| Most violin bows are usually made from one of | | | | need to spend over $1,000 for a genuine |
| three materials: | | | | pernambuco bow, you will find many Brazilwood |
| 1) wood; | | | | bows priced at or below $500 and as low as |
| 2) fiberglass; or | | | | $50.00. The quality of these bows is very hit and |
| 3) carbon fiber. | | | | miss. Even if they bear the same stamp, each is |
| 1) Wood. For centuries, the finest bows in the | | | | unique. If you want to go with a Brazilwood bow, |
| world have been made from wood. Specifically, | | | | consider trying a lot of them. By a lot, I mean at |
| pernambuco wood from Brazil. This wood is quite | | | | least a dozen. Consider taking a couple home so |
| rare and expensive, as it is taken from the center | | | | you can spend more time with them. It might be |
| of a tree that grows only in Brazil and is available | | | | a good idea to visit a couple different shops. |
| in an ever-dwindling supply. So-called "Brazilwood" | | | | Brazilwood bows are a dime a dozen, so hold out |
| bows come from the same tree, but are not | | | | for one that you really think is special. Remember |
| crafted from the center cut. The price of a wood | | | | that wood bows can be quite fragile. If you tend |
| bow can range from $35 to literally over $50,000. | | | | to be hard on your equipment you might want to |
| All this for a thin stick of wood that can, and | | | | consider a different material. Expect to spend at |
| sometimes does, break. (Musical instrument | | | | least $300.00 for a wood bow that will perform |
| insurance is a must for owners of expensive | | | | quite well. |
| wood bows and violins). | | | | 2) Fiberglass. A fiberglass bow usually costs |
| 19th and early 20th century French bows made | | | | between $25 and $50. However, fiberglass is a |
| of pernambuco wood are considered the most | | | | very poor substitute for wood. These bows are |
| valuable bows on the planet, and it is possible to | | | | almost always very weak and will collapse at the |
| spend over $100,000 for the finest examples. It is | | | | middle with very little pressure. The hair is sparse |
| quite common for professional musicians to spend | | | | and of low quality. These bows are sometimes on |
| between $10,000 and $30,000 to obtain a fine | | | | the heavy side, and can have a club-like feel and |
| French bow. Some of the most famous French | | | | appearance. It is very limiting to have a fiberglass |
| bow-makers: Eugene Sartory (who made strong, | | | | bow, and, as a teacher, I do not recommend |
| powerful sticks favored by many soloists for their | | | | them, even for beginners. |
| ability to produce a large sound that carries well), | | | | 3) Carbon Fiber. Bows made from carbon fiber |
| Francois Tourte (possibly the inventor of the | | | | bows usually cost between $200 and $700. These |
| "modern" bow, also favored by soloists for its | | | | bows are very durable, and tend not to break. A |
| incredible sweetness and smoothness), and | | | | good example can offer comparable performance |
| Dominique Peccatte, another maker of choice for | | | | to a pernambuco wood bow worth many times |
| soloists, known for crafting bows of exceptional | | | | its price. Although carbon fiber bows are generally |
| balance and depth of sound. The Sartory might | | | | more consistent than wood bows, each carbon |
| go for $20,000, and the Tourte and Peccatte | | | | fiber bow, no matter the make and model, is still |
| upwards of $50,000. | | | | unique. Why? The answer is wood. Namely, the |
| Besides the French School, there are two other | | | | ebony wood frog. Since each piece of ebony |
| schools with a rich history of high quality | | | | differs in density, carbon fiber bows actually do |
| pernambuco-wood bow-making. The first is the | | | | vary both in weight and in the location of the |
| English School, from which bows made by Tubbs | | | | balance point. The best bows usually come in at |
| and those stamped "W.E. Hill" are the most | | | | around 60 grams give or take a gram or two. But |
| well-known. Fine English bows usually sell for | | | | I have seen carbon fiber bows that weigh as little |
| around $5,000 to $15,000. The second is the | | | | as 55 grams and as much as 65 grams (from the |
| German School, which is significantly less favored | | | | same company). And, some of the cheaper |
| than the other two. Bows by this country's most | | | | models actually sound better than the more |
| famous family of bow-makers, bearing the name | | | | expensive ones. Be prepared to try several |
| of Nurnberger, are "comparatively cheap." But | | | | different models and ask to compare different |
| even a Nurnberger will usually cost at least $2,000. | | | | bows of the same model as well. |
| There are also several contemporary American | | | | In sum, the finest wood bows offer incomparable |
| bow-makers using pernambuco wood who are | | | | performance but at a price that few can afford. |
| doing excellent work. One of these is Roger | | | | In addition, wood bows may break. Fiberglass |
| Zabinski, a luthier who lives and works in | | | | bows, though attractively priced, are simply not |
| Minnesota. It is possible to commission from him a | | | | an option due to poor performance. For many |
| new bow designed to meet your needs, or to | | | | violinists, carbon fiber bows offer the best of |
| match your violin. But you should expect these | | | | both worlds: high performance and durability at a |
| also to be priced somewhere in the range of | | | | relatively low price. |
| $2,000 to $4,000.Although you probably would | | | | |