Without the bow, the violin is little more than a decorative object. Bows must have a combination of strength, balance, and flexibility, and they should fall within certain weight limits. Pernambuco is the wood of choice for the creation of better bows; Brazilwood is relegated to less-expensive entry and student bows. Recently the development of carbon fiber shafts has revolutionized the student bow market. Where Brazilwood tends to be unstable (unable to hold its curve) and has a low strength to weight ratio, carbon fiber can be engineered to overcome these shortcomings. Most of the bows in this shop below $200 are carbon fiber. My entry-level bows are, and have been for 40 years, the fiberglass bows from Glasser.

THE BOWS FROM BRAZIL

Fifty-Five years ago Horst John left Germany for Brazil with the idea of going into the wood business. He immediately found a population of skilled woodworkers; so eventually his wood business evolved into a bow making shop. Horst is gone, but Horst John Bows lives on, along with at least five other workshops including Arcos Brasil, Waterviolet, and Marco Raposo. Brazil prohibits the export of Pernambuco in log or board form (legally, anyway), only allowing it to leave the country as manufactured products. The bowmakers simplify their process by importing German frogs from Paulus and by concentrating on making the sticks. In my opinion, the bows from Brazil are the finest bows obtainable below $1000 in the world. Since representatives of the makers visit my shop, all of the Brazilian bows offered for sale are personally chosen by myself.

Below is a sampling of the new bows we have most of the time.   Please visit to see our selection of vintage bows.