Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Private messaging is working again.

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Snakewood bow?
Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 Topic Rating: 0 (0 votes) 
Avatar
NoirVelours
Quebec

Honorary tenured advisor
Members

Regulars
May 17, 2012 - 8:53 am
Member Since: March 28, 2012
Forum Posts: 822
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I know about carbon, brazilian wood and pernambuco bows. but snakewood? Ok yes it's beautiful but where do the snakewood fits in terms of flexibility and all? Is it better then brazilwood or cheaper? Looking for more info please beg because I saw a 60g snakewood baroque bow that attracts me a lot.

"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

Avatar
Guest
Guests
May 17, 2012 - 9:15 am

I took a look at some of the snakewood baroque bows and they are vry nice looking. I don't have any experience with them though. Do you plan on playing baroque violin?

Avatar
NoirVelours
Quebec

Honorary tenured advisor
Members

Regulars
May 17, 2012 - 10:22 am
Member Since: March 28, 2012
Forum Posts: 822
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Yes, baroque music pieces when I get the experience for that and on a baroque violin in a couple years when I get a job lol.

"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

Avatar
cdennyb
King for a Day, Peasant for many
Members

Regulars
May 17, 2012 - 12:22 pm
Member Since: February 13, 2012
Forum Posts: 1818
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

My understanding from reading and listening a lot is that Brazil is running out of Pernambuco wood to make bows and of course they aren't running out of demand for violin bows so an alternative wood that has those characteristics is required.

Snakewood, Ironwood, Brazilwood, etc. are all alternatives for the slowing disappearing Pernambuco wood. I personally think Carbon Fiber is one of the best "woods" to make a bow from, LOL, and I don't think it's on the endangered species list either.

Many sites that sell violins and bows etc. will be a great source of info on the various woods and their comparison qualities to Pernambuco.

In addition to this site, you might post your question on the violinist.com web board and see what the professional players and mfg have to say.

Of course you will need to report your findings back here for the rest of us. exactly

"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

Avatar
NoirVelours
Quebec

Honorary tenured advisor
Members

Regulars
May 17, 2012 - 2:12 pm
Member Since: March 28, 2012
Forum Posts: 822
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Ok I read a bit more about this, mostly on bow luthier websites and historical stuff (found some really interesting things about Bach and chords vs arpeggios). Kevin you are right, baroque bows are typically made from snakewood who is more stiff and dense then pernambuco. The frog is sometimes made of ivory. Since I'm not interested in light and airy italian style classical music (not that I could play it now anyway lol) I think I could go right away with a baroque bow and get used to it!

The violin baroque bow is played very differently though, with the thumb under the frog (german bow hold) to apply more or less tension on the hair (the hair extend all the way under the frog). Overall a very low tension bow you could make chords silmultaneously on the 4 strings with it!

Dennis, there seem to be carbone made baroque bow too! Looks like carbon is the ecological way to go.

Check the hair of the bow at the bottom.

Image Enlarger

"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

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online: Goldenbow
Guest(s) 83
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today SethroTull86
Upcoming fryserisnon8, Picklefish, Shell, Schaick, GlassTownCur, Violinista Italiano, VirginViolinist, Cearbhael, eugenephilip572, celeigh87
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 8824
ABitRusty: 4303
Mad_Wed: 2849
Gordon Shumway: 2731
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
DanielB: 2379
stringy: 2367
Mark: 2272
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31781
Moderators: 0
Admins: 8
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 84
Topics: 10858
Posts: 137979
Newest Members:
jeni2024, Goldenbow, joanie, hunmari01, lydia.vertu SP, Thavence SP, tcaron21, Ustiana SP, DennisRathbone SP, Dan
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16537, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3746, JoakimSimplePress: 0, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 6093