Has anyone got experience of Glasser carbon graphite bows? I have a fairly cheap carbon fibre bow which is ok-ish, but although the pernambuco bows I have produce a smoother and richer tone by comparison, I suspect that the difference has more to do with the price of the cheapy bow rather than the material from which it's made. Would this be an accurate suspicion?
The descriptions I've read about the Glasser carbon graphite bow are very encouraging, but does anyone know how they feel and sound. Does anyone know the weight of the 4/4 size bow? I usually use Helicore mediums on a Gliga fiddle.
There could be a logistics problem. According to their website, Glasser sell only through their authorised dealers, and there are only 5 in Europe. The English one is in Huddersfield. I believe you're based in Cornwall ...
It would be best to try them out for yourself. Your ideas of value and tone production will be unique. It is always a good idea to try fiddles and their related accessories in person, rather than remotely.
Price is a rather poor indicator of what you will prefer.
In May during my USA trip I tried out a bunch of Brazilian bows and
some Codabows - all selling for around $US800-1000 at Johnson's
in Boston. I was expecting the Codabows to be miles ahead, but
instead I found I liked the warmth of those 'analogue' bows. One of
the shop employees played a bit for me on my fiddle using a few
of the bows and from that perspective I heard only a subtle tone
colour difference; I doubt I would have heard if I were not looking
for it.
But probably more important than sound colour is responsiveness, efficiency, stability,etc I'm not really sure which
came out on top, looking at it this way. I decided not to buy
anything and stick with my $AUS87 chinese CF bow. Not because
it's better but because I don't think I competent yet to move up.
His conclusion :-
But there is a difference, and in the bigger picture, what all my experimenting with carbon fiber bows taught me is this: for the money, you can't beat carbon fiber. It is cheaper and more consistent than wood. But when you really listen hard, a carbon fiber bow just does not have all the tonal characteristics of a pernambuco bow. Probably because of the sympathetic vibrations created between the wood stick and the wood violin, there is a whole range of frequencies which a carbon bow just cannot produce (at least none I've tried, as yet). You could probably analyze the waveform to see what's missing and maybe someone already has. To my ear it's mostly lower frequencies that seem to be lacking, so there's a certain depth and that ever-illusive warmth of tone you can get from a pernambuco stick but which you just can't, in my experience anyway, get from a carbon fiber bow. You can come close. But wood is wood, and carbon fiber is carbon fiber. Use the wood in the studio and the carbon fiber when you're on an outside stage in some kind of weather.
The UK distributor for Glasser bows (Elida) is always happy to send out bows for you to try at home, regardless of where in the country you happen to be. Obviously you're paying for P&P, but as awildman says, there's no substitute for trying before buying.
Glasser carbon graphite bows
Glasser carbon graphite bows
Has anyone got experience of Glasser carbon graphite bows? I have a fairly cheap carbon fibre bow which is ok-ish, but although the pernambuco bows I have produce a smoother and richer tone by comparison, I suspect that the difference has more to do with the price of the cheapy bow rather than the material from which it's made. Would this be an accurate suspicion?
The descriptions I've read about the Glasser carbon graphite bow are very encouraging, but does anyone know how they feel and sound. Does anyone know the weight of the 4/4 size bow? I usually use Helicore mediums on a Gliga fiddle.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by debroos
Re: Glasser carbon graphite bows
There could be a logistics problem. According to their website, Glasser sell only through their authorised dealers, and there are only 5 in Europe. The English one is in Huddersfield. I believe you're based in Cornwall ...
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by lazyhound
Re: Glasser carbon graphite bows
It would be best to try them out for yourself. Your ideas of value and tone production will be unique. It is always a good idea to try fiddles and their related accessories in person, rather than remotely.
Price is a rather poor indicator of what you will prefer.
# Posted on July 20th 2009 by awildman2384
Re: Glasser carbon graphite bows
Slightly offtrack, but might be useful anyhow.
In May during my USA trip I tried out a bunch of Brazilian bows and
some Codabows - all selling for around $US800-1000 at Johnson's
in Boston. I was expecting the Codabows to be miles ahead, but
instead I found I liked the warmth of those 'analogue' bows. One of
the shop employees played a bit for me on my fiddle using a few
of the bows and from that perspective I heard only a subtle tone
colour difference; I doubt I would have heard if I were not looking
for it.
But probably more important than sound colour is responsiveness, efficiency, stability,etc I'm not really sure which
came out on top, looking at it this way. I decided not to buy
anything and stick with my $AUS87 chinese CF bow. Not because
it's better but because I don't think I competent yet to move up.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by Hup
Re: Glasser carbon graphite bows
Not about Glasser bows, specifically, but an article by Greg Spatz, in two parts, about carbon fiber bows. You can read the whole article at http://www.fiddlesessions.com/aug07/Spatz.html
and
http://www.fiddlesessions.com/oct07/Spatz.html
His conclusion :-
But there is a difference, and in the bigger picture, what all my experimenting with carbon fiber bows taught me is this: for the money, you can't beat carbon fiber. It is cheaper and more consistent than wood. But when you really listen hard, a carbon fiber bow just does not have all the tonal characteristics of a pernambuco bow. Probably because of the sympathetic vibrations created between the wood stick and the wood violin, there is a whole range of frequencies which a carbon bow just cannot produce (at least none I've tried, as yet). You could probably analyze the waveform to see what's missing and maybe someone already has. To my ear it's mostly lower frequencies that seem to be lacking, so there's a certain depth and that ever-illusive warmth of tone you can get from a pernambuco stick but which you just can't, in my experience anyway, get from a carbon fiber bow. You can come close. But wood is wood, and carbon fiber is carbon fiber. Use the wood in the studio and the carbon fiber when you're on an outside stage in some kind of weather.
Good luck!
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by adam b
Re: Glasser carbon graphite bows
The UK distributor for Glasser bows (Elida) is always happy to send out bows for you to try at home, regardless of where in the country you happen to be. Obviously you're paying for P&P, but as awildman says, there's no substitute for trying before buying.
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by DavyR
Re: Glasser carbon graphite bows
Thanks very much for all the above advice - all very useful. What a grand site this is
# Posted on July 21st 2009 by debroos