Double Bass I couldn't tell a $30 bow from a $3000 bow

[Huy Nguyen]

Or you can use surgery. I can operate on someone using a fine, razor sharp scalpel, or I could just a steak knife. Both can get the job done depending on skill. However if the job gets botched using the steak knife, you can blame the instrument. If you botch the job with the scalpel, there's nowhere to hide.

I like the car analogy better tho.

FWIW, I squawk on both bows, and I've owned the CF bow far longer. Once I got the expensive bow, the speed at which I'm learning is far fasters - but I'm also justifying a far more expensive purchase and have put alot more time into it now. I'd like to say that it is due to the instrument inspiring me to play more, just like I did when I upgraded my bass. The two experiences are kinda similar. Take that with a grain of salt.

 

[NickyBass]

We aren't going to connect with every high end bow, but once we find one that suits our style, it may be hard to find those qualities in any other bow.

 

[CaseyVancouver]

Resurrection of a Zombie Thread!
If only because some responses made me laugh

So I have been playing some violin since March 2020. That month ring any bells?
I had the old (100+ years) violin set up by a luthier and he also rehaired a nice old
Pernambuco bow that was in the case. The bow had not been played in 5 decades. At the same time I ordered a cheap Asian carbon bow. It came with decent hair and plays really nicely, from what I can tell. Well, the truth is I cannot tell, with my limited violin skill, the dif between a new cheap carbon bow and an old Pernambuco bow with fresh hair. Yep, I alternate between both and am very happy with both. Lol

Also I am playing bass with a French bow, daily. The French was about $450 20 years ago. I had it rehaired recently by the top shop in town. It plays nice. A proper French player could make it dance. But I don’t do spiccato with it. I don’t need to, as I should grab one of my awesome German bows if I have to play anything that requires skill.

Do I need an expensive violin bow? Nope
Do I need an expensive French bass bow? Nope
Not at this time anyway. I’m a happy chappy.
For now.

 

[knirirr]

I think anyone could tell the difference between a $30 bow and a $3,000 bow. More realistic for most of us is the difference between a $150 bow and a $750 bow.

Sounds reasonable to me. I started with a £50 bow (now given away), moved on to a £200 pound one and now have one worth £800; the difference between all of these was clear enough.
The £200 one now gets taken to jams for last-note-of-the-ballad duties, with the most expensive used for classical practice at home.

 

[Don Kasper]

I couldn't tell a $30 bow from a $3000 bow

Wanna buy a "$3000 bow"? I'll sell it to you for $2500.
Thank$.

 

[jsf729]

I couldn't tell a $30 bow from a $3000 bow

Wanna buy a "$3000 bow"? I'll sell it to you for $2500.
Thank$.

Beat me to it Don. Good luck with the sale!