Bow shopping, part....oh, who's counting anymore?

January 4, 2006 at 9:43 PM

A colleague of mine once said that education is expensive. He wasn't talking about tuition, but rather the fact that once you know how to distinguish quality, you're compelled to pay for it.

The conversation was in reference to wine, but I find the remark quite apt when it comes to this bow-buying adventure of mine. I think I'm still converging to a decision, but it's not happening nearly as quickly as I'd expected or hoped.

Today I went back down to Kamimoto Strings over my lunch hour (half expected to see you there, Clare ;) ) to see if they had the Spiccato Adjustable CF bow, which I'd read good things about. They did, and I tried it, and it was slightly nicer than the Arpege but not enough to justify the $1400 price tag. Then, since I was there anyway with time to spare, and the store wasn't crowded, I decided to up my price range to $1500 to see what it would get me. Apparently the shop carries bows by only one maker, Jon M Lee (who may be the owner; I'm not clear on this), and he was actually there today. He gave me a $1200 bow which I liked, an $1800 which I didn't, and a $1600 which I loved. It handled well and sounded fantastic in the full range of my instrument, which no other bow I've tried thus far really does.

So now I'm thinking about whether I like this bow enough more than the previous $800 front-runner to pay twice the price. I'm sure Emily and Pauline will tell me to go for it. :) I'd set my limit at $800 because that was about twice the price of my current bow, and still below the value of my violin itself. But maybe those aren't the best metrics. Is it stupid to have a bow worth more than your instrument? I thought it was, but given that I'm going to upgrade my instrument in a couple of years anyway, maybe it's not. $1600 feels like a bit of a splurge, but not to the point of being irresponsible.

And then, because I consider myself a thorough person, I feel I really ought to go back to Ifshin in Berkeley and see what they have in this price range. But it's a pain in the rear to get up there, and unless I take a day off work I'll have to go on a Saturday when the shop will be packed, etc. etc.

My husband gave me a $100 Macy's gift certificate toward a nice coat for Xmas, and when I went to redeem it, I found what I wanted in less than 30 minutes. Why can't bow shopping be this easy??

From Eric Stanfield
Posted on January 4, 2006 at 9:46 PM

Too funny. 1500 was as high as I could convince myself to go without feeling ludicrous. Well worth it though I think. I bought a spare at the same time for only 4 or 500 and honestly I haven't used it more than a couple times. I would vote if you found your match, buy it!

From Karin Lin
Posted on January 4, 2006 at 9:53 PM

Thanks, Eric. I admit I'm a little more likely to listen to someone like you who is a declared amateur, rather than these folks who make a living playing and teaching their instruments. Of course they'll want the best they can afford. (Not picking on you, ladies, just noting that I have a slightly different perspective!)

From Emily Grossman
Posted on January 4, 2006 at 10:09 PM

Yeah, but I'm freakin' poor, and I hocked a treadmill for my bow. I was just like you, out looking for an $800 bow. I was just getting back into playing. I don't take lessons, I don't make a living performing, and I could do just fine with a cheap bow for teaching lessons. In most people's eyes, I'm an amateur, too. But the one I loved was $2000, and I knew from the moment that I played it that I wanted nothing else.

When you can tell the difference immediately and you love it, it's hard to put it down and go with something cheaper. I decided I would miss the treadmill less than the bow. And that's saying something, when you're an avid runner up north who won't run in the snow.

...But of course, if you decide not to, you can always do it later. Just be warned, you probably won't get all your money back when you resell an $800 bow, unless you find someone to buy it privately.

From Dan Winter
Posted on January 4, 2006 at 10:33 PM

Your love and use will outway the cons of buying the bow I'm sure.

However. If you are going to upgrade your violin in the near future, might it be a good idea to have an idea of which one you're going to want so when you do buy it the bow sounds just as good with that one as it does your current one? It might be bad to buy a bow that costs a lot of money only to have to do it again when you purchase a new violin...

Nonetheless! I know how you feel about needing a new bow, and I say, take the plunge!

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on January 4, 2006 at 11:01 PM

Ha. You're stuck now.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on January 4, 2006 at 11:15 PM

P.S. If you don't get it you might always wish you had. I know I would.

From Karin Lin
Posted on January 4, 2006 at 11:48 PM

Jim, you are a troublemaker. :P But you are also probably right, like everyone else.

From Barry Berman
Posted on January 4, 2006 at 11:56 PM

The quote I live by is "Don't be afraid to buy the best, you won't be disappointed by it". On the otherhand, ignorance is bliss too. There's no way I'm going to even try a violin or bow that's out of my price range, cause then I'd be awake at night in longing;)

From Emily Grossman
Posted on January 5, 2006 at 2:16 AM

Oh, you would.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on January 5, 2006 at 2:48 AM

ok, not really. But she would, when I finish messing with her.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on January 5, 2006 at 6:54 AM

I don't earn a living either playing or teaching, although I wish I could earn a living teaching. I'll repeat what I said earlier: Buy the best bow you can afford. I wouldn't want you to lie awake at night thinking, "What a wonderful bow. It's just right for me. I wish I had bought it."

From Kimberly Syvertsen
Posted on January 5, 2006 at 5:22 PM

A bow that you like and respond well to is like a beautiful dress that you look and feel great in (sorry, gentlemen, I don't have a metaphor for you.) Amateur, student, professional, whatever--- if you can afford and you enjoy playing that much more, it's a worthwhile investment. Plus, you can always uprgade or downgrade later. =)

From Clare Chu
Posted on January 5, 2006 at 5:25 PM

Hi Karin, was working too hard I just read your note and e-mail. If you found the one that clicked with you, and you can afford it, just go for it. Or, let me take it out on trial and see how you feel, if you think I might buy it or not, and how it effects you. :-) You'd think we were teenagers fighting over boyfriends, eh?

From Karin Lin
Posted on January 5, 2006 at 7:26 PM

Well Kimberly, I also don't feel like I deserve any new dresses until I lose these last 30 pregnancy pounds... ;) I'm leaning toward getting the good bow. My husband pointed out that he spent more on his keyboard, in fact, just about $800 more than his original plan.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on January 6, 2006 at 2:49 AM

Go for it! If you really don't want to spend that much money on something for yourself, you can give me the money. ;-)

From Bill _
Posted on January 6, 2006 at 6:46 PM

When I was a kid, my favorite hockey stick was a Koho 202. It had just the right balance, the curve was just so, I could make wicked backhand wrist shots with it....why can't bows be like hockey sticks--like, under $25 ;-)

From Nick Bleisch
Posted on January 7, 2006 at 3:36 AM

have you tried Shar's fine music dept? They will send you a case of bows on consideration. In your price range, you could see quite a few different types. Good luck!

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Bow shopping, part....oh, who's counting anymore?

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