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How to Buy a Bow
There are many factors to consider when trying out a bow
for purchase. In addition to the initial considerations of
price, size, materials, workmanship and age, you can evaluate
a number of playability factors. When calling LAH Bows with
the intention of trying out a bow/bows, I will ask you about
your initial considerations (including what level of player
you are) so that I am able to help find the best match for
your needs.
| Initial Considerations |
Price
|
|
| Size
|
full size | fractional size
(for children) |
| Materials
|
wood | other |
| Condition |
new | restored |
| Playability Factors |
Comfort of Frog & Grip
|
comfortable | moderately comfortable | uncomfortable |
| Perception of Weight
|
good | too heavy | too light |
| Strength of Stick
|
good | too stiff | too flexible |
| Tone Quality
of Long Tones |
pleasing | too bright | too
dark |
| Consistency of Tone
|
good | changes gradually |
changes suddenly |
| Loud Dynamics
|
plays very loudly | plays moderately
loudly | does not play loudly |
| Soft Dynamics
|
plays very softly | plays moderately
softly | does not play softly |
| Action of Spiccato
and Sautillé |
bounces well | too much bounce
| too little bounce |
| Tone Color Contrasts
|
many colors | few colors |
only one color |
| Vibrato Color Contrasts
|
allows many colors | allows
few colors | allows only one color |
| Bow Directional
Changes |
not noticeable | somewhat noticeable
| very noticeable |
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Click here for a printable chart
for use during bow comparison and evaluation.
(Download the FREE Acrobat
Reader to read, navigate, and print
this PDF file.)
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