10 Best Violin Bows in 2019
By Music Critic Staff -Last Updated: October 23, 2019
Today we are looking at some of the best traditional, genuine Brazilian Pernambuco bows and their modern counterparts to help narrow down the best carbon fiber and Pernambuco Violin bows for sale online. With so many on the market choosing a new bow can be a nightmare, especially given the fact their tactile quality is a key factor. A good bow should feel like a natural extension of your arm. Pernambuco used to be the only way to go, but with the woods at near extinction and heavy restrictions inflating its value, carbon fiber resin bows have become increasingly popular over the last 2 decades.
With that in mind we are going to compare ten of the best bows and answer your queries in our buyers guide:
1. Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber
2. CodaBow Prodigy Carbon Fiber
3. Kmise Violin Bow Stunning Bow Carbon Fiber
4. Haoyue Carbon Fiber Violin Bow
5. D Z Strad Carbon Fiber OX Horn
6. Ace Music Carbon Fiber 4/4
7. D Z Strad Model 600
8. Cecilio Brazilwood
9. D Z Strad Model 501
10. Crescent Balanced Carbon Fiber
Violin Bow Buyers Guide
We have compiled some of your FAQ's for this articles buyers guide, which we have answered below. A violin bow needs to be reasonably strong with sufficient flexibility, so the material used is of paramount importance it should not be weak or soft. There are many bows manufactured with their own characteristics, shapes, and designs, for example, some are round and others octagonal but in essence, they are just a stick under the tension of a ribbon of hair. The stick should have a good camber (curve) and should not be too heavy, nor too light. There are some who strictly adhere to a 60-gram bow rule, however, its balance is far more vital than its exact weight. A bow should feel natural in your hand and not be cumbersome, one good test is to hold it at a 45-degree angle, it should be well balanced from frog to tip with equal weight distribution. Please note, these bows are tested for acoustic violins - not electric violins.
What Is A Violin Bow Made Of?
There are three main bow types categorized by the material used, which are Brazilian, Pernambuco and Carbon Fiber, there are exceptions some cheaper, student bows are made with fiberglass or synthetic materials.
Traditionally they are made of wood and horse hair.
What Wood Is Used In Violin Bows?
Brazilian is a catch-all term for several types of tropical hardwoods used for crafting bows. There are of course higher and lower end woods which fall within the Brazilian category the Pernambuco we will delve into a little deeper.
What is a Pernambuco Bow?
A Pernambuco bow is carved from a specific Brazilian tree and has been the most desirable bow material since the late 18th century, used by all the master achetiers (bow makers)- The Pau Brasil. It harbors all the perfect blend of strength with elasticity to make a highly responsive bow.
There are different grades of Pernambuco, this is because true Pernambuco is the heartwood of the Pau Brasil, the rest is actually termed Brazilwood but some manufacturers sell it as Pernambuco all the same.
The density of the two is completely different and a genuine Pernambuco bow is far stronger per gram.
Why Get A Carbon Fiber Violin Bow?
Due to the Pernambuco shortage, and inevitable price increase manufacturers turned to other materials for bow making, with none more successful, characteristically-speaking than the Carbon Fiber models. They serve up the same quintessential attributes a great bow needs but offer much much more in terms of durability and of course affordability.
How Much Are Violin Bows?
The price of a violin bow ranges from the reasonable to the ridiculous, but generally speaking, a Brazilwood will typically cost between $50 and $200 and a Pernambuco can set you back, significantly more but are priced anywhere from $200 up to $1,500. Those we have looked at today are between the $20 and $350 price mark.
A good rule of thumb is to spend around a 1/3rd of the violin price on its bow so a $3,000 violin should have a $1,000 bow but in the higher ends this can fall apart as a boutique violin can cost in excess of $40,000 whilst a high-end bow is less than a quarter of the price.
How To Hold Violin Bow?
How to grip the bow is very important and can be difficult for beginners here is a great demonstrative video from 'Violintutopro.com's Youtube channel.
Conclusion
The type of bow which compliments your violin is dependent on your playing style and preferences. Traditionally speaking a suppler bow is better as it provides a smoother sound, however, the sound is subjective and some prefer a stiffer bow with a brighter tone.
An overly stiff bow has a rough and edgy sound if you want to break the mold. You need a blend of strength and flexibility in a bow which Pernambuco provides and Carbon fiber replicates. There are Pernambuco's out there masquerading but armed with all the important info from our buyers guide we hope you can make an informed decision.
Expert Tip
Be savvy, accept that Pernambuco has been heavily farmed and is now a precious commodity. A brand new Pernambuco bow listed under $100, probably isn't going to be the genuine article.
Did you Know
The majority of connoisseurs consider the best bows to be from the french archetiers of the 19th century, arguing that modern high-end versions pale in comparison [really?], as the species of Pau Brasil used for their predecessors, actually became extinct in the 20th century.
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