RinconMtnErnie - Posted - 06/10/2018:  20:35:59

I've had a Codabow Diamond GX for close to two years now. I've mainly used it as my playing out ("performance") bow. As such I typically play it once or twice a week. I only had it rehaired recently, after which I said "dang, why didn't I do that sooner?".

My practice bows have been not as good. For the last year I've been using a wood bow that played well, but had loose winding and was kind of crooked. A family member needed a bow, so I gave it to her.

I'm to a point where I want a practice bow as good as my performance bow. I may just get another Diamond GX and use whichever one has the worst hair as a practice bow and the other for playing out. For the Codabows, I plan to try the Luma (which I played several years ago) and the new, more expensive Marquise GS.

Has anyone tried a Marquise GS? I haven't been able to find reviews. I'm expecting Southwest Strings will have one.

Does anyone have long term (one year or more) experience with the Luma? It's 58 grams instead of the 61 grams of most other models.

I do plan to try Pernambuco bows as well. My original plan was to get something like an Arcos Brasil, but that would involve driving up to Phoenix which never seems to happen.

amwildman - Posted - 06/10/2018:  23:37:03

I'm not sure I understand why there is a need for a special practice bow. Due to variance in bows, it has always made more sense to me to play the same bow as much as possible. It only seems detrimental to my playing to get used to one thing and then go away from it at crunch time.

If I had to have a dedicated practice now, I would get two of the same CF bows for consistency.

Brian Wood - Posted - 06/11/2018:  16:34:18

quote:

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Originally posted by amwildman

I'm not sure I understand why there is a need for a special practice bow. Due to variance in bows, it has always made more sense to me to play the same bow as much as possible. It only seems detrimental to my playing to get used to one thing and then go away from it at crunch time.



If I had to have a dedicated practice now, I would get two of the same CF bows for consistency.

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I agree, why change bows. Except if one was an expensive pernambuco bow. But carbon fiber bows are tough, so if I had a special one I preferred I'd use it everywhere all the time.

RinconMtnErnie - Posted - 06/11/2018:  22:22:37

Thanks for the replies! I was at a jam session this evening. I do like my GX bow, it's very solid. I am leaning towards getting an identical second bow, but want to at least try alternatives.

In general I'm trying to play more nuanced, with more dynamics, all the time. That's why I want to at least try some better wood bows and the GS. So as much as I like my current bow, maybe there's something else out there that I'll like better.

Currently I'm playing at home with a no-name CF bow. It's fine, but I don't like it as much as the GX.

illinoisfiddler - Posted - 06/12/2018:  00:50:56

I have two Codabows, a Diamond GX and a lower end one. The GX is a very good bow indeed, probably one of my best. The lower model is also good, but not nearly as good sounding. However, I do use it for live gigs where I worry about my wood bows or about excessive humidity where I may not be able to tighten my wood bow enough to play. Having said this, I also have an antique Roth pernambuco bow that was not cheap, but outperforms all my bows. Generally, I like the carbon fiber bows, but I find their sound a little "cold". I have some less expensive pernambuco bows that don't handle quite as well as the Codabows, but they still have a warmer sound.

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 06/12/2018:  06:46:23

Well … I tried out several Coda Bows and wound up buying a GX. I tried a a Prodigy, Joule and Diamond SX. I use it when I am playing out in tight corner or near a wall because they are largely indestructible. The tone the bow draws is good but I do prefer the lively response of my older Pernambuco bows. If you want to try several different models of Coda bows contact Shar Music. They shipped me four different models to test side by side. R/

amwildman - Posted - 06/12/2018:  07:48:41

FWIW, my GX has always had a problem keeping rosin on it. Not sure if it is inferior hair or a foreign substance in it from the factory. Should have taken it in for warranty work, but oh well.

illinoisfiddler - Posted - 06/12/2018:  22:56:54

Mine has good hair. Maybe it wasn't prepped before you got it? Some luthiers use powdered rosin to get the bow hair started. It is sometimes difficult to get rosin to stick to the hair on a new bow.

