How much should i spend on a bow Options

[ffliwt]

I might be wrong - but it sounds like you're going to go back to the shop that's messed you around. Why give them your money?

Couldn't you wait until Easter and try bows from your "home" shop?

You are right - I;ll PM you my reasons


Went back today, weighed the '76' bow myself and its, as i originally thought, 70g not 76
still too heavy though
i have 2 bows on trial ones ?900 the other is ?1200 i wouldnt like to spend any more yet
If you put violins infront of me i'd know exactly what i was looking for waht i wanted etc. but with bows, i have them all out in the table infront of me and i'm just like (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) i don't really know what im looking for or what i personally like in a bow
my current bow is RUBBISH and i think its holding me back but i dont want to go full speed ahead buying an expensive bow when i havent yet developed my own taste for what i like or need in a bow etc. so am gonna stay under the ?1200 category (i do really like the ?900 bow i have on trial) then maybe in a few years when i have a better idea of what i want, i will upgrade further!

[delicato]

Thanks for the help guys
I've decided im going to lower my budget a bit. Yes you heard right (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
My thinking is - I dont NEED a ?2000 bow right now. I'm upgrading from a bow worth like ?200...
Rather than taking a huge step now it's surely better to upgrade in smaller steps so that when I DO need a more expensive bow, I can choose it based on my technique and feelings at the time that I need it. Otherwise if i buy an expensive bow now I might be kicking myself in a few years for making the wrong choice.
I'm going back today and i'm going to ask to try all the bows between ?900-?1300. There were 2 I liked that were ?900, and when i found out they were that price and the other 2 were ?1500 I put the cheaper ones back for that reason
I'm going to go back, try them with my eyes clsoed and just pick my favourites not knowing hte price, then will take them away to try

I do not know how many bows you have tried, but i would say it is a good idea to try lots, and take your time. Also, it can be useful not to look at the price, and go by feel of the bow, like you say, you can get hung up on price. This is what i did when i choose a violin, in-fact there was no prices on them (but written on a separate piece of paper for reference after!). Also, my bow i got was (what i consider fairly dear) and should i change my mind any time i can sell it at a good price, so it can be viewed also an investment as well. One place where i went regarding bows asked about specific preferences i had, such as weight, position of balance point etc. I have been told that a professional bow starts from 2000 pounds. Anyway, have fun trying lots of bows. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[STRINGMUM]

I second trying as many as possible and without knowing the price. If you say to a shop you want to try as many as possible in a given price range they should be able to give them to you without the price attached to try.

Early last year my son had to get a new cello bow and he must have tried about 30 bows in total to find the right one for him. All were tried without him knowing the price.

Even if you feel your bow is holding you back it is worth taking a little more time to get the right bow. Yes it might not be a forever bow but it does matter that you make the right choice. You don't want to find that in a year you have to go through the whole process again if you can avoid it.

[BadStrad]

You are right - I;ll PM you my reasons

Tried to reply - but your mail box was full!

[Badly-Tempered Clavier]

If you are spending that much money why not hop on a train and go to JP Guivier in London?
Also, I am sure that I read of a shop that sends them out on trial, can't remember where now. If I remember where I will post it.

[ffliwt]

Well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
After about 6 hours of bow testing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
I've ruled out the heavy bow
Taken the 2 French bows back
Took away an English and a German bow
Ruled out the English one
Love the German one
Going to Nottingham to try some more


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Sunrise]

Well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
After about 6 hours of bow testing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
I've ruled out the heavy bow
Taken the 2 French bows back
Took away an English and a German bow
Ruled out the English one
Love the German one
Going to Nottingham to try some more


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Sounds like you are having fun!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Violin Hero]

If you are spending that much money why not hop on a train and go to JP Guivier in London?
Also, I am sure that I read of a shop that sends them out on trial, can't remember where now. If I remember where I will post it.

I think Guivier is excellent for advice and repairs, although expensive, but when it comes to instruments and bows I find I am not impressed with any of their offerings.

[Tenor Viol]

Well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
After about 6 hours of bow testing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
I've ruled out the heavy bow
Taken the 2 French bows back
Took away an English and a German bow
Ruled out the English one
Love the German one
Going to Nottingham to try some more


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

If you can manage to extend your trip, it's probably worth a trip to Tim Toft in Stone (not far from Stafford)

[ffliwt]

Thing is it'd cost me ?20 on the train then ?20 to take the bows back if i take any on approval =/

It seems a small expense to pay for something so important but my mum is not loving the idea (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[viola-mad]

Sorry I'm a bit late coming to this thread, but hopefully I can still be of some use.

I can heartily recommend a trip to Bristol, which if I remember rightly is not a million miles from you, and has 3 shops within about 5 minutes' walk of each other. When I was bow shopping a couple of years ago, all let me to borrow bows on approval and return them by post if I wanted.

The chap in Bristol Violin Shop gave me some top advice about what I should be looking for. Until I visited this shop, nobody had told me that I shouldn't be just playing scales or pieces to see how everything felt. One thing they suggested was slopping the bow across the string any old how and seeing how it sounded. If it still sings even when you're using zero technique then you're onto something good.

In the end I felt guilty about not buying from them, but they were really nice about it. I ended up buying a new John Stagg off-the-peg bow for a little over ?1000. I think it should have been nearer twice that, but there was a visible blemish in the wood. It plays beautifully, and just goes to prove that there are bargains to be had.

[Minstrel]

Sounds like you're being very sensible.
Don't worry too much about buying a 'cheaper' bow, you will know when you find one that's right. I've just bought a new viola bow for my daughter with a view to it seeing her through music college - I'd set a maximum budget of ?1000, spent a day trying bows between ?400 and ?1500 and was enormously surprised and relieved when we both agreed that a ?500 bow was by far and away the best for her and her viola. At that price too, when/if she finds she is ready to upgrade this bow should make a good spare/second bow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Geranium]

...and I was really interested to find out which bow you went for, ffliwt.....

[TRACY]

Before you make a choice, try a John W Stagg Bow. Although in Bristol he sends bows out on approval. I think we tried 3. Although on website he says bows start from ?1,800, he does have student bows (which means that there are slight imperfections in grain of wood which prevent him from putting a premium on cost and therefore fittings although excellent quality are not as superior as he puts on pricier bows) I think student bows come in at approx ?1,000 and come with a free bow case.

After trying lots of bows, nothing could touch these. Do not let the name student bow put you off, this has no meaning to the playability but understand many conservatoire students would purchase these becuase of price, as they are made in exactly the same way as his other bows, but materials used have more to do with the price. The flaws in the grain of wood are very subtle and not noticeable unless you look carefully. Drop him an email, he is always quick to reply. I could be wrong but think he used to be a bowmaker for Hills.

[Badly-Tempered Clavier]

Before you make a choice, try a John W Stagg Bow.

Is he on the Christmas steps? I have heard good things about him, too.