bow | Strings Magazine | For players of violin, viola, cello, bass & fiddle

Portrait of a Young Violinist (1632) by Jan Miense Molenaer

Demystifying the Dazzling Variety of Historical Bows and How to Find the Right One

Bows have undergone an amazing transformation over the centuries, varying in size, shape, material, and function. Understanding the history will help guide you in your quest for just the right style of bow for you

CodaBow Chroma bow handles in different colors

CodaBow’s New Chroma Experience Makes Everything Custom

The company’s new Chroma experience is meant to give violinists, violists, and cellists the chance to customize their own bows as a reflection of their technique & style

Mr. Tourte, I Need a Bow! How the Tourte Design Became the Model for the Modern Bow

The story of the development of Tourte's bows—now the gold standard in bow design—illustrates the interplay of influence among bows, instruments, and musical style.

Untangling the Dodds: Re-evaluating Historical English Bow Making, In All Its Complexity

By Philip J. Kass | From the November-December 2020 issue of Strings magazineMy first article for Strings, back in the late 1990s, was about English bows a... Read More...

6 Tips to Keep Your Bow In Top Playing Shape

Whether you’ve just bought your first bow or are playing on a fine antique or contemporary handmade bow, here's how to keep your bow in top playing shape.

To Bow or to Bow Out: Three Bow Makers Detail the Path Toward the Bench

By Cristina Schreil | From the May-June 2020 issue of Strings magazineThere’s a beloved analogy that reinforces the importance of having a great violin bow... Read More...

Bow & Tell: Gilles Nehr’s Tête-Bêche bow builds on 20 years of innovation

By Patrick Sullivan | From the March/April 2020 issue of Strings MagazineA damaged bow is no treat for any eyes, but it’s a particularly sore sight fo... Read More...

Bow Makers Discuss Alternative Materials on Vintage Bows As Elephant Ivory Continues to Vex Players Who Travel

By Elizabeth Vander Veer ShaakTraveling internationally with African ivory–tipped bows has become a source of stress for many musicians over the last decad... Read More...

Poetry in Motion: Benoît Rolland on the Making of Bows 1500 and 1515

Benoît Rolland Award-winning, Parisian-born bow maker Benoît Rolland studied both piano and violin, graduating from the Paris and Versailles conservatoires. H... Read More...

The AFVBM Talks Trade in Berkeley

By Megan WestbergA display of abaloneThe American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers (AFVBM) met in Berkeley last week to talk about all things techni... Read More...