Bow reviews

Label : P. Lorange a Lyon
Weight : 64 gr.
Owner : Shop Name Removed
Review date : October 2003
Price : £ 2500

Review :

A solid Silver mounted bow claimed to be an Emile Ouchard, according to its certificate, produced by Jean-Francois Raffin on 1st July 2000. Firstly, the weight of this bow is not a limiting factor ; indeed it gives the bow great integrity and solidity, both good values which not all French bows possess. However, if one expects miracles from an Ouchard bow, one might be slightly disappointed : The bow feels slightly too porous to fit into the top category of French bows. The bow does produce genuine “French” playing qualities, but some characteristics, such as the great thickness of the stick at the heel feel not unpleasing but simply a little different. For all its massiveness, this bow does give the player an elastic feedback ; it even falters ever so slightly in steadiness ( the stick quivers) two thirds of the way towards the tip (when drawing a long sustained tone). No doubt, a strong bow hold which at first appears suited to this solid bow is not necessarily the best approach ; indeed a subtle and supple hold will yield better results, despite the massive build of the bow. The bow does have considerable sonorous resolution per centimetre drawn. In other words, a small amount of bow is able to sustain quite a long even sustain of tone despite the right hand sensation of playing with a boxy light wood (the porous sensation). Despite being an above entry level French bow, one may find fairly close competition from Unstamped anonymous French bows costing half the amount. It’s a similar situation when one finds an excellent wine that, alas, costs several times more than a good wine.

E string transparency : Fair 6/10
Sensitivity and Tingle : Fair 6/10
Balance & Integrity : Good 7/10
Nerve and Strength : Fair 6/10
Spring and Elasticity : Good 7/10
Chords and Heel playing : Adequate 6/10
Tonal qualities & Bass : Above Average 7/10
Overall mark : Solidity 7/10

Label : Hawkes & Son.
Weight : 58 gr.
Review date : October 2003
Price : £ 950
Owner ; Roland Herrera for a few months !

Review :

A good quality bow. Focus and density of the bow sound quite good. The stick is very tense and tight. The right hand tactile tingle is not very evident at all though. Bass notes are fairly deep and good, but could be better. The bow produces slightly more body than an average Mirecourt bow, to which it is quite similar. The bow is tense but does not fully sink into the string, failing to produce a really full bass. Spring control is quite good. The bow is solid and straight and well balanced. The heel is of medium thickness, neither fat nor thin. This is a good bow, and has the qualities and satisfaction of a typical French bow, but does not particularly strike out in any field. It is a run of the mill French bow, that will still just manage to outperform your average German or even English bow in terms of sound quality. Some repair has been made at the heel, which looks very solid and well carried out, but leaves a discolouration before the screw. The varnished wood has quite a pleasing deep and dark colour to it. The sound it produces is at least fairly concentrated.

E string transparency : Limited 5/10
Sensitivity and Tingle : Poor 4/10
Balance & Integrity : Fair 6/10
Nerve and Strength : Good 7/10
Spring and Elasticity : Fair 6/10
Chords and Heel playing : Fair 6/10
Tonal qualities & Bass : Good 6/10
Overall mark : Fair 5/10

Label : Moinel-Cherpitel ( or similar )
Weight : ? gr.
Review date : July 2004
Price : £ 1200 - No picture posted.

Review :

A round Silver mounted bow from the workshop of Moinel-Cherpitel, probably from around c.1920. ( Maybe Charles Moinel ? $3-5k ) Colour is creamy brown, slightly light. Firstly, this bow produces a fine tone… one notes this playing an open A.. the sound is rich in primary harmonics and has a deep weighty tone. High notes have good body, and in character are pasty rather than transparent. Next, the spring and elasticity of the bow is very normal.. Not too lively, but active enough to produce some excellent off the string sounds aided by the extreme suppleness and fine resolution of this bow. It’s main defect : One does notice a slight weakness in the stick.. It is floppy and a bends a little too easily compared to a modern German bow. This is naturally a French characteristic, and one must decide if it is going to be a limiting or disturbing factor. In true clear tone production, however, there is no doubt quantity of bow rules over bowing pressure on the string.. And no doubt one must identify with this technique of sound production, as the player who does will find endless satisfaction from it : The body of sound is exceptional in this bow. The bow feels slightly too light at the heel ; I would recommend solid silver mounting, adding 2-4 grams of weight. This should then be easy to adjust to in time. The bow produces genuine “French” playing qualities… and for all its lightness it does adhere to the string and more than make up ! Now this is ( in my rating ) a 2^nd class French bow.. ( Bazin and unstamped would be 3^rd class ) and a respectable bow for a professional with the only reservation being that it’s a “tired” stick which might have lost some strength, even if this is not extreme. I feel, this is a slightly undesirable characteristic, which one either accepts, or finds hard to adjust to. It is inevitable, however, and to be expected in many antique French bows. It is a genuine deal at the price ( because Frog is not original ), and the fact that some bow hairs are missing on the far side from the bridge means the bow is not sprung evenly. The tone of this bow has more treble than my Voirin which is much darker and velvety in comparison. Nevertheless, in conclusion, this is a bow that out performs entry level unstamped French bows. Slightly short grained towards tip.

