How are different violin bows classified and what are the differences?

There are various types of violin bows. In terms of materials, they include Brazilian wood bows, hematoxylin bows, green sandalwood bows, and carbon fiber bows. In terms of bow stems, they include octagonal bows and round bows. In terms of production techniques, they include mass-produced bows and handmade bows. Bow. What are the differences between these bows?

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Material difference

The best wood for violin bows is Brazilwood, which is prized for its strength, density and flexibility. This wood has long been a favorite choice for hand luthiers making bows for violins and other stringed instruments, and it is considered a precious material for making the finest bows. It is now on the verge of extinction, so Brazilian Sapphire bows are expensive, and now it is rarely used to make bows.

Brazilian wood bows on the market are made of a variety of woods, including Yunnan sappan wood, Brazilian sappan wood, green sandalwood, etc. There is a big difference in the price and quality of these wooden bows because wood is an organic material and wooden bows are characterized by being highly susceptible to changes in humidity and can become deformed if not properly cared for. It is easy to break if not stored properly. Use a high-quality wooden bow to better feel the vibrations of the piano. Many Brazilian xylophone bows sell for around 200 yuan, or even for thousands of yuan.

Carbon fiber composite bows are flexible, lightweight and durable. It is made of synthetic materials. It is a bow made of melted mineral fibers. The composite material bow has the same flexibility and stiffness as a high-end wooden bow. It is strong and not easy to break. It is not affected by air humidity and temperature like wooden bows. Many professional players also choose carbon fiber bows because carbon fiber bows can produce full sound, high-quality acoustics, and also have a beautiful appearance. It's loud, so musicians choose to use them when playing outdoors.

The difference between sections

Violin bows can be divided into round bows and angular bows. The former has a circular cross-section, while the latter has an octagonal cross-section. Why are some made into circles and others into octagons? Because after the wood is cut into a square, each 90-degree side is cut to become an octagonal shape; at this time, the strength of the bow is judged: if the strength is just right, the processing will be stopped, and finally it will become an octagonal bow. If the strength is too high, the bow will be made into an octagonal shape. The octagonal bow is processed into a round shape to reduce weight. Their timbres and adaptable styles are different. Between octagonal bows and round bows of the same weight and size, the octagonal bow has a louder volume. At the same strength, the round bow has a sweet and light tone, while the octagonal bow has a louder tone. Moreover, the process of round rods is relatively complicated. Therefore, the round bow is more advanced than the octagonal bow.

The difference between bow hair

Bow hair is made from horsetail. In terms of color, it can be divided into white ponytail and natural color ponytail: white ponytail is a ponytail that has been manually selected and slightly bleached. It has a bright and clean appearance, and the bleaching treatment will not harm the ponytail.
Natural color ponytail is also called natural ponytail. It has not been treated with chemicals. The pulling force, flexibility and hair scales on the ponytail are not damaged, but the appearance, especially the color of the tail, is yellow. It should be noted that good ponytails are white or off-white, while inferior ponytails are usually black and gray in color. Some businesses treat it with chemicals, bleach it white, and sell it as good ponytail. Moreover, during the washing, bleaching and dyeing process of low-quality ponytail, the hair scales on the surface of the ponytail are damaged and incomplete, making it unable to be used normally. High-quality horsetails that have only been briefly cleaned have sharp and complete hair scales, and the elasticity and toughness of the horsetails themselves have not been damaged. When used on violin bows, their sound performance is incomparable to inferior horsetails.

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Summarize

There are different types of violin bows, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing a violin bow, we can choose according to our own preferences. At the same time, we should pay attention to distinguishing the advantages and disadvantages of violin bows to avoid buying fake and inferior violin bows.