My old bow, which was as cheap as they get, is on the verge of falling apart and I'm going to need to buy a new one online really soon, but we're talking piss-poor student budget here. I'll see what I can scrape together. I don't want anything remotely fancy, just something passable that'll get the job done without making me sound too much worse than I am. Any suggestions or experiences? Also, what's the best rosin out there in your opinion?
I haven't used one myself but the carbon fiber bows have a reputation for the most bang-for-the-buck, so I second that. Don't be afraid to spend a bit on a new bow, it can really make a difference. But your budget is your budget; I know how that is.
Just don't get a fiberglass one, no matter what your budget. They aren't worth anything except to give to youngsters so that the bow can survive the time-honored tradition of bow fencing.
Just be careful about the sun. I set my bow down at an outdoor gig, forgot to loosen it (yeah, dumb, especially when it needed a rehair), and when I looked at it minutes later, it was warped. bad. I thought about totally taking the frog off, letting it sit in the sun and maybe it would warp back to it's original shape, but I just took it back to the music store and they traded me a new one, a little better one actually.
A year and a half ago, I was shopping for a new fiddle, and I wanted a half-decent bow (ie, not the fiberglass POS I had been playing with for the previous six months) that I could use to try out various instruments. I decided to take a $30 gamble on a Brazilwood bow from an eBay seller by the name of klong2k, with the intention of buying a real bow once I’d chosen the fiddle. And you know what? I =really like= that bow. Oh, I’ve played with better, but I’ve tried bows in the $200-250 range, both wood and carbon fibre, that I didn’t like as much. A few months ago, my bow was in desperate need of a rehairing, and I opted to just shell out another $30 on another bow rather than buy a better bow or get the old one rehaired. When I brought the old one to the shop to get an estimate on the rehairing (as well as a minor repair job on the grip), the luthier, who didn’t know what I’d spent on it, commented that it looked like a pretty good bow. Anyway, I’m in the market for another bow right now, but I’m not desperate to replace the current one.
The seller doesn’t seem to have anything listed at the moment, but you might want to email him to see. He used to list these things by the dozen. I think he’s laundering money or something, but whatever. On a p*ss-poor student budget, you probably won’t do better.
It takes luck to get a good brazilwood bow, though. Sometimes they are made well and other times they're almost worthless, and it's hard to tell the difference with your eye.
Getting one off of Ebay is a roll of the dice, but I'm glad you got lucky, TDM. I'd recommend playing the bows at the local shop instead, so you really know what you're getting.
Oh, hell, I'd recommend playing the bows at the local shop too, but since the requirement was "half-decent", and the quality would be bound by a "p*ss-poor student budget", this eBay bow might be the best the Whiddler could do, and it's not half bad, really.
Well, you're probably right TDM, but the less money you have to play with the less chance you want to take. Gambling $30 is a lot if that's all you've got.
I've had two of the cheapest carbon fibre bow from ebay seller yitamusic , £40 once you add the delivery from China. The first one developed a kink in the stick, but still sounded ok. I also have one of their more expensive carbon fibre bows, but it was not as good.
I spent $500 on a bow (and I know that isnt alot in bow terms -but in family terms its heaps) and its the lamest worst bow I have ever had the displeasure of playing. I then spent 80 bucks on a crappy bow thing - and its the one I use now-much better than the previous one. I've heard good things about carbon fibre so I think I'll go down that route next time.
I'd be really interested to hear people posting clips of themselves playing with the Incredibow. I've tried both the standard and the 'baroque' Incredibows, and I absolutely hated them. I'd be interested to see whether anybody can make a nice sound with them.
Carbon fiber bows can only hold you for so long, I did my first 4 months of learning with a carbon fiber bow & pretty soon my ear for a good tone outgrew what that bow could produce with my fiddle.
Just made a milestone for myself, 4 months of saving every penny I could get & i've upgraded to a hand made bow.
Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
My old bow, which was as cheap as they get, is on the verge of falling apart and I'm going to need to buy a new one online really soon, but we're talking piss-poor student budget here. I'll see what I can scrape together. I don't want anything remotely fancy, just something passable that'll get the job done without making me sound too much worse than I am. Any suggestions or experiences? Also, what's the best rosin out there in your opinion?
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by Whiddler
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
Carbon fibre bows aren't too bad, i got a black one for about £80/90 and that sounds pretty good.
Pirastro rosin is what i have and that does the trick, but it's a bit more expensive.
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by D.J.F.
