The Best Cello Bows Reviews
There are many types of Cello bows. You should choose the bow that fits you want to do with the Cello. Your choice should depend on your goals and what you hope to achieve with the Cello.
The first thing you should think about when looking for a Cello bow online is the material it is made of. There are Cello bows made of different materials like fiberglass and ivory. You should also inspect the grip and thumb cushion to ensure they are comfortable for you.
The mountings on a Cello bow are essential. Some mountings are round-shaped, and others are octagonal-shaped.
The stiffness of the octagonal mounting is what distinguishes these two. It is the general preference of professional players. You also need to buy a Cello bow that is not too heavy.
Usually, the product description will say how much a Cello bow weighs. Using a very heavy cello bow during a performance can put a lot of strain on your arms.
How quickly a Cello bow sells on the market is also affected by its appearance. Some cello bows have been finished in a way that shows off your style and taste. Finishing can be done with diamond weave, Walnut, or other beautiful materials. The product description should indicate the materials used to make the Cello look better.
Quick Picks: The Best Cello Bows Reviews
Product Name | Product image | Check Price |
|---|---|---|
Strad Cello Baroque Bow |  | |
Strad Cello Bow Model 756 |  | |
Codabow Diamond Model |  | |
Codabow Prodigy |  |
8 Best Cello Bow Reviews
Many beginner players use Cecilio is a violin, viola, and cello brand. They are made at a lower price than other brands, all handmade. They might be one of the best violin brands for people beginning to learn to play the instrument because it is cheaper and easier to find your size.
Cecilio violins are made from solid wood that is carved by hand. They have a solid spruce top, maple sides, and back, with purfling inlaid into the top. The flames on their more expensive student violins are similarly well-defined.
The main problem with Cecilio violins is that their fingerboards are made of maple instead of ebony, which will wear out faster. If you plan to continue playing the violin, make sure your repairs will be more likely if you choose a Cecilio violin.
Cecilio’s outfits allow for a great deal of movement. A high-quality brazilwood bow with unprocessed Mongolian horsehair is included with most Cecilio costumes. There are also boxwood pegs, a tailpiece (with four excellent tuners), and a soft and protective case included! This is an excellent value for money.
This baroque-style 4/4 cello bow is simple and perfect for learners at all levels. It has original white horsehair and is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable bow.
This Cello bow features Mongolian horsehair that has not been bleached. It is essential because it helps improve the sound output when the bow is used during a performance. The white hair makes it easy to distinguish this particular bow.
This Strad Cello bow is medium stiff, making it suitable for beginner and intermediate players. The snakewood finish is beautiful and unique.
This Cello bow is light, weighing only 7.2 ounces. It makes it easier for beginners to practice without getting tired. The bow is also 28.5” long, so it will fit most people.
This Cello bow has been designed to be like the ancient German and baroque period Cello bows. It is efficiently balanced and has good sound output.
The Cello bow has been professionally braided with Carbon Fibre. It is lined with nickel and silver, which makes it durable.
This Cello bow is made of high-quality carbon fiber that will last a long time. It can keep going even when the weather is terrible. The old history of the musical instrument is shown by the Fleur-de-lis design on the inlay.
The design of this Cello bow makes it easier to balance. It helps the player create a better sound. Balanced bows allow players to respond quickly during performances.
The Cello bow is light, weighing only 6.4 ounces. It makes it suitable for children to use because it is lightweight. The bow also has an 8-eyed tensioning screw with an abalone button.
The grip on this Cello bow is designed with high-quality leather wrapped around the silver handle. The frog (opposite the grip) is polished ebony with traditional patterns.
The carbon fiber material has been used in the design of this Cello bow. Carbon fiber is often used to make bows because it is strong and can withstand harsh weather conditions.
About 4.8 ounces is how much the cello bow weighs. It is a normal-sized bow that kids and older people can use without putting too much strain on their arms.
About 4.8 ounces is how much the cello bow weighs. It is a normal-sized bow that kids and older people can use without putting too much strain on their arms.
This cello bow is perfect because it has a graphite and diamond finish. It also looks better because it has a dark brown tint. It also has a dark brown tint, which makes it look nicer.
The frog was made using the traditional ways of making art. High-quality ebony is used to make the frog. On the frog, there is an inlay design made of sterling silver, nickel, and silver.
The Moroccan design on the grip includes top-grade Moroccan leather, nickel, and silver-plated fittings. The round bow stick is made with silver medal horsehair and has an ivory-finished tip.
The wedges and plugs for this Cello bow are made of high-quality wood, just like the bow itself. It makes them durable.
This Cello bow’s design helps improve the player’s ability to balance the bow while playing. It is done by making the bow sturdy and robust.
