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View Full Version : For the Bow lovers (P.W. Bryant)

Ken Smith
05-14-2012, 08:41 PM
Just listed but have had it for awhile. Time to share info on a beautiful Bryant Bow. http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/bows/Bryant/

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/bows/Bryant/images/bryant4.jpg
Eric Swanson
05-20-2012, 06:19 PM
I haven't seen that style of frog before. Lovely work!
Ken Smith
05-20-2012, 09:14 PM
I haven't seen that style of frog before. Lovely work!

Eric, that is typical of Bryant. Every bow I have seen by him is made in this way.
Bin Hire
05-21-2012, 02:12 AM
Please pardon me for the stupid question. Do any great bow makers make both French and German?
Ken Smith
05-21-2012, 03:01 AM
Please pardon me for the stupid question. Do any great bow makers make both French and German?

Well, some of the German makers made French style bows which are mostly from the late 19th century and into the mid 20th as far as the modern style goes. I think the 19th century was when the French bow became popular. Bottesini helped that.

Modern makers in USA and Canada make both but the French bow here in USA is the more popular model.

I don't know of any 'name' German style bows made by the English, French or Italians. Early on in England, the players were influenced by Dragonetti. One story reads that the Conductor brought in 2 French Bow players to set a standard in the section but they humbly played on the last stands. Then they were invited to play up on the first stands and the conductor picked up one of their French bows and said "I want everyone to play with a bow like this".

Most players in USA I think play French but there are a lot of German players here as well. I think if they had a great French bow to start with, many would have stayed with French. Having a bad French bow makes it hard to pull the sound evenly to the tip so playing German makes it easier to apply pressure. Then, once you get used to something with good results, one usually says there. I have never seen anyone sell a Bow grade like Sartory to switch to German bow!

I think from Germany on eastward to Vienna, you will see mostly German bows unless they moved there from French bow territory or the States.
Ken Smith
10-14-2012, 04:41 PM
Recently I found another Bryant bow (http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/bows/Bryant2/). This one is heaver and plays 1/4" longer in the hair length.

http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/bows/Bryant2/images/frog.jpg