I am working on the apparatus to make split bamboo violin bows.  Although bamboo has a lot of favorable characteristics, the method should also be able to make use of other woods with the added benefit of optimized grain pattern for added strength.

My local wood dealer has a great deal of ipe, which is beginning to be commercially used for bows.  I am very interested in Osage Orange, but my dealer did not have any of that.  I lost interest in hickory because of its weight.  Quarter sawn oak is readily available here.  Maple is, in my opinion, rather acoustically dead but that characteristic can be modified by roasting.  

Any other opinions?