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Hey folks, new guy here. I live in a log cabin with more than 15 fiddles and not nearly enough bows. Oh, and I don't really play violin all that well--been teaching myself off and on for the last 8 or 9 years. 
My wife and stepson both play violin. She's an Irish fiddler with a Suzuki education, and he's a 7th year Suzuki student who is just moving into a full size instrument.
So, I'm bow shopping. To be perfectly honest, I just cannot tell the difference between bows when I play them. Maybe it's because I'm predominantly left-handed, or maybe it's because I play trad Irish where the technique is to keep the bow hairs loose and play near the tip, but I keep wondering if maybe I had a better bow, I would learn to tell the difference?
If you had $200 in the budget to spend on a bow, what would you get? What should I be looking for when I try out a bow?
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I have the presto encore bow and also play fiddle styles. The fiddlershop here sells it for $169. I love this bow, light and agile and produces a great tone.
The fiddlerman bows are also a great choice at around $68. Click on the shop tab at the top of the site and take a look.
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There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart
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Thanks Barry.
Also, very much worth a consideration is this bow:
http://fiddlershop.com/quality.....o-bow.html
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Barry said
I have the presto encore bow and also play fiddle styles. The fiddlershop here sells it for $169. I love this bow, light and agile and produces a great tone.The fiddlerman bows are also a great choice at around $68. Click on the shop tab at the top of the site and take a look.
Welcome to the forum
Thanks, Barry. I have looked at the Presto Encore. I also have a question. What is the difference, performance-wise between the Presto Encore and the Presto Ovation? Is it all cosmetics, or is there a difference in the playability?
It looks like I could learn a bit around here. When I started learning mandolin 15 years ago, I subscribed to a mail list that turned out to be a great resource for me, and helped me go much further with the instrument than I would have on my own.
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Fiddlerman said
Thanks Barry.
Also, very much worth a consideration is this bow:
http://fiddlershop.com/quality.....o-bow.html
I am curious about these pernambuco bows. I didn't mention it before, but my wife is also bow shopping for our son, and while I like the idea of a carbon fiber bow, his teacher dislikes them. I think the plan is to order 4 bows from Shar and let the teacher pick one. It would be interesting to include one of these pernambuco bows in the mix.
How does this pernambuco bow stack up against the Presto bows?
And does everybody call you "Fiddlerman"?
Tim
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Barry said
I have the presto encore bow and also play fiddle styles.
Barry, by chance do you know Brian Christianson at The Fiddle House? I occasionally do some work in Nashville and have sat in on his trad sessions.
Tim
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I prefer these the good Pernambuco bows over the Presto but it's a question of taste as well. Now a days I often use my Fiddlerman CF bow. This way when I have worn off all the hairs I can just exhange it for a new one. However, if I were to perform a big solo or take an audition I would probably pick my best Pernambuco bow.
We have so many great bows in stock though.
If you get a bow and are not satisfied all you need to do is ship it back for a refund. Perhaps we can correspond the sale of one of our Pernambuco bows with the arrival of the 4 Shar bows.
Give Michael (my son) a call at Fiddlershop 954 530 5999.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Welcome to the forum. It is nice to read your questions. I am not real bow savvy so I like all the feedback.
15 violins!!! That is really cool. I never thought I'd have more than one, but I have three, (One I play daily, my student violin, and a german "factory" violin from the 70's or 80s) and then a pink Violin that I don't play and I share a child's violin with my grand daughter. They certainly are fun to collect.
Welcome Welcome!
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
Honorary tenured advisor
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I have 2 FM carbon fiber bows and the FM pernambuco. Both are good bows and on some types of music, such as when I'm trying to play celtic tunes, I think I prefer the carbon fiber.
With regard to helping a child choose a bow, I've been down this road before. First, IMO, it doesn't matter which one the teacher likes, unless the teacher's paying for it. What really matters is which one the player likes, and that's purely subjective. What balances well in one person's hand, may not in someone else's. What sounds the best with one person's bowing technique, may not sound as good with someone else's.
