Choosing a bow

Choosing a bow is as important a process as finding an instrument.

The instrumentalist cannot imagine how much this tool can improve and facilitate his or her playing until he or she has experienced it.  

By trying out several bows of various styles and makers, the player can then choose the one that allows them to perform certain bow strokes with ease. A special combination has to be found. A luthier or an expert can advise on the value and the physical aspect of the bow, but nothing equals the sensation felt by the musician. Everyone is different and it shows in the way one holds a bow and how one applies pressure on the stick to perform different strokes like legato and spiccato. . The bow also reacts differently depending on the instrument.

Although the dimensions and weights of the bow are fairly standard and they all serve more or less the same purpose, each craftsman gives his work a certain uniqueness. It is in the shape of the head, the precision of the cut, and the visual qualities, among others, that one can recognize the work of the artist.

In addition to the quality of the wood and its craftsmanship, a good bow can be described as both stable and versatile. Stable, since it must give the player consistency in their playing and versatile because it must be able to "adapt" to various stylistic demands. The weight distribution throughout the stick should be well calibrated, the bow should be neither too heavy nor too light.

Enjoy finding your next bow!