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I have been doing a lot of reading, and studying about the violin, and something I read across the board is how much difference a good bow can make. I am not questioning the validity if it at all...my question is I would like to better understand the why?
What makes a good bow?
Why is it a good bow?
What qualities should one look for in a good bow?
What is a price point in a good bow and not so good bow?
King
A "good" bow is a bow that improves the sound of a violin and a "good" bow may not sound as good on all violins. You have to try the bow with your violin.
(I have no idea why/how bow prices have soared into 5 digit prices.)
I would also judge a bow on how stable it will be. My 3 wooden bows are all crooked.
My CF is doing fine.
I would not spend more than $300 for a bow but that's an opinion, not a fact.
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
Regulars
As you say. There seems to be many criteria as to what a good bow is.
I'm not a very experienced player but one thing that I will say on the subject is that 'price' is not a good indicator of a bow's quality.
My 'sometimes' teacher uses a rather expensive snakewood baroque bow and it's very nice. I have a much cheaper one of the same kind and she can't pick any difference between the two.
Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of ..... What was I saying????
Member
Thank you everyone for your answers. I am very new to the violin...I am loving learning.
Thank you Fiddlerman for the link to the bows. I will look at them.
Member
Member
Thank you CJ121, I was wondering about the difference in wood verses carbon fiber, there are certainly a lot of opinions on the differences.
I have an inexpensive carbon fiber that came with my Cecilio. I bought a little more expensive Brazilwood bow to go with my Rosalia that I will be picking up in few weeks. I am looking forward to comparing them.
King
Once upon a time bow ads usually included commentary regarding bows offered in different stiffness. Rhetorical question ...... how does one decide whether a bow is different (better?) based on material or taper?
Most of my 6 or 7 (cheap) bows are light/medium action and I don't even use another (also cheap) few I have with "heavy" action. ("cheap" = $200 or less)
Again however it comes down to the best match for individual violins.
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
King
Regular advisor
Regulars
I have 2 wooden bows that came with the violins I have, a Glasser carbon graphite bow, and a Fiddlerman CF bow. In order of my preference on how they sound, I prefer the Glasser, then Fiddlerman CF on acoustic. On electric I actually prefer the CF, I don't know if this has something to do with how it responds on steel strings, or if this is just something to do with flexibility, seeing as I have steel on the electric, and synthetic cores on the acoustic.
The two wooden bows I have are probably not even worth mentioning, they are definitely just something you could use with the violin if you don't already own a bow.
Honorary tenured advisor
Regulars
Such a great topic. Thanks for asking the question. I have no answer at all, but the question is something I've been wondering about. I have a pair of FM carbon fiber bows and I got the chance last weekend to play a Coda Prodigy and a Coda Diamond as well as a several hundred dollar pernambuco. I couldn't tell much difference between them (except the pernambuco felt a little heavier), but then, I don't play violin worth a darn -- yet. I am really interested in the question though. Has anybody who can play well compared a Coda vs a FM carbon fiber and was the difference enough to justify an additional 300 bucks or more? What can you do with the one that you can't do with the other and why?
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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