With a decent bass bow in hand, a player can unlock their full potential on the instrument. A poor-quality bow will not only make it harder to execute a player’s preferred bowing technique, but it can also prevent the instrument from sounding its best. So, it’s important to select a bow that feels comfortable and produces a sound that is true to the instrument.
To help you select the best string bass bows for your needs, here are our top picks.
Our Editor’s Best String Bass Bows Reviews
- BLACK HORSEHAIR - The Brazilwood French bass bow is built with natural black Mongolian horsehair with great resilience, easier to be rosined. Black horsehair is thicker than white hair, you will get louder and powerful tone surprisingly.
- BRAZILWOOD - The student bass bow has Brazilwood stick in octagonal shape with great wooden bow hand feeling, air dried more than five years. The 3/4 sized upright double bass bow is approx.147g and 70cm including screw.
- GREAT STUDENT BASS BOW - The French bow is made by experienced bow-maker, offers you nice sound. A high cost-performance bow for student.
- GOOD BALANCE POINT - Great balance point makes the bass arch easier to be controlled. Our maker always adjusts it for several times to ensure its point is in the right range.
- HANDMADE - The Vingobow Student Black haired Brazilwood French bass bow is totally made with traditional handcraft. Straight stick, clean work, ready to play.
- 3/4 German Style Double bass Bow ,Ebony Frog, Eyes Pearl inlay
- Brazil wood Stick, Natural Mongolia Horse hair,
- Weight: about 140+/-2g, Length:75+/-1cm
- Well Balanced fast Response
- FOR ADVANCED PLAYER - The Brazilwood German bass bow is made by experienced bowmaker, delivering you deep and powerful sound. A high cost-performance bow for high level players.
- BRAZILWOOD - The upright double bass bow has well-selected Brazilwood stick in round shape, air dried more than eight years with great wooden bow hand feeling. The full sized bow is approx.145g and 76cm including 6cm screw.
- NATURAL HORSEHAIR - For the advanced wooden bass arch, we use unbleached Mongolian horsehair, making it have great resilience, easier to be rosined. VINGOBOW has no special requirements in rosin brand, just select your own favorite rosin for it.
- GOOD BALANCE POINT - Great balance point enables players easier to control a German bow. Our maker always adjusts it for several times to ensure its point is in the right range.
- HANDMADE - The Vingobow Advanced Level Brazilwood German Bass Bow is totally made with traditional handcraft skills. Straight stick, clean work, ready to play.
- BLACK HORSEHAIR - The advanced carbon German bass bow is built with natural black Mongolian horsehair with great resilience, easier to be rosined. Black horsehair is thicker than white hair, you will get powerful and wilder tone surprisingly.
- ADVANCED PERFORMANCE - The upright double bass bow was made by old experienced bowmaker, quick and smooth response. Recommended for advanced players.
- QUALITY CARBON FIBER - The stick of the advanced bass arch is stronger and more durable than wooden bows, with well bounce and great flexibility. The full sized German bow is approx.135g and 76cm including the 6cm screw. Easy to play.
- PERFECT BALANCE POINT - As you know, balance point is very important for a German bow. Great balance point enables players easier to control it. Our maker always adjusts it for several times to ensure its point is in the right range.
- CAREFULLY HANDMADE - The Vingobow Advanced Level Black Carbon Fiber German Bass Bow is totally made with traditional handcraft skills. Straight stick, clean work, ready to play.
- Amazing carbon fiber Bass bow ,Exquisite ebony frog with abalone slide and Parisian eye decoration. 4/4 size,Weight: about 133 g ,Length: about 76 cm.It is very suitable as a backup bow and even a practice bow.
- Using Natural Mongolian Horse Hair, it has great resilience, be easier to rosin and more durable.
- Superior balance and quick response，The way our Bass bow transmits string vibrations to your fingertips, you can feel every nuance of the playing，facilitating technique and enhancing personal expression
- Our Bass bow is handmade of high-quality carbon fiber stick, It's stronger, lighter and more stable than wooden bow.It's temperature and humidity resistant, allowing you to play anywhere without any adjustments
- Having adhered the most demanding quality control procedures. All parts are fitted by an experienced craftsman from start to finish.Give this Bass bow a try.It is very suitable as a backup bow and even a practice bow.
- BLACK HORSEHAIR - For the concert carbon bass bow, we use natural black Mongolian horsehair with great resilience, making it easier to be rosined. Black horsehair is thicker than white hair, you will get powerful and wild tone surprisingly.
- CARBON FIBER - The Concert Carbon German bass arch is a great combination of elasticity and hardness, with wonderful weight and length distribution. The 3/4 sized bass bow is approx.130g and 74cm including screw. Easy to play.
- FOR CONCERT USE - The upright double bass bow successfully combined high-tech silver braided Carbon Fiber and traditional handcrafted skills. It was built by experienced bowmaker with loud and powerful tone. Recommended for professional players.
- PERFECT BALANCE POINT -As you know, balance point is very important for a German bow. Our makers always adjust bow balance point for several times to ensure it is in the right range. Great balance point enables you to control the bow easier and more comfortable.
- CAREFULY HANDMADE - The Vingobow Concert Level Carbon Fiber German Bass Bow is totally made by traditional handcraft skills. Straight stick, clean work, ready to play. It is a good strong bow with exceptional bounce stability.
