Double Bass Carbon fibre bows

[Brilee]

The fittings are either the same or virtually the same, I don't remember. It's just that the S8 was way better than the S7. I don't know if the difference is always so strong. I'd strongly suggest that you get multiple Arcuses to try at the same time. An Arcus retailer told me that they aim to make the greatest bow every time, all basically designed the same, but some come out more excellently than others, and that is when they give it its "grade" of S6 S7 S8 etc. based on playing characteristics.

 

[LouisF]

For the playing I do now at 73 I SOOOOO don't need anything more than an S6.... Do I?... Huh.. What....HELP ME!!#

 

[Leif Dering]

This guy does not know how to play a bass.
I don't trust his demonstration and opinion because of this. Sorry.

For what it's worth, my teacher plays in the San Francisco Ballet and plays an Arcus and loves it. The demonstration isn't too great, but I think he mentioned that he wanted to get some pro bassists to demo them at some point.

 

[LouisF]

And he doesn't have to worry about some a--hole brass player knocking his $5K 50 year old Kolstein bow off his music stand, putting in a hairline crack, and knocking off 50% off the bow's value (as happened to me).

God bless carbon fiber!

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I bought the glasser braided violin model on Lynn Hannnings recommendation - and it's a killer stick, for around $140 or something like that.

Are you sure this is correct? The Braided bows start at $600. BASS BOW FRENCH BRAIDED CARBON FIBER ROUND, FULLY LINED EBONY FROG, NICKEL WIRE GRIP, PLASTIC TIP

 

[Don Kasper]

a--hole brass player

AKA - Brass-Hole.
You're Welcome!

 

[LouisF]

Touche, Don!!

 

[groooooove]

Are you sure this is correct? The Braided bows start at $600. BASS BOW FRENCH BRAIDED CARBON FIBER ROUND, FULLY LINED EBONY FROG, NICKEL WIRE GRIP, PLASTIC TIP

I'm fairly certain that i paid $140 (give or take a bit) for my violin bow.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I'm fairly certain that i paid $140 (give or take a bit) for my violin bow.

ok, not a bass bow then.

 

[groooooove]

ok, not a bass bow then.

that is correct, sorry if i was not clear. mine is a 4/4 violin bow.

that being said, i bet the $600 brainded CF bass bow is probably excellent value for the money.

they seem to sound better than the original carbon fiber sticks from 10+ years ago. closer to wood. Still "not wood," but certainly an improvement.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

that is correct, sorry if i was not clear. mine is a 4/4 violin bow.

that being said, i bet the $600 brainded CF bass bow is probably excellent value for the money.

they seem to sound better than the original carbon fiber sticks from 10+ years ago. closer to wood. Still "not wood," but certainly an improvement.

l just bought one and look forward to finding out.

 

[CaseyVancouver]

And he doesn't have to worry about some a--hole brass player knocking his $5K 50 year old Kolstein bow off his music stand, putting in a hairline crack, and knocking off 50% off the bow's value (as happened to me).

That is very disturbing.

Louis, this may or may not make you feel better,
but I know a trumpet player who drove over his own horn while parking.
Flattened it.

While I'm at it, a first call top level trumpet player told me, while chuckling, he once got a last minute sub from another trumpet player. Evidently this guy was cutting a bagel for lunch and had put his finger through the bagel to hold it while cutting. For professional reasons he declined to name who did this.

Both true stories.

 

[LouisF]

Karma!

 

[Eric Hochberg]

that being said, i bet the $600 brainded CF bass bow is probably excellent value for the money.

they seem to sound better than the original carbon fiber sticks from 10+ years ago. closer to wood. Still "not wood," but certainly an improvement.

It is a very nice bow and I think at least equal or superior sounding to my Metropolitan.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

Bumping this thread looking for opinions.

I took my bass into my local shop today for a sound post adjustment and tried out a few CF bows while I was there. I'd have to do a side by side comparison to be sure, but I'm pretty confident a used Coda they have sounds and feels better than my Brazil wood Erich Steiner. I could probably do close to an even trade.

I already know I'm crazy for various reasons, but is this one of them? Thoughts?

P.S. I'm not a great orchestral/classical player by any means. All of 2023 I did one orchestra gig. I'd describe my self as a jazzer who uses the bow a decent amount.

 

[crd]

Bumping this thread looking for opinions.

I took my bass into my local shop today for a sound post adjustment and tried out a few CF bows while I was there. I'd have to do a side by side comparison to be sure, but I'm pretty confident a used Coda they have sounds and feels better than my Brazil wood Erich Steiner. I could probably do close to an even trade.

I already know I'm crazy for various reasons, but is this one of them? Thoughts?

P.S. I'm not a great orchestral/classical player by any means. All of 2023 I did one orchestra gig. I'd describe my self as a jazzer who uses the bow a decent amount.

That makes sense to me. I will take a carbon fiber stick over most lower end wood bows. I still want to try an Arcus some day.

 

[AGCurry]

Bumping this thread looking for opinions.

I took my bass into my local shop today for a sound post adjustment and tried out a few CF bows while I was there. I'd have to do a side by side comparison to be sure, but I'm pretty confident a used Coda they have sounds and feels better than my Brazil wood Erich Steiner. I could probably do close to an even trade.

I already know I'm crazy for various reasons, but is this one of them? Thoughts?

P.S. I'm not a great orchestral/classical player by any means. All of 2023 I did one orchestra gig. I'd describe my self as a jazzer who uses the bow a decent amount.

I've found that I need to play with a bow for a few days to really know if it's for me; and it seems that bow sellers understand that by offering "try-before-you-buy" approval periods. Is that possible for you?

I doubt that you're crazy, but it's always a possibility!

 

[MuseChaser]

To concur with quite a few previous posts, in the low end of the price scale composite bows almost always win over cherrywood, brazilwood, and cheap pernambuco bows at the same price points. In an accomplished player's hands, the composite bows have not yet equalled true artist-quality pernambuco bows to me ears. Even after 55 years as a professional string player, I'm still constantly amazed at how much influence a bow has on tone.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

I've found that I need to play with a bow for a few days to really know if it's for me; and it seems that bow sellers understand that by offering "try-before-you-buy" approval periods. Is that possible for you?

Yes, my local shop is pretty good about that.

 

[the_Ryan]

Yes, my local shop is pretty good about that.

I'd absolutely make use of that, I definitely find that it takes me 4–5 days of playing a bow in before I can really judge whether or not it works for me. If you can float it, see if you can get fresh hair put on any bows you take out on trial because that really makes a difference too; even at some of the best shops, if a bow is getting played frequently in the shop the hair could very well be completely toast, and it's hard to judge a bow when rosin isn't sticking to it and clouds of rosin come off the hair when you run your thumb through it (plus you might use a different rosin than what's on the hair and some rosins really don't play nicely with each other).