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Zachary Hoyt - Posted - 11/14/2018: 14:46:37
I am writing in the hope that someone will be so kind as to advise me what to do. I made a cello a few years ago and my mother has been having fun learning to play it over the last couple of years. My first bow was about $15 on eBay and lasted several months of being played daily before the tension bolt on the frog stripped out. The second bow came from Musician's Friend and was somewhere over $20, but now the hair has come loose from the tip. I have swapped the tension parts from the second bow to the first one for now, but she would like to have a more durable bow. I have been playing for years on a Stew-Mac student fiddle bow that cost around $25, so I have some hope that there may be decent quality durable cello bows out there that don't cost an arm and a leg. I would be happy to pay $50 for a better bow, and could probably bring myself to pay $100, but would not be very happy. I know a serious student probably needs a bow that starts at $400 or $500, but this is not our situation. My mother's goal is not to become a virtuoso or play chamber music, but just to play tunes that she knows, just for fun. I will be very grateful for any suggestions.
Zach
Edited by - Zachary Hoyt on 11/14/2018 14:47:29
bluenote23 - Posted - 11/14/2018: 15:16:49
In case no one else can help. I don't know anything about cello bows but I think it might be an idea to rehair the bow you already have. It will probably cost closer to $100 than $50 to do this but honestly, I think it is pretty hard to find a violin bow in your price range these days and I think cello bows are likely more expensive.
I have purchased some nice violin bows from Yita Music on Ebay. I just took a look and you could pick up a cheap IPE wood (a kind of pernambuco substitute) cello bow for around $50 or so on auction but you have to pay shipping from China (to Canada, that's another $25 but it might be less to ship to the US).
Now my violin bows cost a lot more than that. They are quite nice and well made. I can't say how their less expensive models compare but at least my experience has told me they are capable of making proper bows.
Edited by - bluenote23 on 11/14/2018 15:26:50
Zachary Hoyt - Posted - 11/15/2018: 07:40:59
Thank you very much for the suggestions. I will keep an eye on the Yitamusic auctions. I tried to learn to rehair violin bows and did 10 or 15 about 10 years ago but finally gave up as it was driving me crazy. Sooner than pay $50 or $100 to rehair a $25~ cello bow I would just buy another one, but it might be worth looking into buying an old bow cheaply and having it rehaired, or doing it myself.
Zach
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