RobBob - Posted - 06/13/2018:  06:47:21

I have a 20+ year old Codabow S/N 200. It still works great. I have another one, a Joule, that is newer and very good too.

illinoisfiddler - Posted - 06/14/2018:  00:01:57

Overall, I still prefer my Pernambuco bows--in sound and playability.

gapbob - Posted - 06/14/2018:  09:56:31

quote:

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Originally posted by amwildman

FWIW, my GX has always had a problem keeping rosin on it. Not sure if it is inferior hair or a foreign substance in it from the factory. Should have taken it in for warranty work, but oh well.

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Might it be the rosin?

gapbob - Posted - 06/14/2018:  09:59:01

I don't have one bow that will do it all, it is all a trade off, do I want volume and projection?
Do I want clarity of tone, or woodiness of tone?
Do I want a light bow so I can play in a spritely manner?

Have not found one that would do everything. It is also nice to play on one and then another, enjoying the differences.

RinconMtnErnie - Posted - 06/14/2018:  10:46:59

Thanks for all the interesting responses. My work is less than 6 miles from Southwest Strings. They generally have all CodaBow models in stock and a number of workshop wooden bows. They may have some vintage bows. In any case I'm hoping to leave work betimes on Friday and try some bows.

illinoisfiddler - Posted - 06/14/2018:  14:18:52

Yes, the best way is to try the bow with your instrument. As you go up in quality of bow, some sound better than others with particular instruments. My best bow, the 1920 Roth, sounds good on ALL my instruments. It also plays the best, too, although I have other bows for different uses, and appreciate them all in different ways.

amwildman - Posted - 06/14/2018:  18:11:15

quote:

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Originally posted by gapbob

quote:

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Originally posted by amwildman

FWIW, my GX has always had a problem keeping rosin on it. Not sure if it is inferior hair or a foreign substance in it from the factory. Should have taken it in for warranty work, but oh well.

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Might it be the rosin?

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I don't think so.  Rosin works fine on other bows, and the other 80% of this bow.  It applies fine, and plays fine for an hour or so, but after that, the middle of the bow is significantly less grabby than the rest of the hair.  I wouldn't entirely rule out the rosin (Hill Dark) because the area that is affected is the most-used part of the bow.  But the severity of the problem is definitely unique to this bow.

RinconMtnErnie - Posted - 06/15/2018:  20:59:32

I was able to stop by SW a Strings and try out some bows. First, I did try out a new GX like I already own. The hair was good. It was similar to what I have, end of story.

I tried out a number of other bows and brought four home to try. One is the Marquise GS. My first impression is the handling is similar to the GX, and that it does sound better under the ear. It weighed heavier than others.

I brought home two wood bows that I liked. To my surprise, they had some l'Archet Brasil bows. They were not available for me to take home, but at least I got to try them.

I also brought home another less expensive CF bow.

RinconMtnErnie - Posted - 06/16/2018:  09:36:16

The four bows.



Coda Luma: codabow.com/luma

Coda Marquise GS: codabow.com/the-marquise-experience

Doerfler 22a: doerfler-bogen.de/en/instrumen...-e.-doerf

Doerfler 23: doerfler-bogen.de/en/instrumen...s-doerfle

The Luma is a great bow, but isn't all that different from my GX. I really want both the GS and one of the Doerflers. I can't afford both, so I'll have to pick one and save my pennies until next year.

RinconMtnErnie - Posted - 06/17/2018:  10:56:38

At this point I am leaning towards the round Doerfler Bow #23. It has the warmest tone and is the most different from my CF GX. What I don't like about this one is it is the most flexible, so the wood vibrates visibly on fast string crossings. That doesn't necessarily affect my ability to put the ribbon where I want it, but it's visually distracting.

I like the feel of the octagonal Doerfler Bow #22A better. It is stiffer and doesn't vibrate so much on fast string crossings. It feels more like a CF bow. It's tone is brighter than the round #23.

