If you are a serious violinist, you must be aware that quality bows are a must-have for a good performance. However skilled you are, a bad bow will impede your development and also affect your performance.
While there is no doubt that quality comes at a price, it is important to note that a good violin does not have to be a 5-figure masterpiece. Even with less than $100 you can get a good quality bow that will be worth its weight in Gold.
Below we will review the best violin bow under $100. This bow has stood the test time and after numerous trials by both seasoned and novice violinists, it still emerges at the top on the list of budget violin bows in the market.
Included is also a comprehensive guide that discusses the different materials that are used to make bows and tips that you can put into good use when shopping for a violin bow.
Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Violin Bow
Many violinists hold this Fiddlerman creation in high regard and for a good reason too. Fiddlerman is a renowned manufacturer of high-quality musical instruments and this bow is not any different.
Handmade to perfection using top-quality carbon fiber, and with balanced weight distribution, it is no wonder that this bow ranks among the best. The bow also features Mongolian horsehair, a solid construction, and an arch known for its great bounce.
Other notable features include:
1. Superb Design
This bow stands out because of its well-balanced design. The design goes to ensure a well-balanced sound. The hair is also adjustable, and you can tighten whenever the need arises. The weight distribution also eases handling, and this is one of those bows that you can play for hours without experiencing any tension or bouncing.
2. Minimal Hiss
This piece handles rosin longer than most bows in its category. It also produces a minimal hiss which makes it particularly popular among seasoned violists. Thanks to this feature and the fact it comes with genuine Mongolian horsehair, this bow produces a professional-grade sound. Therefore, it is perfect even for professional violinists.
3. Light and Has Good Weight Distribution
At about 60 grams, this is among the lightest bows in the market. If you know how to use it right, this bow will simply play like a dream. The minimal weight helps as the bow is much easier to handle when compared to other bulky pieces.
4. Durability
This is one hard violin bow to break. It is also designed to withstand humidity and high temperatures. All parts in this bow are made of high-quality materials. The carbon fiber is known for its durability and the Mongolian horsehair is the epitome of quality. The bow comes covered in cowhide leather also known for its durability.
5. Value
Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Violin Bow is a perfect example of a bow that will give you value for money. The bow glides effortlessly across the violin. It rests easily on your arm and best of all, it is highly affordable. For less than $100, it is as good as it gets as far as violin bows are concerned. It is also designed to last and will serve you well for many years as long as you take good care of it.
Pros
- Lightweight.
- It comes with genuine Mongolian hair for professional sound.
- Great construction.
Cons
- It needs some time to rosin well.
Violin Bow Buying Guide
If you are in the market for a violin bow, you will be confronted by all kinds of bows in different types and sizes. Making a choice and selecting one out of the many options available can be quite a task. Knowing what to look out for can help you narrow your search and make your work much easier.
Below is a guide on the common materials used to make bows. We have also included enough information on the features you should consider before buying to ensure you get nothing short of the best.
Materials Used to Make the Bow
The main materials used to make violin bows include Pernambuco wood, Brazilwood, carbon fiber, and fiberglass. All these materials have one thing in common, they are all very light. They are also quite sturdy. That said they come with unique features that affect their performance.
We talk about them in detail:
– Pernambuco Wood
This has been the material of choice for modern bows that are used when playing orchestral strings instruments. This wood from Brazil is in most cases strung using horse-hair. The wood is dense and often favored by experienced players.
While the Pernambuco wood results in great quality bows, environmental degradation has made it scarce. The market has responded to this scarcity and most if not all bows made out of this wood are quite expensive.
– Brazilwood
Brazilwood is a name given to tropical hardwoods used to make bows. The hardwoods come from Brazil among other tropical countries. This wood is mostly used to make inexpensive bows perfect for beginners and intermediate players.
Just like in the case of Pernambuco, Brazilwood is not as common as it used to be some years back. Though not as expensive as Pernambuco wood bows, the pieces made using Brazilwood are still not as common.
– Carbon fiber
Many bows made in the last 20 years are made using carbon-fiber. Various grades of this material are used and in some instances, it is bonded with resin to produce a material that functions pretty much like the Pernambuco wood.
Carbon fiber is both sturdy and durable. It is also affordable and offers good value for money. The Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber violin bow, for example, is made using carbon fiber material and is the best violin bow under $100 in a market filled with bows made of hardwood among other premium materials.
– Fiberglass
Fiberglass is another man-made material that is used to make violin bows. The bows made from this material tend to last longer but are cheaper compared to those made of wood or any of the above materials.
This is not to mean that these bows are not as good when it comes to quality. The construction to a large extent determines how well a bow delivers and there are some carbon fiber and fiberglass bows that would put some of the pricier varieties to shame.
It is hard to say which bow is best based on the material used to make it. Sure, the traditional Pernambuco wood comes with some enviable performance history, but the truth is that there are certain fiberglass and carbon fiber bows that offer equally excellent performance.
Bow Hair Quality and Types
The materials discussed above are often strung together using some form of hair. Bow hair comes in two main types.
On one hand, you have the all-natural white stallion hair, on the other, you have synthetic fiber hair. Stallion hair is derived from the tail of horses that live in extremely cold areas such as Mongolia. These cold climate stallions are favored because they produce thicker and stronger hair.
Even though synthetic fiber hair can be used to substitute white stallion hair, the truth is that nothing really equates to authentic stallion hair as far as performance is concerned. Violinists, even beginners can tell the difference and most prefer the white stallion hair as opposed to the synthetic fiber.
Weight & Balance and Its Effect on Sound and Handling
The average bow weighs about 60 grams. However, there are some that weigh a mere 54 grams and others that come to about 80 grams. Bows differ when it comes to weight and balance. A good bow should have a perfect balance when it comes to weight.
The lighter bows are perfect for making different strokes. They are easier to control and you can use them for long performances with minimal if any discomfort. The heavier bows, on the other hand, create a more powerful voice. It is up to you to weigh both options and see which option will add value to your performance.
Shape
Violin bows come in two shapes-round and octagonal. The round-shaped bows are preferred because they offer greater control. They are also less stiff when compared to the octagonal ones. That said there are experienced violinists who prefer the octagonal-shaped bows. It is, therefore, safe to say that the shape of the bow is pretty much a matter of preference.
Final Thoughts
These are the different varieties of bows that you will find in the market. When shopping for a new bow, you need to consider the material used to make it, its overall construction, as well as its balanced ratio These three factors will to a large extent determine performance. Size is also another factor to consider. The size of the bow you choose should correspond with the size of your violin.
All in all, bow shopping should not be hard if you know what you want. If you are a beginner, start by searching for the best violin bow under $100. It is recommended to first choose one of the cheaper varieties before you can identify one that works best for you. The Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Violin Bow, for example, would be a great place to start.