Choosing A Bow

    Whether you buy an old bow or a new bow, there are factors to weigh and features to look for when making a decision.

Price is always a consideration. Older bows are expensive; They can be a considerable investment, one that may appreciate in value over time, if carefully chosen. Their price is based on three factors: The condition of the bow, the originality of its significant parts, and most importantly, as with art, the name of the person who created the work. Old bows have achieved the status of art in the marketplace, and ironically, their playability has little to do with their price.

To help you evaluate an antique bow, you must place your trust in the opinions of experts. Given the the extremely high prices of old bows, this can be a hazardous undertaking. Find someone with whom you feel comfortable and who is trustworthy in business dealings. If you purchase a bow from an established dealer, it should provide you options with that person if you find later that it isn't the bow for you. Buying a bow from a colleague or a less established dealer may save you money, but will not provide options for you if you find you are unhappy with your purchase.

All this being said, the greatest bows in the world today are antique bows-- usually, but not always, French bows. They are expensive today because they were truly made by great bow makers. And, like instruments, antique bows benefit from having been played for some time, a factor which increases their ability to transmit sound.

New bows have different considerations. Their value is almost exclusively based on their ability to perform well. The quality of the materials they are made of, and, the ability of the bow maker to maximize the potential qualities of those materials, determine the value of a modern bow. Because you're not buying a famous name, you will pay significantly less than an antique bow, and you will get real value for your money.

Like modern art, the investment factor in modern bows is less obvious. The value of a modern bow is linked to the current market price of a living maker's work. Only after a maker's death does their work appreciate significantly, and then only if they were a good bow maker. I'm 56, plan ahead.