The best experience while playing a violin is majorly determined by the violin bow that is used by the violinist. There are so many types of violin bows featured for sale online. To make a good choice, it is a great idea to get some more knowledge about the violin bow, its features, and what will work best for you.
Before buying a violin bow, it is important to consider the material from which it was made. The common violin bows found online are either made of wood, fibre glass or carbon fibre. Generally, violin bows made from any of the materials mentioned above are durable and last long.
What are the Best Professional Violin Bow?
2) Coda Bow Diamond Violin Bow
- Kevlar acoustic core
- Traditional Frog made from Polished Premium Ebony by Walter Paulus
- Handcrafted in the USA
- Weighs only 5.6 ounces
- High quality
1) CodaBow Prodigy
- Handcrafted
- Premium stallion horse hair
- Traditional Frog Design Made by Walter Paulus with Xebony Engineered Ebony
- Nickel and Silver fittings
3) Vingo Violin Bow
- Handcrafted
- Compact design
- The bow stick has been made from Brazilian wood
- Natural horsehair
- Weighing only 12.8 ounces
The flexibility of the violin bow is another consideration when making a purchase. It is essential to use a violin bow that is not too flexible; this gives you more control during a performance with the violin bow. One tip that has proven to be very helpful is that you should buy a straight violin bow.
The hair on the violin bow also determines the quality of sound output when it is used to play the musical instrument. The hair is usually horsehair, which has been found to be most suitable for violin bows.
The material that has been used to make the frog on the bow should also be tough and durable. Many violin bow models feature a frog made of ebony, because ebony is durable and it looks radiant when polished.
Here are the common violin bow models that you will find online;
9 Best Professional Violin Bow Reviews
1) CodaBow Prodigy
Although the features of this violin bow are suitable for all categories of learners, the finishing and materials used to make the handcrafted bow model are of a high quality.
It is a 4/4 violin bow, with accurate measurements and standards attributed to professional violin bows, and at a weight of only 5.6 ounces, it is easy to achieve the best sound output with this violin bow, even after playing the musical instrument for long hours.
The bow hair on this model features premium stallion horse hair that has been tinted white. On the frog, there is an inlay that features White Mother of Pearl insignia. The frog is made of polished ebony and it has slides made of sterling silver. It is the traditional frog design, which comes with the regular adjustment screws.
The wedges and plugs featured in the design of this violin bow have been handmade from wood. The bow can be easily stored in a carrying bag, and it is resistant to extreme humidity or moisture. Nickel and Silver fittings adorn the Moroccan leather grip, which also enhances the aesthetic appeal of this violin bow model.
2) Coda Bow Diamond Violin Bow
Handcrafted and styled to meet the basic needs of the violinist, the coda bow brand presents the violin bow made of carbon fibre. The use of carbon fibre is an understandable choice considering the need for tensile strength and durability of a violin bow.
It is also a 4/4 violin bow in the medium to moderate category regarding the stiffness of the violin bow. This category of stiffness makes this violin bow model suitable for children who need to have more control and balance while playing the violin.
This violin bow model also features a Kevlar acoustic core, responsible for the clear tones and sound output while it is in use. The frog is made of ebony and it is polished to enhance its appearance.
The violin bow weighs only 5.6 ounces; the carbon fibre material from which it is made provides protection from harsh weather conditions and intense humidity during storage.
Horse hair has been used on the bow, it is straight and unbleached. The horse hair has been ideally sourced and from a general overview, this violin bow is environmentally friendly.
3) Vingo Violin Bow
Weighing only 12.8 ounces, the Vingo violin bow can be used by young children and older adults conveniently. The compact design used in making the violin bow contributes to the impressive sound output when it is used.
The compact design eliminates space between the bow stick and the frog, which gives the violin a professional look. The bow stick has been made from Brazilian wood sourced directly from Pernambuco. The bow stick is sturdy, which offers the right standard of stiffness that can improve a violinist’s musical performance.
Natural horsehair has been used in the design of this violin bow. The horsehair is unbleached, and it is not curled on the bow. The finishing is done with silver and real leather, which is featured on the grip.
The finishing adds aesthetic appeal and also gives the violinist a sense of pride while using this bow. It also has a well-defined balance point, which goes a long way to eliminate error, when the bow is used during a musical performance.
This is one of the handmade violin bows that give the user a feel of the traditional bows that were used in the early days.
4) Coda Bow Diamond SX
Going through the features of the CodaBow Diamond SX, it is clear that the violin bow can be used by learners at all levels, including young children who need to get more practice with the violin.
The bow weighs only 3.84 ounces, and it is categorised as one of the 4/4 violin bows that meets the top standards. The violin bow features a bright design with natural graphite tint at the base.
The distinctive weave on the bow is done with a combination of diamond and graphite on the weave. There is a diamond graphite detail on the slide of the frog, which has been made from ebony and polished to give the violin bow an appealing appearance.
The slide on this violin bow features a bright looking sterling silver winding that is durable and improves the balance, when this violin bow is in use. The grip is finished with quality Moroccan leather; there is a simulated ivory tip plate at the end of the bow stick.
