Today I’m going to be talking about the different kinds of violin bows and what you may decide is best for you.

The purpose of this video is NOT to offer an exhaustive list of all the different types of bows of woods in regards to genus, species, regions etc. I am intentionally keeping this video simple and very generalized.

When deciding on the kind of bow you should buy, you should consider:

1. Bounce characteristics
2. Sound production
3. Durability
4. Price

Generally speaking the primary question you are asking yourself is, how much compromise are you willing to make for a lower price point?

There are 4 different kinds of bows:

1. Fiberglass
2. Carbon fiber
3. High-quality wood (often referred to as Brazilwood)
4. Pernambuco wood.

1. Fiberglass bows are very good as rental bows or bows for school districts. They are very strong and inexpensive. The downside is that they sound, look and feel terrible. They also will often have fake horse hair, which is awful in just about every way.

2. Carbon fiber bows often offer the least amount of compromise when it comes to features VS price and have come a long way in the last 20 years or so. They used to be a slightly better option than fiberglass because they had a much better feel, and playability but the sound always suffered quite a bit. However, the modern carbon fiber bow has improved its sound quality by leaps and bounds. The most commonly known and probably the most popular brands of Carbon Fiber bows are made by the CODA company in the USA. The sound is very good on some of their models and the bounce characteristics are supremely hard to beat. I recommended these bows to my advanced students who could not afford a $3,000 pernambuco bow but wanted a bot that was 90% as good. A lot of professionals will use these bows as well as their back up bow or outdoor bow. The benefits to these bows are that they are durable, strong, bounce very well and are relatively inexpensive. However, I have never played on a Carbon Fiber bow that could offer the warmth of sound that a high-quality Pernambuco bow.

3. High-quality wood bows are generally referred to a “Brazilwood” bows. Many people think that these bows have wood that comes out of Brazil but is not as high quality as Pernambuco wood that also comes out of Brazil but the truth is most of these bows are made from a wood commonly referred to as “bullet wood.” It is a wood that is very high density and very stable. It is very similar to Pernambuco wood but is not as good. Most of it comes out of China. There are some inferior woods used as well on the cheapest wood bows and the wood is usually pretty bad. These bows “can” offer good bounce characteristics and can offer good sound. The best point of these bows is that they are generally less than $500 and if made properly, can offer decent bounce and sound. However, there is a lot of variability in these bows, so an expert should play test them to find the best bow. Often times, the price point does not mean anything, so you really have to test them out.

4. Pernambuco bows can offer the best bounce and probably will offer the best sound. Bounce characteristic is something that is somewhat subjective to the player but a pernambuco bow will almost always have a better sound than a synthetic bow. It is illegal to buy Pernambuco wood from Brazil, so the only way you’re going to get a true Pernambuco bow is if you buy a bow that was made in Brazil, you buy an older bow or you buy a new bow from someone who has a large stock of Pernambuco wood that they purchased years ago before it was illegal.

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It’s hard enough to know what you’re looking for when shopping for a violin outfit. So just when you think you’re all done making such life-altering decisions (Shoulder rest? Strings? Case? Rosin?), you’re faced with another mammoth dilemma. Which bow do you pick?

Kennedy Violins offers a wide variety of bow options(and upgrades!) with any violin or viola outfit because we know how important it is that you get what you’re looking for. But what if you don’t know what you’re looking for? Well, look no further! Welcome to Bows 101!

When choosing a bow, it helps to know what the bow is made of. From there, you can decide what quality of fittings you’d prefer. Note that in general, the more expensive the bow, the nicer the fittings, materials, and build.

Bow Types

Fiberglass

Fiberglass bows are often the most affordable option. Fiberglass, not to be confused with carbon fiber (see below), is glass-reinforced plastic that is not as strong or light as carbon fiber, but also not as brittle. Fiberglass is easily molded and cheap to manufacture, which allows for its affordability. These bows are often used for beginners, especially children, as they are very durable (if dropped, scratched, or thrown about by a sibling) and affordable, especially when purchased in smaller sizes that will be grown out of. On the other hand, fiberglass bows rarely respond or bounce as well as quality wood bows, and can sometimes be heavier than preferable.

