I am sorry if this has been discussed to death, But I am just looking for some quick advice.
I bought a nice fiddle off Yita Music..and too me it sounds nice,I put dominant strings on it. I am only starting off on the fiddle, just taking tunes from my head and rattling them off..I love it so far.
I am looking for better bow though..
Yita sells...Brazilwood,Carbon,Afria Blackwood bow,Pernambuco Bow,Snakewood Bow,Bow Frog.
at okish prices...I do not want to spend massive money.
What bow is best suited for Irish music, what bow is more forgiving..and if anyone can point me in right direction, where I can get a tried and trusted bow at smallish money, I would appreciate.
Thanks.
In my experience, I found that a carbon bow does the trick for less $$. But, you just have to try them for yourself. On your instrument. I wanted a bow that I could use anywhere, without the fear of dropping and breaking it. I couldn't afford a whole lot, the inexpensive wood bows were not straight, (the ones I had access to, anyway), so I went with a carbon fiber.
After looking and trying them out...
It's always difficult advising a beginner how to chose a bow, for the simple reason that the beginner, in the nature of things, hasn't yet acquired the bowing and other playing skills that are needed to make a good decision. I'd therefore recommend taking a teacher or other experienced player with you to the store to advise on the choice.
I agree with Wyogal that composite bows (carbon-fibre) are the ones to go for - about half the price of an equivalent quality wood bow, excellent playing qualities, reliable and strong, and less variation within a price range than wood bows. Just be aware that, as with most things, the cheapest aren't necessarily the best buy, and you don't need the top of the range until you're ready to play solo in Carnegie Hall
Carbon fiber is good-with the varied price ranges, you get what you pay for. Stay away from Brazilwood bows as they tend to warp. Pernambuco is the best but good ones will cost you.
Another website worth looking at is http://www.arcus-bow.de/ (you can chose your language when you log in). Although it is about one particular make (Arcus) there is a wealth of other information there of interest to anyone who uses a bow - such as the ergonomics of bowing, and how to clean the hairs (a topic that crops up on this forum from time to time).
I'll second the better carbon fiber bows, but it is possible to find great pernambuco bows for under $500 USD. My personal favorite is a Cirillo from Water Violet (though I understand that Cirillo has left the company and is now making and selling bows on his own). I paid less than $300 USD for it. Yet it's a terrific bow, better than most I've played costing 10 times that amount. Check the bow listings at Johnson Strings.
Yes, most of the time, bluegrass and country western fiddlers are tuned GDAE. A few tunes are commonly played in some other tuning (AEAE is perhaps the most common alternative tuning), but such tunes are far more common in old timey or Appalachian music.
I bought a carbon fibre bow as a Christmas present to myself after using crappy bows for years. This was as a result of seeing and playing one which belongs to a friend's son. I'm really pleased with it. Would recommend www.bowshop.co.uk - Tim Phillips - very nice guy and easy to do business with.
Bow advice..
Bow advice..
I am sorry if this has been discussed to death, But I am just looking for some quick advice.
I bought a nice fiddle off Yita Music..and too me it sounds nice,I put dominant strings on it. I am only starting off on the fiddle, just taking tunes from my head and rattling them off..I love it so far.
I am looking for better bow though..
Yita sells...Brazilwood,Carbon,Afria Blackwood bow,Pernambuco Bow,Snakewood Bow,Bow Frog.
at okish prices...I do not want to spend massive money.
What bow is best suited for Irish music, what bow is more forgiving..and if anyone can point me in right direction, where I can get a tried and trusted bow at smallish money, I would appreciate.
Thanks.
# Posted on May 19th 2008 by premierview
Re: Bow advice..
In my experience, I found that a carbon bow does the trick for less $$. But, you just have to try them for yourself. On your instrument. I wanted a bow that I could use anywhere, without the fear of dropping and breaking it. I couldn't afford a whole lot, the inexpensive wood bows were not straight, (the ones I had access to, anyway), so I went with a carbon fiber.
After looking and trying them out...
# Posted on May 19th 2008 by Wyogal
Re: Bow advice..
It's always difficult advising a beginner how to chose a bow, for the simple reason that the beginner, in the nature of things, hasn't yet acquired the bowing and other playing skills that are needed to make a good decision. I'd therefore recommend taking a teacher or other experienced player with you to the store to advise on the choice.
I agree with Wyogal that composite bows (carbon-fibre) are the ones to go for - about half the price of an equivalent quality wood bow, excellent playing qualities, reliable and strong, and less variation within a price range than wood bows. Just be aware that, as with most things, the cheapest aren't necessarily the best buy, and you don't need the top of the range until you're ready to play solo in Carnegie Hall
# Posted on May 19th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Bow advice..
This link gives a detailed - and fairly technical - review of most of the carbon-fibre bows on the market as of the year 2000:
http://members.aol.com/bowedstrings/violin-bow-review.html
# Posted on May 19th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Bow advice..
Carbon fiber is good-with the varied price ranges, you get what you pay for. Stay away from Brazilwood bows as they tend to warp. Pernambuco is the best but good ones will cost you.
# Posted on May 19th 2008 by fiddler woman
Re: Bow advice..
Another website worth looking at is http://www.arcus-bow.de/ (you can chose your language when you log in). Although it is about one particular make (Arcus) there is a wealth of other information there of interest to anyone who uses a bow - such as the ergonomics of bowing, and how to clean the hairs (a topic that crops up on this forum from time to time).
# Posted on May 19th 2008 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Bow advice..
I'll second the better carbon fiber bows, but it is possible to find great pernambuco bows for under $500 USD. My personal favorite is a Cirillo from Water Violet (though I understand that Cirillo has left the company and is now making and selling bows on his own). I paid less than $300 USD for it. Yet it's a terrific bow, better than most I've played costing 10 times that amount. Check the bow listings at Johnson Strings.
# Posted on May 19th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Bow advice..
Thanks for the advice.
Very helpfull.
One last question..Is American Country Bluegrass tuned the same as GDAE ??
# Posted on May 20th 2008 by premierview
Re: Bow advice..
Yes, most of the time, bluegrass and country western fiddlers are tuned GDAE. A few tunes are commonly played in some other tuning (AEAE is perhaps the most common alternative tuning), but such tunes are far more common in old timey or Appalachian music.
# Posted on May 20th 2008 by Will Harmon
Re: Bow advice..
I bought a carbon fibre bow as a Christmas present to myself after using crappy bows for years. This was as a result of seeing and playing one which belongs to a friend's son. I'm really pleased with it. Would recommend www.bowshop.co.uk - Tim Phillips - very nice guy and easy to do business with.
# Posted on May 21st 2008 by Ernie