Okay: I am ready to upgrade my bow. I am wondering what people are seeing in the movement of their bow while they play, particularly if the way my bow vibrates ( not the hairs, but the wood, which kind of bounces while I play) is supposed to be there or not. Or if this is an indication for needing a stronger bow.
I have two fiddle bows. One is new. The other has been in my family for several generations and to my certain knowledge hasn't been rehaired since before WW2! It is a very light bow, slightly longer than the new one, and its shape is still perfect and undistorted. It plays very smoothly and responsively with hardly any noticeable wood bounce. There is no maker's name or other indication of origin. The new bow is a modern German one (c. $300), a little heavier and stiffer than the old one, and plays well, but with a slightly more "gritty" tone than the old bow - that must be the modern hair. There is, however, a slight tendency to wood bounce under some bowing conditions, but not enough to worry me when I'm playing. This comparison between these two bows is some indication that the weight and stiffness of the bow is not necessarily a guide as to whether the bow will have wood bounce.
I also use my cello bow sometimes on the fiddle. The cello bow, which is a very fine bow and was once borrowed by a professional soloist to play a concerto, not surprisingly gives a very powerful and somewhat gritty tone (on the fiddle) - ideal for sessions when I know the tunes well, but a bit over-powering for solo practice at home. The cello bow is stiff but very responsive, with no hint of wood bounce. When I use it on the fiddle I find it necessary to slacken the hair off to a slightly lower tension than I would use when playing the cello.
I have heard of trad fiddle players using viola bows, and I was told the other day about an Irish fiddle player who had a bow made for him at a weight of 75gm, halfway between viola and cello. The weight of a typical violin bow is about 60gm, viola about 70, and cello about 80. I've also heard good reports about the "Classic" Corda carbon fibre bows which are being used by professionals. These may be worth investigating.
But what it all ultimately means is that you have to try out a bow before buying, for it is quite a personal thing. What suits one player may very well not suit another. The ideal situation is to go to a good bow dealer and spend a few hours there trying out a series of bows until you find the one that needs you.
I'd be interested in anything further either of you (or anyone else!) might have to say regarding wood bounce.
I have a hardwood violin bow and a pernambuco bow obtained with an old violin but in more of a viola bow weight. Bounce is noticeable with both bows but as I am new to the instrument, I don't know whether the bow is bouncing, or I am bouncing, or it is a bit of both. (I suspect it is a bit of both - we seem to have Bad Bounce Days and Not-So-Bad Bounce Days.)
I have also, just for the heck of it, tried an abnormally heavy snakewood baroque cello bow. It didn't bounce much, but then the baroque bow shape seems less inclined to bounce anyway, so that wasn't much of a diagnostic exercise.
Bow quality: getting a better bow
Bow quality: getting a better bow
Okay: I am ready to upgrade my bow. I am wondering what people are seeing in the movement of their bow while they play, particularly if the way my bow vibrates ( not the hairs, but the wood, which kind of bounces while I play) is supposed to be there or not. Or if this is an indication for needing a stronger bow.
Appreciate any input..
Lee
# Posted on December 14th 2002 by lees
Re: Bow quality: getting a better bow
Lee
I have two fiddle bows. One is new. The other has been in my family for several generations and to my certain knowledge hasn't been rehaired since before WW2! It is a very light bow, slightly longer than the new one, and its shape is still perfect and undistorted. It plays very smoothly and responsively with hardly any noticeable wood bounce. There is no maker's name or other indication of origin. The new bow is a modern German one (c. $300), a little heavier and stiffer than the old one, and plays well, but with a slightly more "gritty" tone than the old bow - that must be the modern hair. There is, however, a slight tendency to wood bounce under some bowing conditions, but not enough to worry me when I'm playing. This comparison between these two bows is some indication that the weight and stiffness of the bow is not necessarily a guide as to whether the bow will have wood bounce.
I also use my cello bow sometimes on the fiddle. The cello bow, which is a very fine bow and was once borrowed by a professional soloist to play a concerto, not surprisingly gives a very powerful and somewhat gritty tone (on the fiddle) - ideal for sessions when I know the tunes well, but a bit over-powering for solo practice at home. The cello bow is stiff but very responsive, with no hint of wood bounce. When I use it on the fiddle I find it necessary to slacken the hair off to a slightly lower tension than I would use when playing the cello.
I have heard of trad fiddle players using viola bows, and I was told the other day about an Irish fiddle player who had a bow made for him at a weight of 75gm, halfway between viola and cello. The weight of a typical violin bow is about 60gm, viola about 70, and cello about 80. I've also heard good reports about the "Classic" Corda carbon fibre bows which are being used by professionals. These may be worth investigating.
But what it all ultimately means is that you have to try out a bow before buying, for it is quite a personal thing. What suits one player may very well not suit another. The ideal situation is to go to a good bow dealer and spend a few hours there trying out a series of bows until you find the one that needs you.
trevor
# Posted on December 14th 2002 by lazyhound
Re: Bow quality: getting a better bow
Trevor, Lee,
I'd be interested in anything further either of you (or anyone else!) might have to say regarding wood bounce.
I have a hardwood violin bow and a pernambuco bow obtained with an old violin but in more of a viola bow weight. Bounce is noticeable with both bows but as I am new to the instrument, I don't know whether the bow is bouncing, or I am bouncing, or it is a bit of both. (I suspect it is a bit of both - we seem to have Bad Bounce Days and Not-So-Bad Bounce Days.)
I have also, just for the heck of it, tried an abnormally heavy snakewood baroque cello bow. It didn't bounce much, but then the baroque bow shape seems less inclined to bounce anyway, so that wasn't much of a diagnostic exercise.
Tish
# Posted on December 15th 2002 by Tish
Re: Bow quality: getting a better bow
You might find what you need here. http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display.php/942
Mark
# Posted on December 16th 2002 by Mark Cordova
Re: Bow quality: getting a better bow
I have a carbon-fibre bow, it has verry little "Bounce" and is quite light, the tone is exceptional!!!!
# Posted on December 16th 2002 by Dafydd Monks