If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, picking violin bows can be difficult. Determine the type of material that will work best for you, and then look for bows in your price range. When the violin bows are loosened, all of the sticks should be straight, and the wood should rest on a level table when the bows are on their side. Get a feel for the bow’s weight, as a bow that is too light or too heavy will be difficult to play with. When making even strokes, check the violin bows for responsiveness and wobbling.
Wood and synthetic violin bows are the two most common types. The most common wood bows are made of brazilwood or pernambuco, with the former being less expensive. Pernambuco bows of high quality are frequently used with more expensive, high-quality instruments. Synthetic bows are designed to sound like a wooden bow but are more durable. Although well-made synthetic bows are frequently used even the most advanced players, they work best for students.
A violin bow has a wide range of prices. You can expect to spend up to half of the cost of your instrument on a good bow as a general rule of thumb. Spending a lot of money on a bow for a student instrument or a low-quality violin is usually not a good idea, as it will do little to improve the sound of your instrument. A high-quality instrument, on the other hand, frequently necessitates a high-quality bow in order to reach its full potential. With a cheap bow, even a good violin can sound bad.
Once you’ve narrowed down your selection of potential violin bows, loosen the hairs and lay them flat on a level table to inspect them. The table should be touched the wood on all sides of the bow. Any raised areas, particularly in the middle, indicate that the wood is warped and the bow will not play properly. Look down from the tip to the frog while holding the product up to visually inspect the bow’s straightness. If you’re considering a synthetic bow, this is also a crucial step to take because improper construction or storage can cause these materials to warp.
The weight of the bow is also important, and violin bows should typically weigh around 0.13 pounds (60 grams). While this is the standard, some players prefer a bow that is a little lighter or heavier. Playing with the bow for at least half an hour to determine how well it works in your hand is the best way to check the weight. Make steady, medium-sized strokes on the A or D string for several minutes to test the bow’s balance, emphasizing the down and up strokes. If the bow wobbles at any point during a stroke, especially at the start or end, it is most likely unbalanced.
Violin bows are designed to be an extension of the violinist’s body. You’ll be able to get a sense of how well the bow responds to the strings and how easy it is to play trying it out for an extended period of time. In most cases, try out the bow on the instrument you’ll be using it with, as violin bows can vary in their performance on different violins.