How to choose a violin bow? (Bows by Silveira, Hill and Son, Lupot)

How to choose a violin bow?

In this video we take a look at that overwhelming question for string players- what do I look for in choosing a bow? Should it be heavy or light? Wood or carbon fiber? How much should I be paying for it? Here we address all those questions, plus have our own bow 'trial session' with bows by D.Silveira, W. E. Hill and Son, and François Lupot II. Can you tell which is which?

[margaretbinns]

Watching this today in Florida in 90+ degree weather . Lovely to see the snow falling in NY but it points out to me the importance of knowing that humidity and temperatures will affect a wood bow . Came across your wonderfully informative video . I’ve been playing with a piece of plastic with hairs on it for the past 10 yrs . Super excited to be getting a new bow and I’m expecting a terrific experience because of all your tips on buying a new bow .Thank you for doing this video . 🎼🎻

[LKemp-lrky]

FINALLY BOWS! Was walking with friends and passed an antique JUNK shop. There was a violin, in pieces, also two bows--in pieces. Got the works for $75. Took it to my hero, Jeff Saws, Sacramento. One day he calls to tell me "It has a voice!" WOW. Never played an instrument with "A Voice!" Nothing about the bow(s). For me, this was such joy. My own violin with bow had been stolen years ago. No real loss as it was a nothing. So, I contacted a friend at the symphony who showed me some "how-to-get-going-again" steps. Thrilled! The bow had a mind of it's own--until we began to communicate. You never know what you'll find walking with friends. 🙃

[ChrisEbbrsen]

Thank you! Please don't take this down: will need to refer back to this often.❤❤❤❤❤

[AJYee]

Great video! I love that you’re talking about bows. I feel like everyone focuses on the instrument when the bow is the other half to that instrument! I could definitely tell that the 3rd bow was the one you felt most comfortable with. The articulation sounded clean and it didn’t look or sound like you were struggling to play. Can’t wait to see your next video on bows.

[Soulillquy]

The bow really does make a difference. I had a bow in college that didn't match me so well and felt like it held me back. Now I have bows by Robert Morrow and JJ Millant that I am absolutely in love with and they feel like an extension of my arm.

[bremms]

So cool it is snowing. I grew up in the Fingerlakes region closer to lake Ontario. The snow made me think of growing up there. Even the chair and the ceramic pot are like my old home. Interesting on wood selection, I had a friend that was a master Japanese cabinet maker. he was asked if he could make a bow. He did a good bit of instrument making too. he sourced some very dense ash and a fine grained hickory. He thought the hickory and the ash worked pretty well. He made one out of Pernambuco as well. He had the help of a bow maker. I'm not sure who commissioned them, but the client was happy.

[kenji]

I can see your passion when you play and watch/listen forever on YouTube. I learnt a lot from your videos 😊

[profrac]

An instructive and valuable video covering an often neglected area. i played for a long time on a decent violin with a less than adequate bow and wondered why I was always struggling.

[henrypagan]

Wow thanks. Love the snow in the back. I’m here in Miami Florida. Thanks for the video

[chrisebbesen]

You sound very articulate on bow #1! Nice nuances!

[shipsahoy]

Hello Katha, great video, very informative; I even read the comments, and although I’m a novice and currently at home with basic carbon fibre bows,
I still learned quite a bit. 👍
I’m always inspired by your violin playing. Looking forward to more great stuff. As always, thank you and kudos to you..👨🏻

[michaelstaeheli]

I learned so much from this. It’s too bad that beginners often have junker bows longer than they have poor violins. I thought that you made the Hill bow work so well that it seemed effortless. Your skill compensated for any deficiency as far as the listener was concerned.

[jrsforest]

My favorite bow is a W.E. Hill bow that I bought along with a violin in pieces at an antique shop for $100. It's currently being rehaired for the third time since I've owned it. It's soooo much better than my two star Klaus Becker.

[Soycalebb]

I’m very fortunate to play with a beautiful Pfretzschner bow! <3

[loveearth]

Your knowledge about violin topics is so interesting. No other youtube channel like you. Thans you for sharing😊

[Chenyu_Huang]

Love your videos, always learn something new from them. Looking forward to the second half!

[hyacinthe.besmoker]

Very interesting and informative, as always! Your videos are the true Lupots of Youtube! :)

[violaviolinguy]

Great video, very informative. That galamian bow hold picture. That’s if Itzhak Perlman

[jantigercat]

Bow 1 produces more interesting tones.

[liamnevilleviolist]

I personally didn't like the Lupot bow when it was playing variation 11, but loved it when it was used for variation 4.
Each bow has their strengths (personality and playing-wise I would say!)
I used to have a (genuine fine French) bow stamped as "LUPOT" and eventually decided to sell it. After doing quite a bit of research I found out it was made by one of the Bazin family.... so... it was a copy, but it was the sort of copy that's desirable. I honestly wouldn't really be able to tell the difference between a Lupot or Bazin but funnily enough I'd bought the bow for quite a bit less than it was actually worth. I had it certified (I can't remember the appraiser but it was either P Childs or B Millant) and it ended up being described as a "wonderful example of Bazin's work with a great choice of pernambuco".
Only the greats know each wonderful maker's work and at the time that I sold it I realised that stamps sometimes mean close to nothing. You have to be careful in the bow world! I also learned that there were tens of thousands of bows stamped "LUPOT" or "BAZIN" made by German workshops, but still from quite a while ago. I was young haha. Some of those bows aren't worth much but others are a bit higher in value. Luckily: I sold it because I didn't like the feel of it in comparison to other bows. I went on to by two more bows, one more expensive and one less expensive than the Bazin "Lupot" that I owned and actually [currently] like the less expensive one much better!