Bows, Rosin, and Bow Accessories:  Bows

Bows: Double Bass Bow Choices (A 'Buyer's Guide')

Manufactured by: Gollihur Buyer's Guide

Choosing a Bass Bow
A Special "Buyer's Guide" from Bob and Mark

If you are considering adding arco (bowing) to your bass-playing arsenal, congratulations! It's a great skill to have, even if your primary musical pursuits don't necessarily require it. There's nothing quite like drawing a bow across a low E string and filling the room with that big, warm tone. And practicing with a bow is great for your intonation, too - the pure tone of a bow can really let you hear when you're slightly out of tune; when you're plucking, you "get away with" a little inaccuracy.

But it can be a little intimidating to get started. For instance: you can purchase a bow for well under $100 - and yet there are orchestral players who own bows that cost over $10k! Should you get an inexpensive bow or spend more money? Why, what's the difference? And should you get a French style or German style bow? What kind of rosin is "best?" What's the deal with quivers? Let's tackle it, one question at a time.

How much should I spend?
This is a tough question to answer, but our bow selection leans heavily toward the affordable. There's a reason that we don't carry "super high-end" custom bows; we feel that above a certain price threshold, you should probably be auditioning bows in-person with an experienced bow-maker. Once you're at a playing level where minute differences in a bow's balance, materials, feel and construction can really have a major effect on your tone, holding them in your hands (and experiencing their feel in person) is the only way to make a confident choice about which one to buy - so a "top-quality" custom wood bow is probably not something you want to be choosing online. But if you're in the same boat as most of the rest of us, a quality factory bow is far more than adequate.

Here are some tips to narrow down your choices:

• If you're a very casual bow player, and just want a durable bow that you can use without worrying about treating it "with kid gloves" - or you're buying a bow for a young student who will be taking it back and forth to school (and maybe not being very gentle with it) - then a Fiberglas bow is probably your best bet. They're tough, inexpensive, and will do the job. Just make sure that the budget bow you buy is strung with real horsehair (all of the bows sold at Gollihur Music feature real horsehair). We believe that the only real use for the fake stuff is to string up the people who invented it!
• If you are planning on taking arco more seriously, and intend to pursue it more than just casually, you will benefit from the craftsmanship and balance of a well-made wood bow. Our Brazilwood bows have a wonderful reputation (we've carried the same ones for many years and they're in use all over the world!) and both Mark and Bob each use one of their own. Those Brazilwood bows (and our similar step-up bows made of Pernambuco, also made in the same factory) are excellent choices for university students studying the bass, as well as semi-professional and community orchestra players.
• We also carry a wonderful bow made of Carbon Fiber, which is a modern man-made material used for many applications where an item needs to have light weight and strength - for instance, bass bows! These bows are a bit pricier, but are exceptionally well-designed and made, are quite consistent from bow to bow, and feature excellent durability.

French The French bow has a smaller frog (the part of the bow you hold) and looks more like the bows you'd use to play cello, viola or violin. It is also held in a similar fashion as with those instruments, with an "overhand" grip.

German The German bow (aka "Butler") has a taller frog and is held in an "underhand" grip. Generally speaking, the rest of the bow is virtually identical, using a similar stick, and is haired in the same way.

• If you're planning on learning your arco technique with a teacher (recommended!), then you should ask him or her which style you should get. The grip and mechanics used to play each bow is different; if your teacher specializes in a particular bow style, they'll be better equipped to instruct you in that style.
• If you're planning on self-study, examine your study materials to see which bow they more prominently feature. In the USA, that's likely to be the French Bow, it seems that they are the more popular bow style here.
• If you previously played other stringed instruments (cello, violin, viola) you may find it easier to play a French bow due to the similarities in grip (it's held overhand, like the bows for those instruments, whereas the German bow is held with an underhand grip.)

• Fiberglas/horse hair Bass Bow:
  These are the top quality name-brand (NOT the cheapies!) with real horse hair (whoever invented the phony stuff should be strung up by it). It's a common student model bow, with its lower price and more durable nature. Available in French and German style; also check out our "student package" which includes the bow, cake of rosin, and a durable carry case with shoulder strap, great for toting the bow back and forth from school or rehearsals. The French bow is 28¾ inches end to end, with about a 22½ inch hair length. The German bow is 29¾ inches end to end, with about a 22½ inch hair length
  
  
• Brazilwood Double Bass Bow:
  A fantastic bow value that you'll find enthusiastically reviewed all over the web. A Brazilwood stick with black horsehair, a fully lined ebony French or German/Butler frog. Our Brazilwood bows now have black horsehair, and are considered 3/4 size (there are no strict rules on sizing). The French bow is 27¼ inches end to end, with about a 20¾ inch hair length. The German bow is 29 7/8 inches end to end, with about a 22 3/8 inch hair length. Also check out our "package deal" which includes the bow, cake of Carlsson Swedish rosin, and a lined leather quiver to hold your bow during performances.
  
  
• Pernambuco Double Bass Bow:
  A great bow at a great price from the maker of my well-reviewed brazilwood bow - nice Pernambuco sticks with fully lined ebony French or German/Butler frogs, and octagonal Pernambuco sticks. The French bows weigh around 125 grams, with the German/Butler at about 132 grams. The French bow is 27¼ inches end to end, with about a 20¾ inch hair length. The German bow is 29 7/8 inches end to end, with about a 22 3/8 inch hair length. Also check out our "package deal" which includes the bow, cake of Kolstein All-Weather rosin, and a zippered hard-side bow case for safe transport.
  
  
• David Gage Metropolitan Carbon Fiber Double Bass Bow:
  The famed David Gage shop teamed with Coda to design a box with the feel and performance of pernambuco but without dead spots - and to retain the responsiveness of wood without objectionable stiffness. These beautiful woven carbon fiber bows are available in a tuxedo-black finish with exposed carbon-fiber grain. Designed and crafted to last a lifetime under normal playing conditions.
  
  

David Gage Metropolitan Carbon Fiber Double Bass Bow

The famed David Gage shop teamed with Coda to design a bow with the feel and performance of pernambuco but without dead spots - and to retain the responsiveness of wood without objectionable stiffness...

Pernambuco Double Bass Bow

A great bow at a great price from the maker of my well-reviewed brazilwood bow - nice Pernambuco sticks with fully lined ebony French or German/Butler frogs...

Brazilwood Double Bass Bow

A fantastic bow value that you'll find enthusiastically reviewed all over the web. A Brazilwood stick with black horsehair, a fully lined ebony French or German/Butler frog...

Brazilwood Bass Bow PACKAGE (with rosin and quiver)

Our best selling bow, packaged together with our lined leather quiver and Bob's favorite rosin (Carlsson). Choose French or German bow, and Black or Brown quiver...

Double Bass Bow by Glasser - Fiberglas/horse hair

Our fiberglass bow is the top quality name brand with real horse hair, available in French or German style...