This Cello bow is designed to be strong. The finishing on the bow is professional and makes it a popular choice. The frog on the bow has a unique design that features a graphite diamond weave pattern and nickel and silver inlay.
The bow hair is made of silver medal horse hair. This type of hair is unbleached and of the best quality. Using silver medal horsehair enhances the playing experience and improves the quality of sound output from the musical instrument.
This Cello bow has been handcrafted with wedges cut to match the functions. It also has a firm grip made from Moroccan leather and a round stick with an Ivory tip.
The Cello bow is light, weighing only 4.8 ounces. It can easily be used by adults of all ages who love playing the Cello.
The carbon fiber JohnPaul Bravo Cello bow is a standard model. It is one of the most popular 4/4 Cello bows.
This model has the Steinway black diamond finishing. It is a common type of finish that makes the Cello bow look more appealing. Players who prefer black diamond Cello bows are likely to be attracted to this model.
The shape of the frog on this Cello bow is enhanced with nickel and silver. This finishing has been applied to the frog, which has a flawless look.
The Cello bow has a 3-way button that makes it easy to get the best sounds while playing. There is also a pearl eye and a high-quality leather grip to improve your grip on the bow while playing.
This Cello bow is made with unbleached horsehair. The bow also has a round stick and a silver alloy tip. It only weighs 1.6 ounces, making it suitable for beginner and intermediate Cellists.
This handmade Cello bow is suitable for more experienced players. It is made with a Kevlar Acoustic core and weighs only 6.4 ounces, making it portable so you can take it with you when you travel. It is also classified as a Pernambuco wood bow, known for its excellent sound quality when playing the Cello.
The Cello bow is finished with a design that looks like many small diamonds. The frog (the part you hold to play the Cello) is made of polished ebony and has a goldfish eye design.
The silver grip on this bow is finished with goat skin from Morocco. It makes it durable and helps improve the player’s balance while using the bow. It also has traditional sterling and silver fittings and handmade parts such as wedges and plugs made from wood.
This bow is designed to help the Cellist play quickly if necessary. This bow is a good choice for beginners.
This Cello bow is made for people who need to play in concerts. It is strong and can be used for long hours of practice or performances in front of an audience.
This Cello bow is made for people who need to play in concerts. It is strong and can be used for long hours of practice or performances in front of an audience. This cello bow has a nickel and silver mount on the ebony frog. It improves the appearance of the bow and also makes it more durable.
The Vingo bow is 14.4 ounces and is suitable for professional Cello players who need a stiff bow. The Pernambuco stick makes the bow durable.
This Cello bow is designed with premium-class horsehair for outstanding sound output.
This Cello bow has a grip that is finished with high-quality leather. It has been designed with excellent craftsmanship and can be adjusted with a screw to tighten or loosen the bow hair.
The Avanti Cello bow model made by the JonPaul brand is one of the Cello bows designed with carbon fiber. It’s a strong bow that will last for a long time. The bow can be put away in a gig bag, protecting it from bad weather.
This Cello bow’s round stick is made of burgundy-colored wood that has been polished to a high sheen. It has a refined appearance. The round stick is standard size, and on the tip is premium sterling silver.
The frog on this Cello bow is made of ebony and has a Parisian goldfish eye. The Cello has a silver winding on its lizard grip that is finished with fine horsehair.
This Cello bow is a single piece and lightweight, making it suitable for intermediate and advanced players. It is easy to travel with because it is lightweight.
The Cello bow is well balanced, which makes it easy for professional players to produce the best sounds when the Cello is plated with this Avanti bow model.
Choosing the Best Professional Cello Bow
Use a bow made of good horsehair to get the best sound out of your cello. It is also a good idea to use Cellos that are made with unbleached horsehair.
The Cello bow models with adjustable screws make a big difference. It is because you can adjust the bow hair when necessary. The material used in cello bow making should also be resistant to harsh weather conditions, which will help prolong the lifespan of the Cello bow for many years.
The type of bow you use will affect the sound it makes. For example, some bows are more flexible than others. Stiffer bows make a different sound than flexible bows.
The more flexible Cello bows make higher tones but take longer to respond. The stiffer bows may be used to create a quicker response. These characteristics must be considered before purchasing.
Choosing a Cello Bow: What to Look for
There is a ton of advice on purchasing a cello, but choosing a bow that brings out the best in those strings is just as crucial. It must fit comfortably in your hand when you’re playing, be the right size, and be in good condition.
We will go through some essential criteria when buying a cello bow. But just like Harry Potter and his fellow wizards’ search for their wand, we advise spending some time trying out various bows on your cello until you are delighted with your decision.
For Novices (and their parents)
If you’re a beginner cellist, please refrain from investing much money in the best bow. Suppose you don’t persist with the cello for a while or, as frequently occurs, decide to switch to another string instrument better suited for your artistic vocation. In that case, this is unnecessary and will become a waste of your money.