Wood

Wood bows are a step up from fiberglass bows when made properly with quality fittings. Wooden bows range in quality from beginner to professional. Beware though, if a bow is described as “wood,” but without the type of wood specified. Just like you wouldn’t want to buy a violin made of balsa, steer clear of bows made of “mystery” wood. Look for wood types such as ebony, pernambuco, and Brazilwood (see below).

Pernambuco

Bows are traditionally made of pernambuco, a high-quality, dense, strong wood of a beautiful red hue grown in the north of Brazil. However, as the export of pernambuco to Asia and Europe became so popular to the point of exploitation in the 1700s, pernambuco has since become an endangered tree species. Pernambuco forests are now sponsored by many instrument makers who hope to continue the tradition of using this scarlet wood in the art of bow making.

Brazilwood

Brazilwood is another name for pernambuco (Caesalpinia echinata). But as pernambuco is now endangered, related species of wood similar in quality, strength, springiness, lightness, and color are now used and also referred to as Brazilwood in the bowmaking industry. Related species include include Pink Ipê (Tabebuia impetiginosa), Massaranduba (Manilkara bidentata) and Palo Brasil (Haematoxylum brasiletto).

*Note: High-quality, cured Brazilwood is often used in bowmaking because it has less tendency to warp. A warped or curved bow is unfavorable. To check for warpage, “sight” down the length of the bow from the frog to tip to view whether the wood is bent to the left of right, if at all.

Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber, or carbon fiber reinforced polymer, is extremely strong and light with a high strength-to-weight ratio. Used in aerospace and automotive engineering, carbon fiber is more expensive to manufacture than fiberglass or other plastics, but the material is of such quality that the effectiveness of carbon fiber bows can sometimes exceed that of Brazilwood bows–depending on the bow, of course. Carbon fiber bows can be manufactured to such precise dimensions that their response, balance, and bounce can be exactly predetermined. Carbon fiber bows are thus more expensive than fiberglass or lower-grade wood bows as they are so well made. The CodaBow is a popular, professional-quality name brand of carbon fiber bow which we are pleased to offer at Kennedy Violins. We carry the CodaBow Prodigy, CodaBow Luma, CodaBow Diamond NX, CodaBow Diamond SX, and CodaBow Diamon GX.

Fittings

Higher-quality bows, like violins, usually have higher-quality and more durable fittings that reflect the craftsmanship of the bow:

• Grip: leatherette (textured or smooth vinyl or plastic), genuine leather, snakeskin, lizard skin
• Winding: whalebone, nickel-silver, silver, gold
• Tip: white plastic, tagua nut, ivory, mammoth ivory (a legal alternative to elephant ivory)
• Frog: plastic, wood, ebony
• Plate: mother of pearl, abalone, ivory, mammoth ivory
• Hair: synthetic, genuine horsehair (white and/or black)

Half or Full Mounting

What is a half-mounted or fully-mounted bow? On a fully-mounted bow you can see the thin stripe of a smooth metal plate between where the frog is connected (or mounted) to the bow, allowing a smooth fit and protection for the wood as it slides back and forth when the bow is tightened and loosened. A half-mounted bow lacks the metal plating, resulting in raw wood on wood between the frog and stick that may wear over time. Half-mounted bows do not have a ring around the pearl eye of the frog, while fully-mounted bows will have a ring around the pearl eye.

Comfort

When choosing a bow, you’ll typically want to try it (such as with our in-home trial program!) to test the bows comfort for you as a unique player. Consider factors such as weight, balance, bounciness, response, and even length, which can vary (especially for bass bows). Try different bow strokes such as spicatto, staccato, and long tones to assess the bows quality and comfort in your own hands.

Questions?

Give us a call at 1-800-779-0242! At Kennedy Violins, we want to make sure you know what you’re buying before you buy it with a commitment to answer your questions with honesty and professional know-how. So go ahead, check out our selection of quality bows…especially now that you know just what you’re looking for.

The post From Frog to Tip—How to Purchase an Orchestral Bow appeared first on Education Center.