I like the Marquise GS. It handles well and sounds good. It is warmer than the GX, but brighter than the round pernambuco bow. But because I have a good CF bow and don't have a good wood bow, it's probably not the right choice now.

illinoisfiddler - Posted - 06/17/2018:  13:35:06

Now you are getting into the finer subtleties of violin bows. You probably would not go wrong with any of them. A really good pernambuco bow should not "wobble" any more than a carbon fiber bow, but some do. My 1920 Roth, round pernambuco bow is very stiff and good sounding. However, some pernambuco bows are less stiff as they may be made from less dense wood. Then again, some wood bows are just lively, and that is ok too. It is what makes them sound so good. You have to look at your own technique and needs and see what works for you. I like the carbon fiber, but in the end, I almost always reach for the wood bow as even my lower end ones have a more organic, woodier and warmer tone.

dmiller - Posted - 07/20/2018:  21:50:21

I've got Coda Diamond GX bow 13G 112 that is (imo) stellar.  No complaints about it at all - - and I use it all the time.  I always have an "interesting" time with the wooden bows I've got, or have played on - - granted they can be far superior for quality of tone (so I've been told) - - but it's hard for me personally to hear the difference.  The Carbon Fiber bows ( for the price) are better than some higher priced wooded bows - - but obviously not the best overall.



I bought a Frank Daniel's 5 string fiddle several years ago - - and included in the case was a black carbon fiber bow that has no markings/ name/ number/ etc. on it at all - - and it plays easier for me than the Coda GX does.  I'm keeping that one as a spare in case the Coda "breaks".  Now that I think about it - - perhaps I should use that one as the primary bow, and relegate the Coda to being "the spare".  

Edited by - dmiller on 07/20/2018 21:51:15

illinoisfiddler - Posted - 07/20/2018:  22:05:13

I can hear the differences between carbon and wood bows. The carbon just sound "colder" to me than the wood ones. But the Diamond GX is a really decent bow, and a good value, too. But in my arsenal, the Roth beats them all. Of course, I only use it for recording, church or classical lessons.

giannaviolins - Posted - 07/24/2018:  15:19:18

Prefer the Luma. GX more incisive, but have to be on top of my game. Have a modest Pernambuco (some kind of triple star antique) that does let me get a warmer tone more easily, but can't do all the GX stuff, not as powerful etc. Most of the silver mounted sticks I see these days aren't overall as versatile as a GX. Some of the special silver and nice single-maker handcrafted sticks are better. Gold mounted usually better. So about $2000 retail I start more consistently seeing sticks I like better. Makes the GX seem like quite the deal.

BFD - Posted - 07/27/2018:  06:08:45

I don't have long term experience w/Codabow and fiddle is a secondary instrument for me, tho I play regularly. Went thru a bow trial/purchase about a year ago and fortified my skimpy opinions substantially. Based strictly on readings, I thought I wanted a Joule, but also trialed a Diamond GX, a less expensive CF bow and a decent pernambuco, all from Shar. At the same time I had 6 other bows from another shop including various pernambucos including Brazil bows and some Jonpaul CF bows. I also played 6-8 bows at my local, quite good, violin shop and brought my favorite 1 of those home to trial with the rest. Again, previously I'd had very limited experience playing bows other than the 'pretty good' (according to a local bow maker) stick that came w/Granddad's fiddle.
To draw a ski parallel (no pun...), the Codabows reminded of skis referred to as crudbusters, i.e. super damp, plow thru anything kind of bows. Not particularly lively. I kept being drawn back to several of the wood bows, including the one from Shar, which was not high end, nor the most aesthetically pleasing. As far as the CF bows went, I much preferred the Jonpauls; they seemed to have all the good qualities of the Codabows but were more lively. It was a tough choice between one of them and a couple of the wood bows, which is what I ended up choosing.

chas5131 - Posted - 08/21/2018:  13:18:07

Have a Luma or like, but if I buy another CF will try JonPaul bows. Had one during the years I played cello and liked it a lot.