- ★ Weight: about 135+/-2g, Length:75+/-1cm
- ★ High Quality Ebony Frog
- ★ AAA grade Mongolian Horsehair
- ★ Straight and well balanced, A good bow for student and advanced player
- ★Expertly crafted 3/4 bass bow made from lightweight Brazil wood for a well-balanced and comfortable playing experience.
- GREAT STUDENT BASS BOW - The Brazilwood German bass bow is made by experienced bow-maker, delivers you nice sound. A high cost-performance bow for student.
- BRAZILWOOD - The student bass arch has Brazilwood stick in round shape, air dried more than five years, great wooden bow hand feeling. The 4/4 sized upright double bass bow is approx.150g and 76cm including 6cm screw.
- NATURAL HORSEHAIR - We use unbleached Mongolian horsehair for the French bow, making it to have great resilience, easier to be rosined.
- GOOD BALANCE POINT - Great balance point enables players easier to control a wooden bow. Our maker always adjusts it for several times to ensure its point is in the right range.
- HANDMADE - The Vingobow Student Brazilwood German bass bow is totally made with traditional handcraft skills. Straight stick, clean work, ready to play.
- Yinfente 1/2 Upright Double bass bow , Made by advance brazilwood , which is one of most popular wood in bass bow. This kind of bow has fast response and good sound .
- Hand selected natural Mongolian Horse Hair , which is easy to hold rosin and play good sound. Ebony wood bow frog with circle pearl inlay pattern .
- This bow has good balance and fast response which fit for the beginner and professional .
- package include : 1pcs 1/2 bass bow
- Evergreen Workshop Leather Bass Bow Quiver Black
Best String Bass Bows Buying Guide
Before choosing the best string bass bow you should consider following options:
1. Quality of the Bow: The quality of the bow is the most important factor to consider when choosing a bass bow.
The quality of the bow is determined by the materials used to produce the bow and the craftsmanship that goes into making it.
The most common materials used to make bass bows are either birch or bamboo. Both materials are strong and have good tonal qualities when used to make a bow.
It is preferable to have a bass bow made with a combination of birch and bamboo. This will give the bow a good attack and tone.
The quality of the materials and craftsmanship of the bow will determine the overall quality and price of the bow.
Low quality bows made with poor materials will be much cheaper than a good quality bow made with premium materials.
2. Balance and Weight of the Bow: Each bass bow has a unique balance and weight that the player must get used to.
The balance and weight of the bow will change from player to player depending on their grip and strength.
The player must find a bow that has a good balance and weight for their body size and playing style.
A bass bow that is either too light or too heavy will cause the player to tire much quicker and not perform at their best.
A bass bow that has too much weight will cause the player to hold the bow in a cocked position which will not allow the strings to be played with the proper sound production.
A bass bow that is too light will cause the player to over exert themselves and tire quickly.
3. Bow Grip: The bow grip is very important when playing the bass. The player must have a good quality, proper fitting bow grip when playing the bass.
A poor fitting or poor quality bow grip will cause the player to over exert themselves, tire quickly, and not produce a quality sound.
The bow grip should fit the player’s hand like a glove. It should not be too loose or too tight.
The leather should be smooth and supple and not too hard or too soft. If the leather is too hard, it will cause the player to tire quickly. If the leather is too soft, it will cause the player to over exert themselves and cause fatigue.
The bow grip should also be in good condition and should be replaced when it deteriorates.
4. The Length of the Bow: The length of the bow is another important factor to consider when buying a bass bow. A bass bow should be from 45 to 60 centimeters in length.
A bass bow that is too short will cause the player to over exert themselves and tire quickly. A bass bow that is too long will cause the player to hold the bow in a cocked position which will not allow the strings to be played with the proper sound production.
When an upright bassist is shopping for a bass bow they will have to take into account their height and arm length. If the bow is too long for the player, their arm will not be in a proper angle and they will over exert themselves.
If the bow is too short for the player, their arm will be in a cocked position which will cause them to over exert themselves and not produce a quality sound when playing the bass.
What else you should know about string bass bows
1) What are the best string bass bows?
There are many different types of string bass bows, so it really depends on what you are looking for. For example, if you are looking for a bow that is lightweight and easy to maneuver, then a carbon fiber bow might be a good option. If you are looking for a bow that has a lot of power and projection, then a brazilwood bow might be a better choice. Ultimately, it is up to the player to decide what type of bow works best for them.
2) What are the differences between string bass bows?
There are several different types of string bass bows, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The most common types of bows are the French bow, German bow, and English bow.
The French bow is the most popular type of bow for string bass. It is lightweight and well-balanced, making it easy to control. French bows also have a softer, more mellow sound than other types of bows.
The German bow is heavier than the French bow and is often considered more difficult to control. German bows produce a brighter, more powerful sound than French bows.
The English bow is the heaviest type of bow and is very difficult to control. English bows produce a very loud, powerful sound.
3) What are the best materials for string bass bows?
There is no definitive answer to this question as different players have different preferences. Some common materials used for string bass bows include brazilwood, fiberglass, and carbon fiber.
4) How should I care for my string bass bow?
The first thing you should do is rosin your bow. You do this by rubbing the rosin onto the horsehair of the bow. Be sure to do this evenly. You should also check to see if the bow needs to be rehaired. You can do this by looking at the horsehair. If it is fraying or thin, it needs to be replaced.
5) How often should I replace my string bass bow?
The frequency with which you should replace your string bass bow depends on how often you play and how well you take care of it. Generally, you should replace your bow every 1-2 years if you play regularly.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best string bass bows. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best string bass bows will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.