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I'm a Beginner and Tried a Good Bow

Discussion in 'Bows and Rosin [DB]' started by johnvic, Dec 19, 2014.

  1. Dec 19, 2014 #1
    johnvic

    johnvic

    Mar 15, 2011
    NYC
    My bow is a $75 CF bow. I'm pretty sure it's a Glasser bow. Yesterday during my lesson my teacher had me try his nice wooden bow. I forget what he said it was worth but it was not cheap. What I noticed immediately was that I could feel the vibration of the string in my finger tips. I don't get that with my current bow. I had read that a good bow was very important. Feeling the string was amazing. He had said that there was some good wooden bows in the $500 range at Gage. So next year I may graduate to a better bow.

    But I just had to post about this because it was such an exciting feeling and I figure you folks would understand.
     
    jefff100, DC Bass, korotkov and 1 other person like this.
  2. Dec 19, 2014 #2
    Mark Gollihur

    Mark Gollihur Supporting Member Commercial User

    Jul 19, 2000
    Mullica Hill, NJ
    Owner/President, Gollihur Music LLC
    The bow is as much a musical instrument as the bass itself. Congrats on your discovery!
     
    DC Bass likes this.
  3. Dec 19, 2014 #3
    DC Bass

    DC Bass Supporting Member

    Mar 28, 2010
    Laurel, Maryland, USA
    Be careful not to judge a bow simply by it's price point. I believe you can find good bows for under $500.00.

    Joe
     
  4. Dec 20, 2014 #4
    KUNGfuSHERIFF

    KUNGfuSHERIFF

    Feb 8, 2002
    Upstate NY
    Truth. The best bow I've ever had, which I love, is a Seifert I picked up for $100 on eBay.

    Hitting your bass with a nice bow, and making it wake up and say "Wow!" is always a good time.
     
  5. Dec 21, 2014 #5
    johnvic

    johnvic

    Mar 15, 2011
    NYC
    I won't be running out too soon to buy a new bow. That may be part of my tax return budget!
     
  6. Dec 21, 2014 #6
    DC Bass

    DC Bass Supporting Member

    Mar 28, 2010
    Laurel, Maryland, USA
    Keeping the hair fresh on your bow can go a long way. I rehair once a year, some folks do it more often.

    I use a very highly regarded gentleman who has high standards for the hair he uses, and turns over a lot.

    Joe
     
  7. Dec 22, 2014 #7
    jefff100

    jefff100

    Jan 23, 2010
    Jersey Pine Barrens
    When I was first starting out i had a fiberglass Glasser bow. It was horrible. My teacher let me use his once and it was a similar revalation. The next day I ordred a wood bow of my own, it was not an expensive one, but a basic "shop bow". Cost about $165. as I recall. Money well spent. Eventually I would like to go into David Gage's in NYC and shop for a "good" bow, but for now I'm happy with what I've got.

    BTW - I dont budget anything waiting for tax time....life is to short.
     
  8. Dec 23, 2014 #8
    Bisounourse

    Bisounourse

    Jun 21, 2012
    Gent, Belgium
    Had the same experience in a DBass shop: looking for a bow (and being on a very tight budget); asked for a student's bow and played a 150 € one (on which I had to work very hard), a 200 € one (I still had to work, but it was an improvement), and then he handed me a 400 € one and boy what an improvement it was; it was as if the bow did much of the work for you, nice balance, and it made the bass sing... Bottom line: I'm saving money to get me a good bow.