Double Bass French Bow Will Be Dead in 20 Years

[Dr Rod]

perhaps some of you are taking this more seriously than the original poster intended....


just, perhaps...

 

[Eli_Upright12]

perhaps some of you are taking this more seriously than the original poster intended....


just, perhaps...

Perhaps, or maybe its something that can be seriously discussed whether the original poster wanted it to be or not. I find it very much true that the German bow is gaining more recognition and is used more widely everyday, but as long as there are French bow teachers there will be French bow students.

 

[Pete G]

Don't we call it the "Freedom Bow" now?

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Not for long.

 

[Mudfuzz]

Don't we call it the "Freedom Bow" now?

Still isn't funny after all these years

This thread though is funny, who cares use what you will. I use both, though german more these days.

 

[mcnaire2004]

As long as there are people like the Giovanni Bottesini and Edgar Meyer's of the world, there will always be a french bow.

 

[Eli_Upright12]

As long as there are people like the Giovanni Bottesini and Edgar Meyer's of the world, there will always be a french bow.

Another good point. On the other side before Gary Karr can you think of a great German soloist, There's Dragonetti but his bow wasn't the modern bass bow, but now it seems like a large percent of the solo virtuosos play German. To me it is more conducive to playing in the Gary Karr close to the bridge style, the weight of your are lays in it differently, can anyone think of anyone that has as heavy and dense of sound as a guy like Gary Karr on French? Or anyone that can articulate like some one like Jeff Bradetich on German?

 

[PaulCannon]

can anyone think of anyone that has as heavy and dense of sound as a guy like Gary Karr on French?

Ed Barker. Hal Robinson.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Hal Robinson.

Amen to that.

 

[Eli_Upright12]

Ed Barker. Hal Robinson.

noted, but you see the point right?

Both bows have there advantages.

 

[milomo]

With the slow rise of reputable german bow makers, Sue Lipkins and Robert Dow, how could french bow possibly survive the onslaught of a superior tool? Power, finesse, and a sautille that just can't be rivaled. Start selling the Sartorys and Fetiques now, before they are worth nothing. Do others agree or will you always belong to the dark side?

Sue Lipkins only makes german bows? Take a look at [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] page from Ken Smith's website. I see 7 Lipkins french bows.

 

[continuo77]

what's a german bow?

 

[manutabora]

Hey, so since modern instruments are becoming so popular, make sure you get rid of that Amati of yours before it becomes a pawn shop item... right...

 

[G-force]

Didn't they used to call german bow the "butler style " bow ?

 

[professorslinky]

Another good point. On the other side before Gary Karr can you think of a great German soloist, There's Dragonetti but his bow wasn't the modern bass bow, but now it seems like a large percent of the solo virtuosos play German. To me it is more conducive to playing in the Gary Karr close to the bridge style, the weight of your are lays in it differently, can anyone think of anyone that has as heavy and dense of sound as a guy like Gary Karr on French? Or anyone that can articulate like some one like Jeff Bradetich on German?

when arguing that german bow is better please don't use gary karr as an example. If all german bow players sounded like Gary Karr then I would play french.

Think of Petracchi, Quarrington, Bozo Paradzik (Czech baller, not a clown) or younger teachers such as Jeff Weisner and David Moore. And typically german is a more articulate bow and french can play longer. But german bow can do both of these better, obviously.

 

[Jeff Michael]

Still isn't funny after all these years

I laughed.

what's a german bow?

What's a bow?

 

[Eric Swanson]

when arguing that german bow is better please don't use gary karr as an example. If all german bow players sounded like Gary Karr then I would play french.

Think of Petracchi, Quarrington, Bozo Paradzik (Czech baller, not a clown) or younger teachers such as Jeff Weisner and David Moore. And typically german is a more articulate bow and french can play longer. But german bow can do both of these better, obviously.

Most German sticks I have seen are longer, so I am curious about where you get the "French can play longer" concept.

Professorslinky, I guess that all I really hear you saying is that you don't like to play French bow. Thanks for sharing.

All I have noticed is that a good French player is better than a bad German player, and that a good German player is better than a bad French player...

 

[G-force]

Think of Petracchi, Quarrington, Bozo Paradzik (Czech baller, not a clown) or younger teachers such as Jeff Weisner and David Moore. And typically german is a more articulate bow and french can play longer. But german bow can do both of these better, obviously.

This is so moot. Get your facts straight. Petracchi plays the FRENCH bow

 

[Mark_T]

when arguing that german bow is better please don't use gary karr as an example. If all german bow players sounded like Gary Karr then I would play french.

Think of Petracchi, Quarrington, Bozo Paradzik (Czech baller, not a clown) or younger teachers such as Jeff Weisner and David Moore. And typically german is a more articulate bow and french can play longer. But german bow can do both of these better, obviously.

The German is a more articulate bow? Having played both at various stages of my career, I disagree.

To respond to the original post: here in Seattle, the largest bass studio consists largely of German players (and the students are great players), but the upper end of the Seattle Symphony all plays French. I don't think you can realistically claim that either one is going extinct.

 

[Adam Booker]

I love it when people poor salt on an old wound. 65 years after WWII and the French vs. German thing is still going. What about all those poor bows from Alsace-Lorraine?