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Double Bass Carbon Fiber Bow

I didn't really like the sound of the Ophelia when I tried it, but I tried one of the Coda Revelation's once that felt really great. I wasn't really in a good place to judge the sound though, just a few notes before a rehearsal began. And of course it's more expensive.

The Ophelia's a good solution if you can sacrifice a little quality of sound, though.
 
I just ordered the YitaMusic "Top" model carbon fiber bow because of all the positive reviews here on TB. Should get here in the next week! :)

I'm curious how many of you felt that a rehair was necessary upon receiving the bow? Seems like many Chinese bows come with cheap horse hair, although the Yita claims to have grade A unbleached Mongolian horsehair. Just curious.

I'll post my review of the bow once I get it and play around a little.
 
I just ordered the YitaMusic "Top" model carbon fiber bow because of all the positive reviews here on TB. Should get here in the next week! :)

I'm curious how many of you felt that a rehair was necessary upon receiving the bow? Seems like many Chinese bows come with cheap horse hair, although the Yita claims to have grade A unbleached Mongolian horsehair. Just curious.

I'll post my review of the bow once I get it and play around a little.

Their bows come with unbleached hair but it is still crap. It's thin and brakes like crazy.
 
Update:

I've had the YitaMusic "Top" model carbon fiber bow for about a week now and love it in every respect. Showed my teacher today and he was quite amazed at the quality of construction and the feel of it. It has great tone, construction, materials and balances nicely, which is all I need.

For the record, I'm very pleased with the bow, and my teacher even said he would start recommending these as an alternative to the popular Finale bow from String Emporium.
 
After reading all the discussions about Yita bows, and wondering how good they were, I bought a Yita "Top model" carbon bow, and I'm very pleased it. I've been A/B-ing it all week with my Presto carbon bow from Shar, and the Yita pulls a nicer sound from the bass- even for a relative beginner like me. It feels livelier, too.
 
Based on the reports here, I finally made an order for a Yitamusic TOP Model French Carbon Fiber bow. Should be receiving it in about 4~8 days & will post a review once I do so. If this bow if good, I may also consider getting another one from them later.
Thanks for the advice guys.
 
I was very curious about these Carbon Fiber bows. I've been looking into it for about 2 years. I finally got one on ebay. I don't even remember the seller's name.
it's one of those top of line highly figured, made by one person from beginning to end, etc...
every once in a while they put one of those up for auction, and I got mine for $80 shipped!
I have 8 wooden bows, and 2 of my oldest I've been using for about 14 years, and I've really grown attached to them.
But as far as my first impression on the Carbon Fiber bow.
This thing is amazing!!!
I can't stop playing!
the weight is very even. I haven't measured, but it's lighter than my heavier bow and heavier than my lightest bow, but it feels very even from frog to tip.
My old bows are way overdue for a re-hair job, and it does make a huge difference that my new stick came with real good quality hair.
I wonder if they all feel about the same.
I figured it would be a gamble, but for 80 bucks I thought if they were at least sort of like a fiberglass bow I wouldn't really loose too much.
I am sure happy. I got a real good bow that I am very pleased with.
 
I've played a few of the higher-end carbon fiber bows, and love them! But I am currently renting a bass while visiting my parents for a few weeks, and it came with a cheap carbon fiber bow that is just great. This shop sells them for around a hundred bucks, and this thing plays and sounds better than any wood bow for under a grand. Still not as good as the better Coda bows, but for a hundred bucks, wow!

The bass I'm renting is also shockingly good for the price. I think they sell them for 1100, and it beats a lot of $5,000 Romanian basses I've played.

The quality of cheap instruments and bows sure has risen this last decade.
 
Originally Posted by IdealWay

"I just ordered the YitaMusic "Top" model carbon fiber bow because of all the positive reviews here on TB. Should get here in the next week!

I'm curious how many of you felt that a rehair was necessary upon receiving the bow? Seems like many Chinese bows come with cheap horse hair, although the Yita claims to have grade A unbleached Mongolian horsehair. Just curious."

Their bows come with unbleached hair but it is still crap. It's thin and brakes like crazy.

Really? Is this your personal experience or hearsay?

Do you own a Yita bow?

I do, and I also have the "top of the range" Coda (the first one delivered I had to send back because of a fault on the frog ferrule).

The Yita bow is equal in quality and a fraction of the price. I have not had a problem with the Yita after owning it for 9 months and using it for 2 to 3 hours a day. I would recommend the Yita to anyone who wants a CF bow. It is very well balanced, a great weight and the hair is first class, and not as you describe in your post. In fact, I haven't broken a hair yet!
 
I have the Yita Music Top Carbon Fiber bow. It is a good bow for the money, I found the hair on it to be quite poor and had her rehaired. That being said, I just got a W. Seifert bow for $350 (which was a great deal) and it is quite amazing how much difference there is in sound quality. I can't even use my carbon bow anymore, anyone want to buy it? :) I also just purchase, on it's way a Yita Top quality Ironwood bow, I figured for $40 bucks I should give it a shot, they normally sell for $200, but they often have the no reserve auctions that end up going for quite cheap. All that being said, I used to have a cheap Upton workshop bow that sounded great and I regret selling. I think bows can be like basses, it's not always how much cash you spend.
 
CitraSolve???

was that mentioned on the thread before? how did I miss that?
could you please let us know where to find that info? thx

Here you go sir

To Clean BOW HAIR March 2000

You need:

1) "Citra-Solv" (available at health food store)
2) A small stainless steel mixing bowl
3) Rubber gloves (medium-heavy duty)
4) A clean soft towel.

1) Pour a few ounces of Citra-solv into the bowl.
2) Remove the screw from the bow, and hold the frog and the tip of the bow in your left hand, making a loop of the hair.
3) Dip the hair into the solution, working the Citra-solve into the hair with the fingers of your right hand, separating the hairs. Make sure all the hair is wet from the frog to the tip. (its OK if a bit of the solution gets on the stick. It won't damage the finish, but try to minimize contact as a precaution.)
4) Rinse the hair with water, under the tap. The water will look milky until the Citra-solve is all rinsed out. When the water runs clear, its done. Try to avoid getting water on the finish of the bow. If you do, just wipe it with a towel.
5) Set the bow down on something clean, and remove your gloves. Dry the hair with a clean towel. Rub the threads of the screw in some Ivory soap if desired. Re-install the screw, and leave the hair to dry. If you're in a hurry ,you can use a hair dryer on "low" setting.

This process will leave your hair completely rosin-free, just like a re-hair. Therefore, it will take the usual time for the hair to get a good grip on the string. But when it does.........Holy Cow!