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Ok I'm to upgrade the el cheapo bow that came in my violin case. It's made of braziliwood but I'm reading all over the internet that a good bow is as important as a nice violin. Some even push that and say the bow value should be the same as the violin (poor guys owning a Strad lol). Since I paid 200$ for my violin kit before string/rosin upgrade, I'm ready to put up to 100$ for a new bow.
This is where I need some help. Should I:
- Get a pernambuco 100$ bow with silver fittings?
- Get a 50-100$ carbon bow (I cannot afford a Glasser or CodaBow)?
I unfortunately cannot afford a real baroque bow like I wanted because they cost too much for my student budget. So please, anyone with experience with the 2 materials, some advice? I'm leaning toward the pernambuco because real wood is attracting me more but it's just an emotional thing lol, so if it's not worth it at that price I would go carbon.
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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Last fall I replaced my old pernambuco bow with a "low-end" carbon fiber bow I blindly purchased off the internet. It's always a risk to buy without trying it out first, but I am wildly happy with my purchase. It appears similar to what FM now sells in his shop.
A month or so after I bought the bow I found a good online deal for a (used) violin upgrade. It came with a nice case and pernambuco bow, along with some other accessories. The bow had been used of course, but was in fine condition. It doesn't even need to be re-haired yet.
The pernambuco bow that came with my violin has a retail price of $600 new. It is a nice bow, much better than my original wood bow, but I personally prefer my bargain cf bow.
I use FM's CF bow and happy with it. Even my teacher (which is hardly surprisable about anything) was surprised by price-quality correlation.
Though as for me - i can only compare it to the 2 another bows that i own (very cheap and ugly bows that went vith my cheap violins: acoustic and electric) - tremendous differernce. But as any other violin-related things - it's the matter of personal taste: if You have any opportunity to visit a violin shop or luthier to try different bows - use it.
Anyway, for now, when i'm not good in a bow technique - the first thing that i pay attention according to the bow - is comfort. Maybe later (in a coupe years) i could tell the other differnces between the bows... LOL.
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I have a few bows that are valued at 5 and 10K but I still use my Fiddlerman bow most often now a days.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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If I were you, I'd stick those expensive things on e-bay and work the crap out of those CF bows since they're so awesome.
I love mine...
It ain't fair, you have an inside track to all the cool stuff for sale.
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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True story,
My friend Goran from Malmo Symphony Orchestra that visited me a few months back showed the FM bow that he had bought to a few colleagues and now I am sending 4 bows to Sweden. For them it cost less than a re-hair. I used to pay $100 per re-hair and have it done every 8 weeks or so.
I also sold two more HC-602's to a pro and his student in Sweden.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Fiddlerman said
I also sold two more HC-602's to a pro and his student in Sweden.
That violin is gorgeous too! Who is making them? what is HC?
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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HC = Howard Core. It's actually a August F. Köhr HC-602
The intruments are of extreme high quality and Howard Core luthiers do the final set up.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Ya, the prices to re-hair are half the price here compared to Sweden. I thought the luthier made a mistake the first time I left my bow in for a re-hair here. $45 
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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NoirVelours
When I got back into playing, after about 35 years, I really needed a bow to get started. The cheap bow I had was shot and definately not worth rehairing.
I decided to spend what I thought at the time was "big bucks" on a carbon graphite Glasser bow. I got one from a music store near where I worked for $100. I know it's not rated the greatest bow in the world but the difference between that one and one cheap one I had with fake hair was amazing. It was so much easier to play. I had that for a couple of years and after I wore off about half of the hair on it, rather than having it rehaired I upgraded to a JT Prism carbon fiber bow for about $185. Again, I noticed an improvement is the amount of control I had. The JT Prism bow was noticably lighter and I like it for fast tunes. I've had that bow about two years now. Several months ago I paid $50 each to have them both rehaired. I like swithching back and forth between them, depending on the mood I'm in. They both have a slightly different feel but I'm very comfortable with them both.
If you have $100 to spend I'll bet you could find a Glasser like mine, but if you can save up just a bit longer for the JT Prism I think you will be glad you did. Another nice thing about the JT Prism is that they come in some pretty cool colors. The one I have is metallic blue. I got that to match the blue EVL I had my eye on at the time. Since that time, I saved up a really big pile of cash to order a custom 5 string from EVL with a slighter wider neck to accomodate my fat fingers . I am eagerly waiting. Mine will look something like this but with geared tuners. http://electricviolinlutherie......hp?id=1078
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I would go to sharmusic.com and look at the bows they have. They even let you try them out before you buy. 
I've bought from Shar before and they always sell good stuff.
They also have baroque style bow for $109.
joe said
Fiddlestix said
I payed $ 47.00 to have my Pernambuco rehaired 3 month's ago.Would a toupee be any cheaper, I wonder? They make some nice ones these days for less than 30 dollars.
