@AndrewH Fiddlershop sells a carbon fiber weave cello bow. I bought it about a month ago.

Carbon Fiber Weave Cello Bow

@MoonShadows Not a problem throwing bows in. It falls in line! 

I find a better bow has helped me, also. And it, therefore, has played a part in me continuing and in my enjoyment.

For violin, the long flimsy bow that came with my test violin was difficult. I could handle holding the violin, but this flimsy ultra light bow was flying all over no matter what I did. I used my viola bow that came with my test viola. I read up on bowing and what I found was that many violists use a violin bow (Don’t start throwing daggers at me, that is what I read.) I don’t want to change this thread to a discussion about violin bow vs viola bow, so will not say why. 

The viola bow was better. When I did my first violin upgrade it came with a bow that was better. It was not flailing all over. It was easier to control. I imagine it was better balanced and I suspect the cheaper one was not lined up right from frog to tip. The hairs did not act the same as the better bow.

I have also found some bows work better on different violins, viola and cellos. My good cello works hand in hand with my pernambuco bow. My student level cello works great with the carbon fiber weave bow I bought from Fiddlershop a month or so ago. The student cello even works better with the new carbon fiber weave bow than it does with my other carbon bows. If I swap them around, I can tell by bowing ease, AND the sound. It makes a big difference. For some reason, I was surprised, but upon reading up, I found out why.

I don’t have different bows for my viola, I am thinking about getting a better bow when I upgrade my viola Tuesday, or if I upgrade it. If I can’t find a viola that sounds fuller, I will wait until they get more of a selection. The 15.5” size has limitations, both in availability and the sound produced. I will probably get a better bow, whether I upgrad the viola or not. I am not happy with my viola bow.

My violins use different bows. My Fiddlerman Concert Deluxe matches beautifully with the bow it came with. My Doetsch sounds better with a wood bow. I do need to update that wood bow, but since I do not play that violin as much as the viola or the Concert Deluxe violin right now (simply because of my music preference for each right now), I will wait in that.

I also have a tourte copy violin bow that I purchased with a violin in Liverpool, not Liverpool, England. I know it is a copy because of the originals, only a very very few had the “tourte” burned into the wood. It is straight as an arrow when looking down it. I absolutely love the feel, the balance, etc. I can feel the difference when I play with it. The violin and bow were bequeathed by the owner’s uncle. The owner’s family is musical, but the nephew plays guitar and knows nothing about violin. The violin is fantastic. He asked $20 because it is old. I gave him $40. I was not absolutely sure of it, but knew $20 was too little. He gave me a discount on the bow, so it was a wash in my trying to be fair, I tried.

You can tell the uncle played fiddle. He played professionally and only used that violin/fiddle. Anyway, I am taking that bow in for a rehairing Tuesday when I check out violas. There is am big difference in that bow and my others. The bow is probably not worth a lot of money, but it feels good and bows good, for me. Would someone else rehair it? Probably not. But it suits me and that is all that matters.

When I bought my good cello, I brought my pernambuco bow with me, the cello guy told me that that bow was suited for that cello when he used it to play that cello and two others I was considering so I could hear them after I played them. He said he would not buy a different bow for it, so I didn’t. He had some out for me to try, but really liked the bow I purchased from them 6 months earlier with my Goronok. I did not know what he meant until I got home and tried one of my other cello bows with her. Remarkable difference with the same song. I guess certain bows are a better match for some cellos.

So bows, as far as I am concerned make a big difference in playing enjoyment, also. But, the instrument itself, I believe makes a bigger difference in personal enjoyment. I think they are equal in playing ability enjoyment. Probably did not explain that well. I think that part of it is pride. You generally have more enjoyment with something you are proud of. Some people show that with cars and either hold on to an oldie but goodie because they are proud of it and cherish it, others love the new glitz and have pride in trading or out and out buying glitz. It is the same thing with violins/violas/cellos, I suspect. Bows, I think fall into that category, too. I often look at the bows on the Fiddlershop site. That is how I noticed the carbon fiber weave cello bow. They don’t have one for viola. There is one for violin, but I like my tourte, maybe in the future, but for now, my old tourte will do. It is so good with that old violin it was purchased with. 

I think that if you can get the best, which is relative, of each (as far as you are concerned), that you want and can enjoy, and can afford, the better off you are. I do not think others should dictate that. It is your financial situation, your activity enjoyment priority, your desires, etc. It is a personal decision that should not be judged by your financial situation, or what you enjoy for activities. This is what I like doing. We don’t travel, we don’t bar hop (nothing wrong with that, we just don’t like it), we don’t go to the movies except when a new Guardians of the Galaxy or Star Wars comes out, for me, I play my instruments. That is my enjoyment.

I think that everything that applies to violin/viola/cello purchasing, also applies to the bow.

I probably rambled and went all over. I have not had breakfast yet. I will check back and edit this later. Coffee is done! Time for breakfast.

Back and did my edits.