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Double Bass Carbon fibre bows
- Thread starter Andy Mopley
- Start date
Brilee who are you getting them from? In my experience I never got the Arcus bows on trial. I had to pay first then return them (S4) if I didn't like them. ("I don't need an upgrade... I don't need an upgrade.... I don't need an upgrade": said in the voice of the Cowardly Lion)
Bob's House of Basses in Maryland. Robert Kurz and I were in Curtis Burris's studio together at Maryland back in the 90s. I am now living in Maryland again, so he was the first dealer I went to.
I know the feeling! Two weeks ago I said I would not succumb to trying Arcus, but suddenly it became possible...
The S8 is phenomenal. I'm keeping it! Much more complex sound from the bass (more fundamental hum+), and it handles so extremely well. Spiccato is 50% better than Codabow for sure.
Oh dear... I'm soooooo.... sorry you said that. But congrats on the bow!
As it was explained to me, Arcus tries to make the best bow they can every time, then they score it and sort it into the S4,5,6,7,8. Bob of Bob's House of Basses says he has found the grading to be very accurate. Bob is a terrific player himself, so I believe him. Anyhow this bow can do everything I can do, so I need to up my game on my end to max it out. I took the advice of a couple of people and played the S8 and the S7 exclusively for a week before comparing again with my previous bow. It's trippy making these sounds with a bow that weighs 113g and is 1.5cm longer than my old bow. (French, btw)
Careful Louis!
Besides, I follow your lead — so it will be all your fault when my marriage goes south! Grounds for divorce: S8…
If memory serves me Louis did you play a Finale oh so long ago?
How does the Arcus compare to a relatively inexpensive Finale?
Why did you move on from the Finale?
Thanks
Selim, Mrs F is carefully monitoring all internet communications with the word "bow" and a "$" and threatening me with a rolling pin even as I type this... We'll see...
Casey: the Finale was a very nice bow (Dennis Trembly actually used one during his last year at the Phil); it is very well balanced, light but the tone is straightforward at best and not particularly satisfying over time. The "best" cf bow (other than Arcus) that I found was the Glasser Braided Carbon Fiber (@$800); it had some complexity, well balanced (except for a clunky Paulus frog) and loud.
The Arcus is something else. My old Concerto bow is 118 gr; the S6 about 120 - and you do have to change your technique a bit to get the most out of them (more arm weight, less of a "squeezed" grip, faster/longer bow etc); they are both very good on gut strings.
If you (or a player at your level - listening, Selim? -) were interested, I wouldn't start at anything less than an S6, unless you just wanted a decent cf bow to use as back-up/outdoors/bar gigs.
Casey: the Finale was a very nice bow (Dennis Trembly actually used one during his last year at the Phil); it is very well balanced, light but the tone is straightforward at best and not particularly satisfying over time. The "best" cf bow (other than Arcus) that I found was the Glasser Braided Carbon Fiber (@$800); it had some complexity, well balanced (except for a clunky Paulus frog) and loud.
The Arcus is something else. My old Concerto bow is 118 gr; the S6 about 120 - and you do have to change your technique a bit to get the most out of them (more arm weight, less of a "squeezed" grip, faster/longer bow etc); they are both very good on gut strings.
If you (or a player at your level - listening, Selim? -) were interested, I wouldn't start at anything less than an S6, unless you just wanted a decent cf bow to use as back-up/outdoors/bar gigs.
Sounds like you are, as the British say, "under heavy manners"!
Which I know about well!
Me? I've been playing on my S8 for three months now. Getting ready for a Mahler 1 concert as well as some chamber stuff. Best $5000 I've spent on gear. It's an incredible bow. Getting great feedback about "how great that bass sounds". Well, ya gotta scrape it right with a good scraper.
You said there was a big difference between S7 and S8. Do you think this was the particular examples you played? Or is there something about the fittings? I'd really like to try one but the price of the S7 is way more comfortable than the S8!