E string transparency : Thick tone 8/10
Sensitivity and Tingle : Fine 7/10
Balance & Integrity : Fair 6/10
Nerve and Strength : Disappointing 4/10
Spring and Elasticity : Still good 7/10
Chords and Heel playing : Pretty good 7/10
Tonal qualities & Bass : French class 8/10
Overall mark : Refined bow 7/10

Label : None
Weight : 60 gr.
Roland Herrera
Review date : October 2003
Price : £ 800 - (15%)

Review :

A rather nice entry level French bow, with some more advanced qualities apparent. Firstly, the bow is very thin at the heel. It is also very strong and tight at the heel, but the design of this bow gives excellent adherence at the heel. The sensitivity is particularly good at the heel, and indeed good throughout the bow. The bow has good all round properties, and is well balanced. There are some minor defects in this particular bow, specifically short hairs, broken tip, and a very slightly (warped) skewered stick. However the stick, believed to be of the Bazin School*, around 1930 is in mint condition. The wood is a little light in colour, but the sensitivity and transparency of tone produced is really quite pleasing. The tone is fairly fat and warm, if lacking a little body and depth in the bass. This is not a bow that grasps the string completely if you squeeze it tightly ; in fact it requires neither a tight hold nor a soft one ; it is really a pleasant all round balanced performer with advanced heel properties, particularly good for playing full fat chords. The G string tone will not be totally present with this bow ; more focus is possible, and in blind tests, the D string register slightly lacked body. Transparency and sensitivity at the heel are the main strengths.

* verbal appraisal by Jean-Francois Raffin, 2002.

E string transparency : Rather nice 7/10
Sensitivity and Tingle : Subtle 6/10
Balance & Integrity : Fair 5/10
Nerve and Strength : Fair 5/10
Spring and Elasticity : Fair 6/10
Chords and Heel playing : Excellent 7/10
Tonal qualities & Bass : Fair 6/10
Overall mark : Pleasing 6/10

Label : Lupot
Weight : 58 gr.
Owner : Name removed Shop
Review date : October 2003
Price : £ 1000

Review :

A successful gold mounted octagonal bow. The shaft is fairly thick, starting from the heel. Balance and evenness of tone are quite splendid. The only small disappointing area is the right hand slight sensation that the stick is somewhat light and porous ; yet the tone, objectively, following blind tests, has body and is very clear. The spring and vibrations of the bow are very much alive and young… this feels like a sturdy German type bow, which has French quality, adherence and elasticity ; a case of “best of both worlds”. Again, a deeper bass tone and string penetration would be ideal. Nevertheless, the bow is pleasing to use, and does not let down during chords and long sustained notes of slow speed. This bow is of a modern, sturdy stile, but retains the characteristic suppleness often found in quality French bows. Solo Bach repertoire is well balanced and comes quite naturally to this solid bow. This bow is not of the very highest French calibre, but still performs very pleasingly. Indeed, the right hand “tingle” sensation it gives as feedback makes it a delight to use. An interesting bow, with its specific blend of characteristics.

E string transparency : Rather good 8/10
Sensitivity and Tingle : Vibrant 7/10
Balance & Integrity : Good 7/10
Nerve and Strength : Fair 5/10
Spring and Elasticity : Fair 6/10
Chords and Heel playing : Adequate 5/10
Tonal qualities & Bass : Average 5/10
Overall mark : Quite positive 7/10