How to Choose A Carbon Fibre Bow?

Article Written By: Bowist Flutist

For many years carbon fibre remained unnoticed an unappreciated especially by bow makers. Once bow makers started realising the usefulness of non-traditional fibres and their craftsmanship, they started switching to this material. Carbon as we all know is a natural product which forms the raw material for manufacturing several other products. Carbon fibre is a carbon graphite material that consists of extremely thin fibres of carbon atoms. The density of this fibre is also very low when compared to steel. This makes it ideal for applications requiring low weight. Extremely strong, low weight and low thermal expansion nature of this material makes it the most preferred choice for manufacturing carbon fibre bows.

When compared to the traditional wood bows or pernambuco bows, these are durable, can resist warping, economically priced and most importantly light weight and well balanced. Despite their growing popularity, very few players are aware on how they are made or marketed. Players have some misconceptions relating to this instrument. Some feel that a carbon fibre bow cannot produce quality sounds in comparison with pernambuco. This was proved wrong after trying several similar instruments. Carbon fibre bows are not only appealing but also capable of producing quality sound at affordable prices.

The production process of this carbon fibre bow involves peculiar mix of craftsmanship and rocket science. Its manufacturing process starts with a thread of material having a carbon base. This material is passed through a oven where the fibre is stretched and heated in an environment that is devoid of oxygen but rich in nitrogen. This results in burning of extraneous atoms and thus a new carbon substance is formed.

The key ingredient of bow recipe includes resins which help in binding the fibres together. In order to make a good composite structure, makers need to maximise the ratio of stiffness to its weight. Fibre architecture is the last phase in bow making process. Architecture here refers to configuration of fibres and their orientation. Many companies pour their carbon mixtures into molds and heat them until its ingredients solidify. The end product thus obtained is highly durable and flexible.

Although there are several carbon fibre bows available in the market, musicians need to evaluate bow shaft, check for its imperfections and test bow's weight and balance. A buyer needs to check how well the instrument responds to spiccato and legato bow strokes. Does it play evenly from head to toe? How it responds to dynamic and bow pressure changes? Player also needs to hold the bow in order to check how it interacts with his/her violin. All this is important because the style of music and the environment in which you play is largely influenced on the choice of your carbon fibre bow.

About the Author

Eric Kwan - Brazilwood Violin Bow. Find more information about Carbon Fiber Bow here.

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How to Choose A Carbon Fibre Bow?