Picking a Violin Bow
I was at The Loft Violin Shop yesterday in Columbus OH buying a new shoulder rest and getting the grip replaced on my bow. While I waited for my bow I was hanging out in the lobby entertaining myself by watching all the different customers that came into the shop. A conversation between one of the salesmen and a young lady caught my attention. They were talking about her bow and whether she should rehair her fiberglass bow, upgrade to another fiberglass bow, or buy a wood or carbon fiber bow. The salesman was asking her how she liked her bow and gave her a run down of approximate costs for each of the options she had to choose from. I thought this would be an interesting and relevant subject to talk about as many students are confused as to what their options are in choosing a bow and how to determine the best option for them.
Let’s go over what the options there are and then we’ll discuss how to choose between them. In general there are three options for bows: fiberglass, carbon fiber or wood.
Fiberglass bows are your low end student bows. They are basically indestructible and relatively cheap because they are mass manufactured (starting at approx. $50). While the playability of fiberglass bows vary slightly from bow to bow, in general you won’t find a very high quality fiberglass bow.
Carbon fiber bows are also indestructible but come in different grades. They are named and priced accordingly. While there is more consistency between carbon fiber bows of the same price range than wood bows, you are going to find a much more diverse selection of bows to choose from than your fiberglass counterparts. Their pricing starts at around $100 and can range all the way up to $1500+.
Wood bows are your traditional choice for violin bows and are constructed using Pernambuco wood of varying grades. Wood bows run from very cheap (under $100) to millions of dollars. The selection of wood bows is virtually endless and the variety between bows is as diverse as the number of bows available.
So how do you choose? Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of each bow before we make a decision.
Fiberglass bows: Pros – indestructible, cheap, not weather sensitive. Cons – poor playability, minmal diversity.
Carbon fiber: Pros – indestructible, good quality for the price, more consistent, not weather sensitive, medium diversity. Cons – medium diversity, quality has a cap.
Wood: Pros – unlimited diversity, no cap on quality. Cons – sensitive to weather, can be broken/warped, can be expensive.
Ok, so now that we have looked at our options let’s discuss how to choose a bow. Here are some factors to consider: Who will be playing the bow? What will they be primarily using it for (practicing, concerts, outdoor gigs, etc.)? How much do you want to spend? What quality are you looking for?
Here are my recommendations for each bow type:
Fiberglass bows: Good for young students and beginners.
Carbon fiber bows: Good for any age student who is looking to upgrade from a fiberglass bow. If you are looking to spend $1000 or less on a bow, go with a carbon fiber bow that fits your price range. You will most likely get more for your buck on a carbon fiber bow than a wood bow of the same price. If you are looking to spend between $1000 and $2500 check out both carbon fiber and wood bows. Compare bows and see what bows feel best to you and get the best sound out of your instrument. Carbon fiber bows are also great for the professional musician who is looking for a second bow or a bow for outdoor gigs.
Wood bows: I recommend a wood bow to anyone who is looking to spend over $2500 on a bow. A high quality wood bow is well worth your time and money to buy, especially if you are seeking to continue your musical studies into college or as a career. Just make sure you know what you’re looking for so that you don’t get stuck with a lemon!
Deciding whether you want a fiberglass, carbon fiber or wood bow is the first step. I hope this information as been helpful in that process! We’ll talk more in a later post on how to decide between bows once you decide on the material. There is so much to talk about! Happy bow hunting!
Emily Williams is the creator of Strategic Strings: An Online Course for Violin and Viola Teachers
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