If you're comparing bows, ask your child if he has a preference, and use your ears to see if one sounds noticeably better. If your son likes one the best and you noticed that one sounded better than the others, then that's the bow. On the other hand, if he can't tell much difference and they all sound pretty much the same when he plays, then get the cheapest.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright
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coolpinkone said
Welcome to the forum. It is nice to read your questions. I am not real bow savvy so I like all the feedback.15 violins!!! That is really cool. I never thought I'd have more than one, but I have three, (One I play daily, my student violin, and a german "factory" violin from the 70's or 80s)
Thank you for the welcome! I didn't set out to have so many violins around the house, but my grandfather played fiddle and several other instruments. When he passed away, there were 12 fiddles in various states of condition. My dad gave me the unplayable fiddles because I do some woodworking. My sister played violin, and was given the 3 playable instruments.
Over time, I brought the broken fiddles back to life with the addition of strings, fittings, and a little hide glue, and started teaching myself to play. My sister quit playing violin and sold her 3 to me, so I could keep them in the family. None are remarkable, a Heberlein with a high arch in the belly and the rest are Bohemian. All in all, I would say that 4 of them are "better" instruments, judging by the quality of the wood and workmanship. The rest belong to my wife and son.
Oh, and I just took possession of a Zeta Strados! A fine gypsy jazz violinist in New Orleans wanted a mandolin, so we swapped instruments. (I have more mandolins than fiddles.) It did not come with a bow.
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Fiddlerman said
We have so many great bows in stock though.
If you get a bow and are not satisfied all you need to do is ship it back for a refund. Perhaps we can correspond the sale of one of our Pernambuco bows with the arrival of the 4 Shar bows.
I notice, though, that the majority of your bows are CF, and only 1 is Pernambuco in the price range we are looking for our son, the violin student. I think my wife is going to order from Shar tomorrow, so I am going to talk to her about doing exactly this.
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Hope that you guys find the perfect bow for your son. The bows available in the lower price category today are far better than the ones that were available when I was young.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Fiddlerman said
Hope that you guys find the perfect bow for your son. The bows available in the lower price category today are far better than the ones that were available when I was young.
I talked to her about ordering a Fiddlerman Pernambuco bow, and she wants to go ahead with that.
I still would like to know, for myself, if there is any difference in performance between the Presto Ovation and the Presto Encore. Does it use the same stick? Is there a difference in playability or is the difference entirely cosmetic?
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Your collections sound marvelous! Thanks for sharing a bit about them... Super cool!
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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I think my next purchase.. will be end up being a good wood bow. I have two CF's and I like them. Might have to add that to my Christmas requests and anniversary of 3 years playing. Might be time for a treat. I am adding this bow to my wishlist. The above linked bow. 
Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato
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IndianaTim said
I still would like to know, for myself, if there is any difference in performance between the Presto Ovation and the Presto Encore. Does it use the same stick? Is there a difference in playability or is the difference entirely cosmetic?
I went and tested an Ovation and Encore bow just now. Honestly, couldn't tell any difference. They look VERY similar and both have the black weaved carbon fiber stick but the Ovation has that nice Snakewood frog. I'm afraid that the price difference might only have to do with that. IMAO.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I went and tested an Ovation and Encore bow just now. Honestly, couldn't tell any difference. They look VERY similar and both have the black weaved carbon fiber stick but the Ovation has that nice Snakewood frog. I'm afraid that the price difference might only have to do with that. IMAO.
Thank you for doing that. I suspected that might be the case. The Encore seems like a very good value, though I do think the snakewood is attractive.
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Funny, I read the comment and thought to myself, 'Exactly, my thoughts too", then I realized that it's what I had said. ROFLMAO
You are welcome. Hope I made it easier in some way.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Fiddlerman said
IndianaTim said
I still would like to know, for myself, if there is any difference in performance between the Presto Ovation and the Presto Encore. Does it use the same stick? Is there a difference in playability or is the difference entirely cosmetic?I went and tested an Ovation and Encore bow just now. Honestly, couldn't tell any difference. They look VERY similar and both have the black weaved carbon fiber stick but the Ovation has that nice Snakewood frog. I'm afraid that the price difference might only have to do with that. IMAO.
This kind of honest opinion from a professional is worth its weight in gold. Until now I had thought this kind of entrepreneur was a thing of the past! Fiddlerman, I intend to buy all my violin/bow/supplies from you from this point on.
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I guess I'm crazy. I should try to make more money and sell the expensive stuff instead. 
Thanks uncledave.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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