Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello Bow

I purchased a Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello,Bow in mid-December.

Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello Bow

I usually do not like carbon Bows. I prefer the pernambuco bows, and have a good one I use with my cellos.  Since the weather here has switched to the sloppy Winter, I do not take my good cello to my cello lessons. I bring my other cello. I decided that I did not want to bring my good pernambuco bow with me either. It is not because it is outside the case. I did not want someone sliding into me on the road with this bow in my car andy more than the better cello.

I had other carbon bows but I could not get used to them. They are good quality, just not the lovely wood bows I love. They just do not feel right in my hand.

This Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello,Bow was on sale, so I decoded to try it. OMGosh! I love this bow.

The way it feels in my hand is like nothing I have ever noticed with any bow for the violin, viola or cello. I can’t explain it. It feels like an extension of my hand; does that make sense? I can feel the bow as it kisses the strings. I can feel everything it does. I do not understand it.

The weight is perfect. This surprised me. I usually prefer a heavier bow. My more expensive bow is just a tad heavier, but this one feels more a part of my hand. I think it is because it is so well balanced, maybe?  I just know that I am one with this bow.

I use it on my advanced student cello and my better cello that I will not bring out in the Winter. They have different results.

My Better Cello and the Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello Bow

I do notice that it works better with my advanced cello than my better cello. My pernambuco works much better with my better cello. That is not to say that the carbon fiber weave bow does not sound good on my better cello. It most certainly does, but just not as good as my pernambuco.

When I went to search for a better cello, I did have my pernambuco bow with me. The cellist at the shop used one of the bows from the shop when he played it for me. It was lovely. I played it, too, but needed to hear the cello’s potential. Then he asked if I brought my bow. He then used my pernambuco bow (which I had purchased there about 6 months earlier). He said my pernambuco bow was a perfect match for that cello and would not recommend getting a new bow. So, maybe that is the reason for the carbon fiber weave not having as a good a relationship with my better cello. Just mentioning to stress that it is not the bow, but that different cellos like different bows.

I do use my Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello Bow with my better cello most of the time because I love how it feels in my hand. I think that over time the two (the Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello Bow and my better cello) will get along better. They have to because I am not getting rid of either one. I might have to give them periodic time outs.

My Advanced Andrew Schroetter Cello with the Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello Bow

This cello is singing with this bow! They seem to be a perfect match. I can feel every move. She is robust and has much better projection with the Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello Bow than she does with the more expensive pernambuco bow or any of my other carbon fiber bows of different brands. She has the same D’Addario Helicore strings on her that she had when I was using one of my other bows, but she is sounding much more alive.

I think the responsiveness I am getting from this bow is what is part of my huge improvement in my cello sound. I have a thread in the “Learning” section of the forum about my surprising improvement. Upon thinking about why that happened, I think the bow and its being well suited to me is a big reason. I feel it, I have more control, it responds to me. Again, it feels like it is a part or an extension of my hand.

Does this make sense? Can a bow be part of the reason for better playing? Can it be as big a factor as this bow seems to be? I mean, really, I love holding this bow.

Aesthetics of the Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello Bow

Now, I am not into aesthetics, I have turned down a lot of violins, violas and cellos that looked absolutely lovely because the ones that, to me, did not look as nice, sounded better, and/or were easier for me to play. What they look like does not really matter (to a point). Well, I lucked out with this bow. This bow is lovely. I absolutely love the weave pattern on this bow. It is so beautiful.

Final thoughts about the Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Weave Cello Bow

Would I recommend this bow? I most certainly would. I would recommend it those who prefer pernambuco or other wood bows, and those who have carbon fiber and not thrilled and thinking of a more expensive wood bow. To the latter, I would say, this is not like other Carbon Fiber bows. This gives the feedback to you, just like pernambuco does (I do use a pernambuco and noticed that). This responds to you as an expensive pernambuco responds. So try this first.

I hope this provides all the information you need. I tried to cover every aspect that I noticed, which was plenty. I will be getting one for my violin, and, if they have one, for my viola.

Thank you, Fiddlershop, for creating such a wonderful bow at a price that is affordable for most.