Purchase a well-made bow that is suited for beginners and priced accordingly instead. It should, first and foremost, be appropriate for the cello’s size (4/4, 3/4, 1/2, and 1/4). The bow should have a reasonably robust and long-lasting stick and a pleasing curve known as camber. You can get help with this from your teacher or the personnel at the music store.
The bow shouldn’t be too light that it requires excessive pressure to stay in contact with the strings, nor should it be too hefty that it is difficult to handle. The bow should also be well-balanced. As your technical abilities advance, you can upgrade to a bow that responds to your enhanced technical acumen and more subtle musical expression in two to three years.
Note: Since providing you with the best, most affordable options for your playing level is always the emphasis, it’s worth searching elsewhere if music store workers ever try to upsell or use high-pressure sales practices.
Select the Material
Most bows have a stick composed of one of three materials: carbon fiber, various Brazilian hardwoods, or Pernambuco, a pricey and increasingly uncommon Brazilian wood. Fiberglass bows are another affordable choice. Fiberglass bows are robust and affordable, making them great for novices. However, as carbon fiber or wood bows make better overall tones, intermediate and advanced students favor them. Revelle’s Raven Bow is an excellent example of a carbon fiber bow designed for advanced students at a reasonable price.
Additionally, you can choose between synthetic and natural bow hair depending on your playing preferences, financial situation, and experience. While natural bow hair is a common practice, artists frequently favor cutting-edge synthetic alternatives, such as Coruss bow hair, which provide the same sound while being more robust and long-lasting.
Specifications of a Cello Bow
You are eventually assessing your chosen variation of the bow’s four fundamental features while searching for a new cello bow:
1. Weight
Most bows weigh 2.82 to 2.3 ounces (65 grams) (80 grams). If you’re not a string player, this might not seem like a significant concern, but try telling that to your untrained hand when you ask it to hold the bow correctly for an extended time.
The hand, wrist, and forearm need greater strength and control as the bow is heavier to maintain contact with the strings; heavy bows soon become exhausting for all but the most experienced cellist. Strangely, a light bow initially appears to be easier to control, but it may tire a beginner who hasn’t mastered how to bow smooth, sustained notes without exerting too much effort.
2. Balance
The stick’s tip end to its frog end is where a bow’s center of balance lies. The latter might result in excessive bounce and a lack of control, while the former can call for more control and a sense of weight. Play around with various bows to determine which one strikes the correct balance for you.
3. Strength and Flexibility
Due to the connection between bow strength and flexibility, numbers three and four are merged. Bows that are stiffer may appear stronger and easier to control, but their sound may be weaker or thinner. The sound will be fuller and more responsive, but more flexible bows demand more skill and elegance.
Tips for Testing Cello Bows
Here are some recommendations for testing bows to find the best one for you—a procedure somewhat analogous to matchmaking—now that you know the “what” of what you’ll be analyzing.
- Look away. Bows can be ornamented and flamboyant, but appearance is unimportant. It’s true that “don’t judge a book by its cover” applies here.
- Determine your goals. Before shopping, decide what you want—comfort, better sound, greater agility, etc.—and keep that in mind as you test.
- It feels what? In an ideal scenario, the bow should feel like an extension of your arm in terms of weight, balance, and fit.
- Quickly discard “no-gos.” Save your “yeses” for the re-test pile if you receive an innate “no” and respect it by setting the bow aside.
- Take the time to pick the best bow because it requires the right bow for your cello to produce the right notes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cello Bows
Different types of reeds produce different colors and sounds. It is nice to have a variety of them so you can choose the best one for your instrument and playing style. It can change the character of your instrument and give you a more comprehensive range of sounds/colors/articulations.
These bows are a mix of fiberglass and wood bows. They make a good sound and are very strong. Some string players think carbon fiber cello bows will never sound as good as wooden bows.
Instruments such as the bass guitar, cello, baritone saxophone, and bassoon can play the bass clef from piano sheet music.
A string instrument is a musical instrument that makes sound by vibrating strings. The most common string instruments are the guitar, electric bass, violin, viola, cello, double bass, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, and harp.
Lighter bows are typically easier to use, but don’t “bite” the string as quickly. When playing spiccato passages, lighter bows are less consistent. They don’t make as dense of a sound as their heavier counterparts. Heavier bows can feel awkward and clumsy and may not have enough subtlety and nuance.
Like the violin, the cello has four strings tuned in fifths. There are four notes: C, G, D, and A. The middle C on the piano is two octaves higher than the low C on the cello. Many students tune their cellos on a piano.
Carbon fiber does not lose its elasticity over time. It does not become spongy, and the speed of sound traveling through it remains constant. Carbon fiber sticks also come with warranties for up to 30 years under normal conditions.
