring at him, trying to figure out what the deal was, and then I noticed the bow was different. I commented on it and he said, "Well, DUH!" Then he picked up a couple of the other high-quality bows lying around the studio and played them for me; in every case, the sound coming out of his bass was almost drastically different--sometimes slightly better, sometimes not, and sometimes equally beautiful but with different nuances. It sounded literally like he was playing a different bass in most cases. If you ever get a chance to stand in front of a top-shelf player doing an A-B (-C-D) comparison of different bows, take advantage of it! It was quite illuminating for me.

 

[Benton]

I have played with a German bow for years. I have one I like. It is light and well balenced with a wide frog. It is unlabelled, came with my bass and don't know the value. I thought it was decent until I got a "cello bow" (poor description lousy pic = low price) off ebay 35$ that turned out to be a bass bow (French). It came in a case no makers name only "Germany" and looks carefully made. I had it rehaired. I never played a French but the sound was unbeleivable. It had more power, dynamics and articulation just happened. It was easy to get a better sound even though I am much more cofortable with a German bow. I still need a cello bow.
Peace
Benton

 

[Dave Irwin]

Instrument or bow, there is a point where cost is driven by pedigree rather than sound/playability. Where that price point is, subjective but I think you'd have to be pretty good to find a $10,000 bow that you couldn't match with a $3,000 bow if you were patient enough. I have a $800.00 Tom Owen and I haven't found a better bow. I've heard I might have to spend $3,000 to beat it and I don't have access to that many bows to try.
So if that can be true, it stands to reason that there is probably a $3,000 bow out there that can match most $10,000 bows.