Double Bass Buying my first "nice" bow

[Ed S]

...

For me, the light went on in a shop, when a certain bow did indeed "make things easier." I'm almost afraid to try a very-expensive bow ... I would need to have it.

Yeah - that's like when my wife learned to never shop for cars w/ the title w/ you. Pretty much guaranteed you'd be driving home in a new car!

Of course, if you have a pretty good grasp of your finances and have your needs/wants prioritized - if something you can afford will bring you joy, no reason to deny yourself just to be a martyr!

 

[LouisF]

I would say a good Brazilwood (String Emporium $150; Gollihur $165; Upton $259) would serve you very well or a very long time and not break the bank. There's no need for much more at this point in your journey.

 

[damonsmith]

There are two basic things a finer bow gets you:
1. Bounce or bounce & grab. A nice bow will sort of bounce with very little effort and grab a nice staccato note as it does.
Most carbon bows give us this at a far lower price but they lack a warm tone.
2. Tone. You are getting nice warm tone with your bounce.

Being perfectly balanced is another thing to look out for. I WAS in the market for a fine bow. My decent bow died a few years ago. I ordered both a snakewood & a braided carbon fiber bow from China on Ebay as placeholders, once I got them rehaired the performance really jumped up a few notches. I have played only a few bows that were "better" but not worth the extra price. Both bows promised they were "balanced" in the description and they were.

 

[AGCurry]

TI WAS in the market for a fine bow. My decent bow died a few years ago. I ordered both a snakewood & a braided carbon fiber bow from China on Ebay as placeholders, once I got them rehaired the performance really jumped up a few notches. I have played only a few bows that were "better" but not worth the extra price. Both bows promised they were "balanced" in the description and they were.

Damon, have you tried the $390 "carbon fiber wrapped with pernambuco" bows at STL Strings? Can't say the hair is the greatest, but the bow itself is pretty nice.

 

[damonsmith]

Damon, have you tried the $390 "carbon fiber wrapped with pernambuco" bows at STL Strings? Can't say the hair is the greatest, but the bow itself is pretty nice.

I did! Not bad, I liked both of the bows I have better.

 

[damonsmith]

View attachment 4102877 View attachment 4102878
This is what I'm using currently. Carbon fiber, don't know the length or weight. It came with the purchase of a bass.

You should stick with the bow you feel comfortable with. Mingus played French at first as well. If already have a carbon fiber bow, a Brazilwood bow might be warmer, but it won't grip or bounce as well. You might look for a nicer braided carbon fiber bow in that price range.

 

[LouisF]

I believe Ed S already has a carbon fiber bow (if I read his post right). Hence the suggestion for an inexpensive but quality brazilwood bow. I still use my SE brazilwood bow from time to time. Very well balanced... for $150!

 

[damonsmith]

I believe Ed S already has a carbon fiber bow (if I read his post right). Hence the suggestion for an inexpensive but quality brazilwood bow. I still use my SE brazilwood bow from time to time. Very well balanced... for $150!

Right, I am saying a Brazilwood isn't going to be an exact upgrade, more of a lateral move. It will be warmer, but not physically perform as well. I played a nice, light, warm Brazilwood bow for years. It didn't grip or bounce all that well, but had a great tone. Carbon Fiber bows actually have a spring in them - I found this out by breaking one. So the "springy-ness" is inherent! Carbon vs. Brazilwood is more "six of one..". An upgrade is going to be to a nicer braided Carbon, Snakewood or Pernambuco. Braided Carbon is the most common in the price he put forward.

 

[Ed S]

Ed S will check back in a number of years in the unlikely event that he feels he has exceeded the capabilities of his CF bow!

 

[Chris K]

Ed S will check back in a number of years in the unlikely event that he feels he has exceeded the capabilities of his CF bow!

See you next month then.

 

[Ed S]

Stupid me. Just recently as I've been taking my ply (instead of my newer hybrid) to outdoor jams and practices, I've thought I need a second quiver for it. And then, I thought...

In my band, my cellist and fiddler have both been going through an extended bow-tryout frenzy. Hasn't helped.

 

[JBarz]

I bought one of those Gollihur bows you’re talking about on a lark a couple weeks ago, coincidentally, because my bass teacher has told me many time for French the type of wood (pernambuco!) is super important. It’s been great on all my basses and quickly rose to my favorite, beating out an eBay carbon fiber. For me, right now, it’s a matter of picking something and not looking back. Edgar Meyer plays on a $100 bow. It’s not about the tools so much as what you’re building that counts. You’ll adapt to whatever is in your hands. I’ll upgrade again if ever I feel like this bow is holding me back more than my technique, but I seriously doubt that’ll happen.

 

[Ed S]

Ed S will check back in a number of years in the unlikely event that he feels he has exceeded the capabilities of his CF bow!

Well - went to a jam yesterday at a violin shop that could end up costly. (Seman Violins N of Chicago, BTW. They host concerts/workshops in their back room that has the BEST acoustics in the area IMO. Great staff as well.)

They lent me a nice blonde Kay to play, and asked if I wanted a bow. Even tho it was an oldtime/BG jam, I said "What the heck." Everyone around me has been buying bows lately...

At one point, my wife and a luthier went off and gathered a selection of what they called "nice" bows. I didn't ask the price range or anything. Just gonna mess around w/ them, decide if I like any much better than my decent CF, and THEN ask what they cost and whether I think it worth it.

Oh yeah - she brought home a bow on trial as well. Could be a damned pricey free jam!

BTW - met a couple from Asheville. The woman plays bass (but had a guitar w/ her.) She said she owned a Shen and had some questions about the Kay I was playing. James, I told her there was only one guy she should talk to. So if some woman looks you up and says she got your name from a tall goofy-looking bassist N of Chicago...)

 

[LouisF]

Ed,

Do the "nice bows" have names of makers??

 

[Ed S]

The only one w/ a stamp is labelled "Sequeira".

I've given them a pretty good run through. I'll keep messing with them, but I'm not convinced that any of them is a significant improvement (for me) over my $350 CF. I'm sure more of that is attributable to my ineptitude, rather than the bows. I looked at the receipt, and the one I liked the least was the priciest!

Is interesting to play bows of different lengths and balance. Maybe some day...

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Edgar Meyer plays on a $100 bow. It’s not about the tools so much as what you’re building that counts. You’ll adapt to whatever is in your hands. I’ll upgrade again if ever I feel like this bow is holding me back more than my technique, but I seriously doubt that’ll happen.

Actually a $10 bow in his words. From a Meyer interview long ago:

 

[LouisF]

Thanks. Siqueira is one of a number Brazilian bowmakers at Arcos Brazil and Water Violet (if they are still in business) who make very decent bows for the price point, but, in my experience, not exceptional ones.

 

[Ed S]

Thx. At my point, I doubt I would know what to do w/ an exceptional bow!

For the time being, I'd be better of spending my $ on lessons. I'm reminded of the guys I see on golf courses, who seem convinced that they can buy themselves a better game...