The bow hair is made of Gold Medal Stallion hair, and the usability is enhanced with traditional wood wedges and plugs.
5) Piano Guys Carbon Violin Bow
While it looks quite simple, the carbon fibre parts of this violin present a sturdy and durable bow that can last for many years. It is easy to clean and store in a gig bag because the finishing has been done with carbon fibre.
Other features of this violin bow include a branded TPG Ferrule, and the ebony frog. The bow hair on this model has been sourced from Mongolian horses; the horsehair on this violin bow has been tinted green, to blend with the other green coloured parts.
It is easy to achieve a consistency in sound output with this violin bow, because of the TPG sharp bow. This model weighs only 12.72 ounces, and it can be stored safely in a carrying bag, the bow is resistant to water and humidity.
Violinists can maintain a good grip on this bow because it features a lizard grip. The features are standard, and its universal design makes this violin bow suitable for playing different types of songs.
6) Master Antique Pernambuco Violin Bow
Starting an experience as a violinist with this baroque violin bow can help beginners quickly master the notes and octaves of the violin.
The Master Antique bow weighs only 8 ounces; it can be used by adults and children, who are learning how to play a violin, intermediate and professional violinists. The materials for this bow have been sourced from Pernambuco in Brazil, where the finest and most suitable wood for a violin bow can be easily obtained.
The bow features a rounded Pernambuco stick; a frog made from polished ebony, and the inlay features one of the notable Parisian eye designs. This is also a 4/4 violin bow; it has a stiffness that can be described as medium, which makes it a good choice for learners at all levels.
The frog and bow straight bow stick design gives this violin bow a good balance while it is in use. There is a screw on the holding that can be used to adjust the ebony frog, and the hand grip has been made of lizard skin, which provides a good grip.
7) Richard Wilson Marais Violin Bow Model
Handmade with polished snake wood, the features are similar to baroque styled violin bows used many years ago. This model is a stiff violin bow, which is adequate for players who need to maintain balance during a musical performance.
The 4/4 specification for this bow model has been confirmed, it features a leather grip that improves versatility and fast response during a musical performance. The violin bow weighs only 6.4 ounces; it is portable, and resistant to moisture and humidity.
The weight and straight bow stick enhance the violinist’s ability to maintain balance while using the bow during a performance. In addition to its aesthetic values, the baroque German bow features contribute to the artistic experience.
8) Strad German Baroque Violin Bow
The 4/4 full size measurement of this violin bow makes it suitable for professional violinists and learners who want to start practicing how to play the violin with a standard violin bow.
The baroque features of this Strad violin bow gives it a unique appearance that blends in with the classical music. This Strad German violin bow is made of snake wood, which is known to be durable and versatile.
The violin bow weighs 15.2 ounces, which makes it a good choice for violinists who enjoy playing the musical instrument for many hours. The sound output delivered with this bow is excellent; this feature is attributed to the use of premium Mongolian horsehair which will not collapse while the violin bow is in use, during a musical performance.
The violin bow has a standard stiffness; it can be used to play different models of violins. Regarding handling, the handle of this violin bow model has been finished with quality leather, which holds tight over the silver frame. The use of leather improves the handling and it gives the violinist more control during a musical performance.
9) Yamaha CBB 101 Standard Violin Bow
Besides the lightweight features of this modern violin bow, it has many other attributes that can improve the violinists’ performance. The violin bow weighs only 3.52 ounces; it is portable and can be easily moved from one location to another with a carrying bag.
The lightweight and portable features make it one of the suitable models for children and older adults who may feel strain when using heavy violin bows. The carbon fibre violin bow is resistant to water and humidity, which makes it easy to store this violin bow securely, after it has been used.
This violin bow model has been particularly designed for professional violinists, but it can still be used by intermediate players who want to start practicing with a standard violin bow. The bow is straight, and it is easy for the violinist to maintain adequate balance while it is in use.
Choosing the Best Professional Violin Bow
Violin bows that feature adjustable screws to get the right setting on the frog and bow stick are a good choice. However, it is also important to find out the material that has been used to make the grip.
Violin bows that feature leather grips are a good choice, because they can help the violinist maintain a good balance. The sound output is mostly determined by the bow hair. Products that feature tinted bow hairs will work as well as others if the bow hair has been sourced from high-quality horse breeds.
2) Coda Bow Diamond Violin Bow
- Kevlar acoustic core
- Traditional Frog made from Polished Premium Ebony by Walter Paulus
- Handcrafted in the USA
- Weighs only 5.6 ounces
- High quality
1) CodaBow Prodigy
- Handcrafted
- Premium stallion horse hair
- Traditional Frog Design Made by Walter Paulus with Xebony Engineered Ebony
- Nickel and Silver fittings
3) Vingo Violin Bow
- Handcrafted
- Compact design
- The bow stick has been made from Brazilian wood
- Natural horsehair
- Weighing only 12.8 ounces
It is also important to consider the finishing materials to ensure that they are resistant to moisture and humidity. Violin bows with such resistant characteristics are easier to store regardless of the conditions in the storage space.
If possible find out the average response time for the particular bow model you are interested in, the response time should be very short. You can get this information from the manufacturer’s site.