# String Players:  $540 cello bow?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/string-players-540-cello-bow/333913>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 3, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/string-players-540-cello-bow/333913 "2005-12-03T16:42:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/string-players-540-cello-bow/333913/1 "2005-12-03T16:42:10Z")

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Getting ready to move from the 3/4 size rental my daughter is playing and purchasing a nice cello from a local craftsman who will also upgrade it first.

This fellow is internationally known so I trust him completely with the instrument. However, I’m having a hard time justifying such an expensive (at least it appears that way to me) bow at first, rather than upgrading down the road.

Any opinions?

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**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/string-players-540-cello-bow/333913/2 "2005-12-03T18:16:21Z")

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> [@What the .... ?!?!](#):
>
> Getting ready to move from the 3/4 size rental my daughter is playing and purchasing a nice cello from a local craftsman who will also upgrade it first.
> 
> This fellow is internationally known so I trust him completely with the instrument. However, I’m having a hard time justifying such an expensive (at least it appears that way to me) bow at first, rather than upgrading down the road.
> 
> Any opinions?

Former violinist here. Bows, especially quality bows with horsehair instead of synthetic, are very expensive. Is she ready to go full-size? Is she committed to playing for several more years? If so, this may be an investment you wish to make. However, a less expensive (say $250) bow may be OK to start with, then upgrade later. Do NOT scrimp on the instrument purchase. It’s a genuine investment. A quality instrument will produce better sound, stay in tune better, resist warping, and will have greater resale value down the road.

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**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/string-players-540-cello-bow/333913/3 "2005-12-03T18:42:12Z")

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If there’s any doubt that she might give up violin soon, start cheaper and move up if/as needed. That’s what my parents did for my (violin) bow when I ‘graduated’ to a full-size (We did spent a lot on the instrument - I’d been playing for ten years at that point and while we knew I might play a bit less in high school [this was when I was 13], I wasn’t going to just drop a habit I’d picked up when I was four).

Two tips: Even with a cheaper synthetic-hair bow, you can get much better sound quality if you spring for good strings and good rosin.

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**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/string-players-540-cello-bow/333913/4 "2005-12-03T18:44:07Z")

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Er…I did in fact mean ‘cello’ in that first sentence. :smack:

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**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2005, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/string-players-540-cello-bow/333913/5 "2005-12-03T19:50:47Z")

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What the others said. It’s a bit over-the-top to spend that on a bow at this stage, but don’t go for the cheapest option, either. And I’d always advise people to steer clear of synthetic hair, I’m really not a fan of it at all, and horsehair isn’t _that_ costly.

**NinjaChick** is absolutely right that good strings make a huge difference - as does a high-quality well-fitted bridge and a well-adjusted soundpost.