What are you insinuating.... JOE ?
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Fiddlestix said
joe said
Fiddlestix said
I payed $ 47.00 to have my Pernambuco rehaired 3 month's ago.Would a toupee be any cheaper, I wonder? They make some nice ones these days for less than 30 dollars.
What are you insinuating.... JOE ?
Since my hair is long enough, i tried fiddling with it. It didn't work. 
Sorry folks, I guess you really do need to spend money for a bow to play!
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Ok guys thank you a lot for all the advices. From what you are saying the carbon is my best choice in relation to my small budget for it (this year) and the general quality of that material. I do prefer the look of wood and I'm not into metallic colors so a black carbon bow it will be! I will order it in the next days and will let you know my thought when I try it 
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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Mustang said
I would go to sharmusic.com and look at the bows they have. They even let you try them out before you buy.
How do they do that? They have to send it to you, also they need a deposit in case people don't return the bow. In principle that is the same thing anyone who has a decent return policy does. If you buy a Fiddlerman CF bow and do not like it you can return it for a full refund.
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I can sell most bows that Shar sells and at better prices. Contact me about the bow you are interested in. I have their distributor.
PRESTO™ Carbon-Fiber Bows
CPV120 vln - SRP: $100
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Our most popular carbon-fiber bow! The PRESTO is a true carbon-fiber bow, molded and finished by skilled craftsmen. These bows are strong and durable while giving excellent sound and playability. PRESTO bows are perfect for an advancing student who wants the performance of a much more expensive pernambuco bow, or for anyone who needs a high quality second bow. Black finished stick, ebony frog with Parisian eye. Violin bow available in 4/4, 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 size. Viola bow available in 4/4 (15"- 16.5") only. Cello bow available in 4/4 or 3/4 size. Bass bow available in 3/4 (full) or 1/2 size.
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ENCORE Violin Bow - CPV136
SRP: $189
Silver mounted, open weave black carbon-fiber finish. We first introduced this high quality carbon-fiber bow last year to meet the need for lower priced, yet high quality bow. The response has been overwhelming, and the PRESTO has quickly become our most popular carbon-fiber bow. Designed for the performance needs of serious students and advanced players at a price that you might expect for an intermediate level bow. Elegant finish and responsive playability are the hallmarks for our newest PRESTO bows.
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SRP: $289
Silver mounted with snakewood frog, open weave black carbon-fiber finish. We first introduced this high quality carbon-fiber bow last year to meet the need for lower priced, yet high quality bow. The response has been overwhelming, and the PRESTO has quickly become our most popular carbon-fiber bow. Designed for the performance needs of serious students and advanced players at a price that you might expect for an intermediate level bow. Elegant finish and responsive playability are the hallmarks for our newest PRESTO bows.
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Brazilwood bow with horsehair. Our most popular beginning bow...a Great value! Half-lined ebony (not plastic) frog, thumb grip, three-part button. Violin bow available in 4/4, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/10, 1/16, and 1/32 size. Viola bow available in 4/4 (15"-16.5") and 3/4 (13"-14") size. Cello bow available in 4/4, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/10 size. Bass bow available in 3/4 (full), 1/2, and 1/4 size and your choice of German or French grip.
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VBH vln - SRP: $64.99
VOBH vla SRP: $78.99
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BBH bass SRP: $134
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Brazilwood bow with horsehair. Good choice for young players. Offers better flexibility, response, and playability. Half-lined ebony frog with pearl eye, three-part button, thumb leather and wire winding. Violin bow available in 4/4, 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4 size. Viola bow available in 4/4 (15"-16.5") and 3/4 (13"-14") size. Cello bow available in 4/4, 3/4, and 1/2 size. Bass bow available in 3/4 (full) and 1/2 size and your choice of German or French grip.
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"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Fiddlerman said If you buy a Fiddlerman CF bow and do not like it you can return it for a full refund.
I love a good return policy.
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I found a CF bow I would really like... because there is a fleur-de-lys on the frog and that symbol is extremely important for me (Québec flag has 4). FM if you can have a bow with this design I'm absolutly buying from you!
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
Yet more feedback for your inquiry, NV. I also favored the brazilwood bows. That's what came with my violin set up and I like wood anyway. Then it warped, even though I was careful to loosen it after practices. The warp was affecting the sound, and I sound pretty awful anyway. So I got another 60-dollar wood bow. I have instructions from Fiddlestix if I ever attempt to straighten my first warped bow.
But to get to the point, having read the good reviews on the forum, I decided to buy a Fiddlerman CF bow as a backup if my second wood bow warped. I have hardly touched my brazilwood bow since I got the CF bow! I don't know the weight, but it is lighter and much easier to handle, especially at my stage of the learning process. Just had to share my experience. Good luck in your decision, NV!
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