Instruments

There are different ways to catagorize bowed instruments, and it is difficult to make generalizations without also making numerous qualifying statements at the same time. Ultimately you are looking for the instrument that you will fall in love with, and as with any relationship there is love at first sight (first sound?), and love that grows with time and maturity. Some people will only be happy with an old instrument, and some would prefer something new. The process is very subjective, and ultimately you must make your own decision. A complicating factor in the purchase of a bowed instrument is the antique value assigned to vintage instruments. Just as there are paintings that are very valuable that you might not enjoy looking at very much, you will find valuable antique instruments that do not necessarily match your idea of a great sound. Over the past thirty years many professionals who otherwise would have liked to own an antique violin, viola, cello, or bass have found that they are now needing to purchase an instrument built by a contemporary maker, simply because vintage instruments have become so expensive.

Old is not necessarily better. Today we have highly skilled makers both in the United States and abroad who command prices between $5,000 and $35,000 for an instrument. There are also many workshop instruments that can be purchased for prices ranging from as little as $1,000 to approximately $5,000. These are handmade instruments, but they are not built by a name maker with a reputation. It is important that you trust the shop that you are buying an instrument from, regardless of whether you are buying old or new.

Country of origin is not a good indicator of quality. An instrument could come from anywhere and be either good or bad. If for example you are buying a violin for about $1,500 you could buy a 20th century German instrument or a new Chinese instrument. If the shop has good sources for Chinese instruments, it is likely that they will sound better. Modern Italian instruments sell for more money than instruments from other countries, but that does not make them better sounding. It just makes them Italian! People like the idea of an instrument made in Italy.

If you want to purchase an investment grade instrument, the absolute minimum that you will spend is $5,000, with a $10,000 minimum being more realistic. It is important that you be very clear that the investment value of what you are buying is very different than the playing value. For most people it is the playability of the instrument that they should focus on.

The complexities of tonal variations are challenging to identify. Bowed instruments will have varying qualities of sweetness, projection or power, evenness, responsiveness, etc. The overtone structures of the notes played on a given instrument vary, and people are attracted to the different qualities of sounds that result. Purchasing a bowed instrument is a personal decision that the player should make on their own. Get the input of respected teachers and friends, but ultimately it is important that you come to your own conclusion.

Bows

Finding the right bow can be equally as challenging as finding the right instrument. Because each bow has a different spectrum of response, better instruments will respond differently to various bows. The way a bow feels and sounds is based upon stiffness, strength, weight and balance. Pernambuco is the wood of choice for fine bows, but there is tremendous variability from one piece of wood to the next, and so the wood used does not indicate much about the quality of the bow. Less expensive wood bows are made from Brazilwood. Sometimes a high end Brazilwood bow can play better than a low end bow made of Pernambuco. But you will almost never see an upper end bow made with anything other than a choice piece of Pernambuco.

Target weights for bows are as follows:
Violin bows – 60 grams
Viola bows – 70 grams
Cello bows – 80 grams
Bass bows – 140 grams

The above target weights will vary several grams in either direction. Some people will have preferences for a slightly heavier or lighter bow, but it is important not to confuse weight with balance. If a bow feels heavy or light, use a scale to check the weight so that you are clear on what it is that you are feeling as you play.

Look for a bow that has both the sound and responsiveness that you want. As with purchasing an instrument, you must take into account the skill and budget of the player, and then look for a bow that is appropriate for the instrument. Plan on spending roughly between one quarter and one half the value of the instrument on your bow. This rule of thumb is very rough and does not hold up with instruments that are very expensive antiques. In general, pernambuco bows start around $300 and go up to tens of thousands of dollars if they are vintage bows. Contemporary bows by name makers sell for approximately $1,500 to $5,000.

There are now high quality synthetic bows on the market that are made from composite materials. Most also use graphite fibers to simulate the acoustical qualities of the grain in wood. If you like the playing qualities of a synthetic bow it can be a very fine alternative to wood, so test them as you would any other bow. Some excellent players use them as their primary bow, and some use them as a second bow for teaching or for "gig" work where their good bow might be too vulnerable to damage. Because of how fragile wooden bows are, synthetic bows can be a nice alternative for young players because parents can feel more secure that the bow won't break. Some synthetic bows like the CodaBow Classic are guaranteed for life. Costs for composite bows range anywhere from $100 up to $3,500.

Better bows are generally trimmed in silver or gold. Less expensive bows are trimmed with what is called nickle silver or German silver which is inexpensive, contains no silver, and is less elegant. The way a bow is trimmed does not mean it is better or worse as far as personal preference and playability are concerned, but it can be used as a general indication of cost and quality. Bows trimmed with nickle are usually factory bows that sell for under $500. Contemporary bows made by individual makers will always be trimmed in silver or gold.

Buy a bow that suits your instrument both in quality and in price. It is pointless to buy a good bow for a cheap instrument, and you will not get the best out of your instrument if you compromise by buying a cheap bow. Be clear on your budget before you start and then look for an appropriate matching of the player, instrument and bow. Working with a shop that you trust can be very helpful.