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
I haven't used one myself but the carbon fiber bows have a reputation for the most bang-for-the-buck, so I second that. Don't be afraid to spend a bit on a new bow, it can really make a difference. But your budget is your budget; I know how that is.
Just don't get a fiberglass one, no matter what your budget. They aren't worth anything except to give to youngsters so that the bow can survive the time-honored tradition of bow fencing.
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by Marklar
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
Just be careful about the sun. I set my bow down at an outdoor gig, forgot to loosen it (yeah, dumb, especially when it needed a rehair), and when I looked at it minutes later, it was warped. bad. I thought about totally taking the frog off, letting it sit in the sun and maybe it would warp back to it's original shape, but I just took it back to the music store and they traded me a new one, a little better one actually.
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by wyogal
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
I need one too. What about the incredibow? Do you recommend it?
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by Pere
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
A year and a half ago, I was shopping for a new fiddle, and I wanted a half-decent bow (ie, not the fiberglass POS I had been playing with for the previous six months) that I could use to try out various instruments. I decided to take a $30 gamble on a Brazilwood bow from an eBay seller by the name of klong2k, with the intention of buying a real bow once I’d chosen the fiddle. And you know what? I =really like= that bow. Oh, I’ve played with better, but I’ve tried bows in the $200-250 range, both wood and carbon fibre, that I didn’t like as much. A few months ago, my bow was in desperate need of a rehairing, and I opted to just shell out another $30 on another bow rather than buy a better bow or get the old one rehaired. When I brought the old one to the shop to get an estimate on the rehairing (as well as a minor repair job on the grip), the luthier, who didn’t know what I’d spent on it, commented that it looked like a pretty good bow. Anyway, I’m in the market for another bow right now, but I’m not desperate to replace the current one.
The seller doesn’t seem to have anything listed at the moment, but you might want to email him to see. He used to list these things by the dozen. I think he’s laundering money or something, but whatever. On a p*ss-poor student budget, you probably won’t do better.
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by Tall, Dark, and Mysterious
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
It takes luck to get a good brazilwood bow, though. Sometimes they are made well and other times they're almost worthless, and it's hard to tell the difference with your eye.
Getting one off of Ebay is a roll of the dice, but I'm glad you got lucky, TDM. I'd recommend playing the bows at the local shop instead, so you really know what you're getting.
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by Marklar
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
some of those 100.00 carbon fiber jobs can be passable, but they all are different weights and balance points...just try some out if you can
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by Sunnybear
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
Oh, hell, I'd recommend playing the bows at the local shop too, but since the requirement was "half-decent", and the quality would be bound by a "p*ss-poor student budget", this eBay bow might be the best the Whiddler could do, and it's not half bad, really.
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by Tall, Dark, and Mysterious
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
Well, you're probably right TDM, but the less money you have to play with the less chance you want to take. Gambling $30 is a lot if that's all you've got.
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by Marklar
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
I've had two of the cheapest carbon fibre bow from ebay seller yitamusic , £40 once you add the delivery from China. The first one developed a kink in the stick, but still sounded ok. I also have one of their more expensive carbon fibre bows, but it was not as good.
# Posted on July 3rd 2008 by Theo Gibb
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
I spent $500 on a bow (and I know that isnt alot in bow terms -but in family terms its heaps) and its the lamest worst bow I have ever had the displeasure of playing. I then spent 80 bucks on a crappy bow thing - and its the one I use now-much better than the previous one. I've heard good things about carbon fibre so I think I'll go down that route next time.
# Posted on July 4th 2008 by bb
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
Try Tim Phillips bowshop, they do a nice carbon fibre bow for £49.50. (I have one and it's very good). http//www.bowshop.co.uk
# Posted on July 4th 2008 by Freddy Frog
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
If you do a search for Incredibow on this site you'll find plenty of opinions. I use one and it works fine for me.
# Posted on July 4th 2008 by bowburner
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
The INCREDIBOW !!!
# Posted on July 7th 2008 by hauke
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
I'd be really interested to hear people posting clips of themselves playing with the Incredibow. I've tried both the standard and the 'baroque' Incredibows, and I absolutely hated them. I'd be interested to see whether anybody can make a nice sound with them.
# Posted on July 7th 2008 by benhall.1
Re: Half-decent cheap fiddle bow?
Carbon fiber bows can only hold you for so long, I did my first 4 months of learning with a carbon fiber bow & pretty soon my ear for a good tone outgrew what that bow could produce with my fiddle.
Just made a milestone for myself, 4 months of saving every penny I could get & i've upgraded to a hand made bow.
# Posted on July 8th 2008 by Wabbit