One technique that I have found useful in any selection activity is to try the first item (bow, cello, etc.). Then try the second. Whichever one you like best, becomes your reference. Put the one you like least aside. Compare the third item to the reference. If you like it better than the reference, it becomes your new reference. Put the non-reference item aside. Continue this process until you have tried all the candidates. It is easier to compare two items against each other in real time than it is to compare a number of them based on your notes written after each try. If you want to find a second best, set the winner from the first round aside (in a special place) and go through the process again with the remaining items. Hope this helps. Love your videos.

Before you start comparing bows, there is one little trick we have learned. First, you must determine if the bow is compatible with your cello. We do this at our shop with every bow shopper. We start with a box of bows in the customer's price range. We have them take the bow, and down-bow the C. Don't start too close to the frog; start your bow just past the winding. Stop the strings with your left hand, then down bow the G. On both the C and G, the bow should get the string moving immediately. If there is any hesitation, babble, burble, whisper, or hiss, the bow and cello are not even compatible. Put it aside, and try the next bow until you have a good selection of bows to do your final testing with. The wood of your cello has a frequency that it likes, as does the bow. The trick is finding the two that like each other and sing immediately. In our experience, some cellos like most bows, some cellos like about half the bows, some cellos like bows from certain shops or makers or materials, and some cellos don't like very many bows. So this exercise is imperative for you to eliminate bows that would only cause you trouble going forward. Imagine trying to play pianissimo on your C or G string with a bow that won't readily start the string? Or a fast passage with string crossings? If you have access to several bows, try this. remember, start just past the winding (the hair very close to the frog is tighter and gives less than further out) and just do a normal down bow with normal weight. Stop the strings with the left hand, then do the G. Listen. It should start 'BAA' without hesitation.

I’m a carpenter and I got some Ipe wood (Brazilian hardwood ) scraps and whittled them down to really nice bows. I like carving different shaped heads and I can make the balance point where I want and i found out you can make it too close to the grip and I have to push down more but it’s nice feeling like a good fencing sword. I’ve done about a dozen now and learned a lot about it and It’s also nice to make your own wand. I encourage everyone to just cut and scrape their own bow because it’s becoming rare to find a good Archetier. Get creative with it.🎉

@sbdreamin

11 ай бұрын

a real bow, the camber is not carved, it is heat bent.

Thank you. I could watch you all day just trying bows ☺️

@cellodiscovery

2 жыл бұрын

🥰

Mmm i dont think the teacher would ever need to tell student that its time for new bow. I remember when i was first learning the cello after about a year into it, i was struggling with a cheap bow that my teacher/ luthier provided me. I then asked him if i could try his bow - i cannot tell you THE HUGE DIFFERENCE IT MADE. Not only in its playability but it brought out a better sound from my cello. I asked him if i could get it from him. And at that time it was an expensive bow telling me that it was the best one in his shop. He gave me a month to month payment plan and was. Excited! Then later i had to trade in this bow for another one because it was a bit too heavy.

So informative, thanks ! It is so clear on your playing demonstration and the close up of the bow when referring to balance point and flexibility.

@cellodiscovery

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Blanche! Glad it was helpful to you.

Thank you for posting this. Awesome! Best bow analysis I’ve seen on KZread. I’ve watched many videos.

Thank you for the advice. Much appreciated.

This is fantastic! I paid about 2K on my cello bows, they are very different wood bows (Pernambuco wood) and one is heavier (on the frog) than the other. Hairs, rosins are also very critical and they can be a matter of preference for cellists. I never realized how critical a very good bow is until I returned my rental and got a professional-grade bow. It is incredible! I know bows can be as expensive as some cellos but it is possible to find good quality bows from 1-3K. Thanks for sharing this.

In a string shop window in Philadelphia there is this cute sign . . . "The Wand Chooses the Wizard, Mr. Potter" LOVE your excellent videos, Carolyn . . . (BTW, I tried an Arcus bow just recently - an M7 = 72 grams ! ) YIKES . . . sounded really sweet but kinda light AND expensive :- ) You have a great looking/sounding bow!

Excellent video. New cello student. I am learning and you gave me a lot of information for thought to guide me. Wow!

@cellodiscovery

Жыл бұрын

Good luck with the cello! Small steps and you'll get there. :)

Super video Carolyn!

