Opinions on this bow?

[mapfluke]

Just wondering if this would be worth an $85 investment as it is available at my local violin shoppe. ~66 grams

[MarkBouquet]

I won't comment on the quality or $ value, though it looks reasonably well made. Your photos could be better.

But I will say that I have a violin bow that was 63gms when I got it, and tip heavy. It took 2gms of lead tape under a replacement thumb leather to get the balance where I wanted it, and now it feels lighter at 65gms well balanced than it did at 63gms tip heavy. For some applications it's one of my favorite bows. But your bow of interest is already 66gms. If it needs rebalancing to make it right, it might end up being off the charts of reasonable weight. How do you like it? $85 isn't much.

[mapfluke]

On 12/16/2017 at 7:48 PM, MarkBouquet clearsky said:

I won't comment on the quality or $ value, though it looks reasonably well made. Your photos could be better.

But I will say that I have a violin bow that was 63gms when I got it, and tip heavy. It took 2gms of lead tape under a replacement thumb leather to get the balance where I wanted it, and now it feels lighter at 65gms well balanced than it did at 63gms tip heavy. For some applications it's one of my favorite bows. But your bow of interest is already 66gms. If it needs rebalancing to make it right, it might end up being off the charts of reasonable weight. How do you like it? $85 isn't much.

Thanks for your input, I may stop by and give it a try as that will be the deciding factor.

[mendicus]

If it is pernambuco price is good.But can't say from photos, more likely isn't

[mapfluke]

On 12/18/2017 at 8:00 PM, mendicus said:

If it is pernambuco price is good.But can't say from photos, more likely isn't

The owner of the shops claims it to be Brazilwood

[GeorgeH]

If you're buying it to use and you like the way it plays, then $85 is fine (assuming that it can be rehaired). It is not an "investment"  bow, though.

Personally, 66g is too heavy for my comfort. As @MarkBouquet clearsky pointed out, balance point is also important to playability.

[mapfluke]

15 hours ago, GeorgeH said:

If you're buying it to use and you like the way it plays, then $85 is fine (assuming that it can be rehaired). It is not an "investment"  bow, though.

Personally, 66g is too heavy for my comfort. As @MarkBouquet clearsky pointed out, balance point is also important to playability.

The balance point is at about 10". And just out of curiosity, what' your preferred weight for a bow?

[MarkBouquet]

60gms is considered normal for a violin bow, and + - 3gms from that is considered a normal range. 66gms is essentially a light viola bow. It really is too heavy for a main violin bow, but possibly useful for some situations, provided that it's well balanced.

[GeorgeH]

9 hours ago, mapfluke said:

And just out of curiosity, what' your preferred weight for a bow?

My preferred violin bow weight range is 58-60g with a balance point about 248mm (9.75inches)

[PASEWICZ]

54 minutes ago, GeorgeH said:

My preferred violin bow weight range is 58-60g with a balance point about 248mm (9.75inches)

Is this is measured from the end of the stick or the button?  Here we measure from the thumb projection as it removes a variable and measure from where a player feels balance.

[GeorgeH]

Just now, Jerry Pasewicz said:

Is this is measured from the end of the stick or the button?

End of button.

[martin swan]

I wouldn't buy a 66 gram bow, though there used to be a market for "tweeners" - something you could use on a violin and a viola.

How long is it?

[nathan slobodkin]

1 hour ago, Jerry Pasewicz said:

Is this is measured from the end of the stick or the button?  Here we measure from the thumb projection as it removes a variable and measure from where a player feels balance.

Playing tension or frog full forward?

[PASEWICZ]

Just now, nathan slobodkin said:

Playing tension or frog full forward?

All the way forward.