Bow Selection Guide

How to choose a bow for your needs

Generally string players agree that desirable characteristics of a bow include a well-balanced stick, a fast response, a clean attack, and a warm resonant tone, rich in harmonics.

The material that the stick is made from certainly influences the characteristics of a bow, although it is not the only determining factor in the quality of the bow, as the skill of the bow maker plays a hugely important part. It goes without saying that different bows will suit different instruments, different playing styles, and even be affected by your choice of strings.

We have tried nevertheless to summarise characteristics often associated with different bow materials.

Brazilwood Bows

Commonly perceived advantages:

  • Affordable
  • Readily available in every size
  • Great for beginners
  • Some established players find little difference between well-made brazilwood bows and entry level pernambuco bows

Negative associations:

  • Tonally not as impressive as good pernambuco bows
  • Cheaper models are often unbalanced making it hard to produce a consistent tone
  • Less desirable weight to strength ratio than the denser pernambuco wood – resulting in a  heavy or clumsy feel

 

Pernambuco Bows

Commonly perceived advantages:

  • Time-tested material for making professional quality bows
  • Warmth and fullness of tone – rich harmonic undertones
  • Easy to draw a straight bow with consistent tone on well-balanced models
  • Little harshness or scratchiness  even when bow is tilted far onto its side
  • An experienced player can get an excellent dynamic range
  • Top of the range pernambuco bows still considered by many to be the finest available

Negative associations:

  • It takes skill, experience and finesse to handle a good pernambuco bow and get the most out of it
  • The stick can get warped if the bow is not properly cared for
  • Cheaper pernambuco bows can often be a bit spongy in the middle and slow to respond
  • Very good pernambuco bows are very expensive
  • Pernambuco bows from the same workshop can have very individual characteristics so it is important to trial before purchasing

 

Carbon Fibre Bows

Commonly perceived advantages:

  • Even relatively cheap carbon fibre bows can be easily handled by intermediate and advancing students
  • Carbon fibre bows are constantly evolving and improving
  • Strong, durable sticks
  • More consistency among bows from the same workshop (compared to bows made of natural materials) so less risk when buying without trying
  • Clean attack – speed and exactness of response
  • Great for risky playing conditions when you worry about bow being knocked out of your hand  eg. when teaching or doing pit work
  • Great for busking or outdoor gigs when the weather is unpredictable
  • Great for situations where the temperature or humidity is extreme or changeable

Negative associations:

  • Cheaper carbon fibre bows are often quite stiff
  • The tone of a carbon fibre bow can be rather thin or metallic sounding
  • Harshness of tone is particularly noticeable when bow is tilted on side
  • The majority of professional players still prefer top grade pernambuco sticks as their main bow 

 

Note: nowadays manufacturers commonly use the word 'brazilwood' to mean any wood that does not come from the pernambuco tree in Brazil. In the past brazilwood was sometimes used to refer to late-growth wood on the pernambuco tree as opposed to the denser heartwood of the tree which was simply referred to as pernambuco.