@cellodiscovery

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Ailbhe! That means a lot coming from you. :)

Hello from Ireland, many thanks for sharing your experience with bow selection. It is invaluable for us amateurs 😊😊

@cellodiscovery

Жыл бұрын

Hi Shay! You are welcome - and "Hello" from Austin!

Thank you

Just this morning I said I needed a better bow! I'm an adult beginner and I'm not happy with the bow I have. Thank you for the excellent tips. I particularly like when you said to keep trying bows until I find the one I love; don't settle! 😊

@cellodiscovery

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Nina! Good luck on your bow search!

@ninaw3688

2 жыл бұрын

Carolyn, this week I saw your video in which you reviewed the Incredibow. I was fascinated, so I have ordered one. Could this be the one (for now)? I will keep you posted!

@MysticalDragon73

2 жыл бұрын

@@ninaw3688 how did you like it?

@ninaw3688

2 жыл бұрын

@@MysticalDragon73 I LOVE it! It took a while and several layers of rosin before I could get a sound, which was frustrating. However, now that the bow has sufficient rosin on, it works very well and doesn't need to be rosined as often as the traditional bow. I also find the Incredibow much lighter and easier to control than the traditional bow.

@MysticalDragon73

2 жыл бұрын

@@ninaw3688 Thank you so much. I just got a cello today as a rental. The first thing I noticed was that the composite bow they provided was very easy to make contact with the stick when the hair was on the strings. So im considering one of these as a reasonable upgrade while I'm learning to play. Now im trying to decide between medium weight or standard. Its nice to hear feedback from other users not on their site.

In Australia Simply for Strings Brisbane

Great advice!

@cellodiscovery

Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Suzanne! ☺

Thank you!

@cellodiscovery

22 күн бұрын

You are welcome!

Hello Carolyn, excellent video, very valuable information for cellists looking for a new bow. One little thing though, the 9" for the balance is a bit on the short side in our experience, don't you think? I think believe I have spotted in the video that your bow is more like 9.5" by the way, which I consider the ideal number for cello bows. :)

@cellodiscovery

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this correction. ☺ I've long wanted to try an Arcus bow. I've been to your site many times.

Thank you for your advice. I wonder what kind of cello do you have. Is it full size or 7/8? Is it old or new? Could you share the name of the luthie? Thank you in advance for your answers.

@cellodiscovery

Жыл бұрын

Hi Francisco - I play on a 7/8 cello. Good eye! It is very old. The back and the sides are from the mid 1600's and the front is from the 1800's. It's seen a thing or two. :)

Thanks for the bow choosing tutorial. I couldn't quite make out your bow maker's name in the video and I don't see it listed as you'd mentioned. Could you please tell us?

@cellodiscovery

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Donna! Sorry about that - It is now in the notes above (and for quick reference, the bow maker is Eric Paulu. He lives in CO).

If you have a beginner string instrument and bow, would you recommend updating the instrument or bow first? Which would affect your sound more? Or is it best to do them together since they work specially together?

@cellodiscovery

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Michelle - Thanks for watching. That's actually a great question! Upgrading your instrument will definitely have a bigger impact on your sound than the bow will when updating from a student model.. Since it really takes some time to find the right instrument and the right bow, I recommend you do them at separate times. Purchase the instrument, get to know it, find out the good and bad of it and then find a bow to match it.

Is it better to get a carbon fibre bow if you are a beginner?

I am an adult beginner. As a beginner, would a better bow make a difference in the tone or is it just a matter of my technique ( or lack there of)?

@cellodiscovery

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Kathi- It depends on how beginner you are. If you are JUST starting then the quality of the cello is going to have a bigger impact on your tone than the bow. Later on when you learn more nuance, a higher quality bow will certainly make a difference in your sound and what you can do in terms of technique.

1:12 Which techniques were they? And why was it nearly impossible? Was it because of an imbalanced weight ratio from frog to tip? Or what exactly made some specific techniques on your previous bow so hard to play?

@cellodiscovery

Жыл бұрын

Sautille, most specifically. It didn't bounce right and it didn't make a crisp initiation of the sound. :)

@cartersessal4551

Жыл бұрын

@@cellodiscovery thanks for the answer!

0:36 hell, I can't even tell the difference between a $5,000 cello, a $180,000 cello and a $1,000,000 cello. Got bugger all chance of telling the difference between bows... kzread.info/dash/bejne/aIiMxs2cdZOfnM4.html