This page last updated 15th December 2011

FULL SIZE VIOLIN BOWS £80 and over     
 

1. Unstamped bow, possibly French, brown pernambuco stick, silver mounted Vuillaume style ebony frog and ebony adjuster with two silver bands, silver wire lapping and leather thumbpiece. Weighs 59 grams. Medium stiffness. Repaired crack behind the mortice in the handle (I suspect that the adjuster has seized at some time) and also repaired lengthwise split in the upper half of the stick. My guess is that the stick has been twisted rather savagely. Fairly normal balance, feels lively in the hand but steady on the string. Priced to account for the repairs. For pictures of this bow Click here.
   Price £140
   
   
2. Unstamped dark red-brown pernambuco stick, nickel mounted ebony frog and adjuster, wire lapping and leather thumbpiece. Weighs 67 grams. Stiff. The bow is probably French, and has an elegant head rather like a miniature 'cello bow. The frog and adjuster are probably not original. The mortice at the handle has been repaired at some point. Very steady on the string with no tremor, well balanced, the weight is not noticeable when playing. Smooth sounding, unusual in a stiff bow.
   Price £100.00
   
3. Stamped 'Copy Bausch', pernambuco stick, nickel mounted ebony frog and adjuster, wire lapping and leather thumbpiece. Weighs 60 grams. Medium to stiff. The bow is 20th century, German, made for the British market. No repairs. I think that this is an excellent bow for the price. It feels comfortable in use, well balanced and agile and performs well in every area that I can judge with my limited technique.
   Price £100.00
   
4. Stamped 'R Paesold', a stout red-brown octagonal pernambuco stick, nickel mounted ebony frog and adjuster, wire lapping and leather thumbpiece. Weighs 64 grams. Medium to stiff. The bow is a modern German bow. No repairs. Plays well, if you like a heavy bow, steady on the string with no tremor, but it sounds a little edgy on some violins.
   Price £90.00
   
5. Unstamped brown pernambuco stick, nickel mounted imitation tortoiseshell frog, nickel covered adjuster, tinsel lapping and leather thumbpiece. German, probably mid 20th century. Weighs 56 grams. Medium stiffness. No repairs. A light bow that plays well, maybe a little tip light in balance for some, but steady on the string and not too bouncy.
   Price £90.00
   
6. Unstamped red-brown pernambuco stick, plain 'baroque' style ebony frog, nickel covered adjuster with finial, nickel wire lapping and leather thumbpiece. German, circa 1900. Weighs 64 grams. Stiff. Repaired behind frog. A bow that feels heavy because of the balance but plays well and is steady on the string. Like many stiff bows the sound is slightly 'edgy' on some violins.
   Price £80.00
   
7. Stamped 'H Fleury' but probably not by him, a round pernambuco stick, plain ebony frog, nickel covered adjuster, tinsel lapping and leather thumbpiece. I'd guess German or Czech, the adjuster is definitely a modern German commercial piece. Weighs 63 grams. Medium stiffness. A bow that feels comfortable in use until the bowing gets vigorous, when it can get a bit bouncy and difficult to control. Sounds sweet.
   Price £80.00