10 Best Violin Bows [2020 Reviews]

If you are currently searching for some of the best violin bows around and are confused as to which one would be perfect for you and your playing style, then look no further. Here we have compiled an extensive list of our top ten choices of violin bows with a buying guide to help you.

Top Picks: Best Violin Bows Reviews

The first bow on our list, and the bow for violin that we believe is the best overall in terms of quality and price, is the Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Violin Bow.

The weight distribution and balance on the Fiddlerman are fantastic, allowing the violin player a much easier playing experience. This bow would also be great for beginners who are struggling with weight on the bow. If you find yourself making a ‘crunchy’ sound near the end of the bow, then the Fiddlerman bow will certainly help with this.

As it weighs around 60g, it is a lightweight bow making it great for beginners and intermediates, but also heavy enough so that you can be assured that it is durable and made to last!

As carbon fiber violin bows are usually much more expensive than what the Fiddlerman is being sold at, this bow would be perfect for anyone on the market for such a bow but doesn’t have a huge budget to spend on it. It is lightweight with even weight distribution, making it ideal for all players, but especially for anyone who is struggling to produce an even tone.

The ViolinSmart Brazilwood violin bow is the best violin for anyone on the market for the cheapest bow they can find. Not only is it incredibly cheap, but the ViolinSmart has decent quality also.

The ViolinSmart violin bows are extremely popular among students and beginner players. Because of its price, the ViolinSmart bow is perfect for younger players that may not properly know how to handle a bow yet and therefore may break bows much more regularly than a more advanced player.

If you or your child is just starting to learn the violin and are struggling with aches from holding the bow too long, then the ViolinSmart will definitely be able to help you with this, without burning a hole in your pocket! If you are also in the market for a budget violin bow, then you should definitely check out the ViolinSmart bow. For this price, you won’t be able to find anything better!

The Glasser X-Series violin bows are extremely popular among students and are a favorite for violin teachers to recommend to those who are serious about pursuing the violin further.

The Glasser X-Series includes a beautiful overall design, with an ebony frog with faux pearl eyes and slides. The overall look of the Glasser X-Series is fantastic, making it look much more expensive than it actually is.

The Glasser bow is an extremely popular choice among intermediate students. As the price point is definitely not the cheapest, this may not be suitable for complete beginners. The weight distribution on the Glasser is great and will give you relatively good bounce, which is perfect for anyone out there who is struggling with staccato!

For any intermediate players out there who are searching for their first carbon fiber bow then the Glasser could be a great choice for you. Not only is it much cheaper than most other carbon fiber bows, but you will also get a fantastic quality violin bow. The weight and bounce of the Glasser make it perfect for intermediate students to advance with.

The Codabow Diamond NX Carbon Fiber bow is the most premium choice of the best violin bows for professionals listed here and it is best suited for anyone looking to spend a little bit of extra cash on their new bow.

The overall sound production of the Codabow Diamond NX is fantastic and will give most players the sound they are looking for. According to The Violin Lounge (1):

The overall design of the Codabow bow is beautiful, making it the top choice for anyone that wants to shine on stage. Perhaps you are a soloist with a packed calendar full of special performances, then the Codabow carbon fiber bow would be a great choice for you!

This is the most premium choice of bows on the list here, and we recommend it for professional players who are pursuing a career as a violinist. The high quality of all the materials included and the quality craftsmanship makes the Codabow the best carbon fiber violin bow on the list. However, it is expensive, so it would suit someone who is willing to pay a higher price range for their new bow.

Although Kmise may not be a well-known brand among violin bows, this particular model is a fantastic choice for beginner and intermediate players who are looking to balance quality and price for their new bow.

The Kmise carbon fiber bows produce a great sound when played with and, given that they are made with carbon fiber, they have all the benefits of a light bow. If you are a player that struggles with a ‘crunch’ sound, then check out this bow - the even weight distribution will help you with this.

The Kmise has a great response time so it is easily played, making it ideal for beginner players or intermediate players who are struggling to perfect their bowing technique. The Kmise bow is incredibly budget-friendly which is another reason why it is so popular among students! If you are in the market for a bow that won’t break the bank then you should definitely try out the Kmise bow.

As this bow is very lightweight and has a high rate of responsiveness, the Kmise would suit students who are still learning how to perfect their bowing technique and increase their speed. The high responsiveness would suit players who regularly play fast-paced tunes, such as bluegrass, folk, or classical players.

The Crescent Well Balanced Carbon Fiber bow is another great choice for anyone who is searching for a cheap bow that will still give them great quality. The materials used in the Crescent bow are of great standard, and the stick is highly durable, making it an ideal choice for beginner and intermediate players who need a bow that can withstand a bit of wear and tear.

The weight of the Crescent makes it an ideal choice for anyone that struggles to properly hold or produce the best sound from heavier bows. The weight will give you easy playability which makes it great for any students of the violin.

As this bow is one of the cheapest options, it is certainly not the most long-lasting bow that you could find on the market. Due to this, we would recommend this bow to beginner players who know that, in a few years, they will be purchasing a more expensive and higher quality bow. For anyone starting out on the violin with an idea to purchase another bow in the future, then the Crescent would be a great choice for you!

Paititi is an extremely well-known brand for both violins and for bows. Its quality and reasonable price range makes it an ideal choice for all players, whether you are a beginner or an advanced player.

The amazing thing about this bow is that it comes in a variety of sizes, ranging from full size to 1/10, which is the smallest size. Because of the variety of smaller sizes available in the Paititi bow, this would make a fantastic choice for children who need a smaller bow to match their small violin.

Due to its fantastic price point and the fact that it is so light, we recommend the Paititi bow to children or any students who need a very light bow to begin their journey into learning the violin. As one of the lightest bows on the market, the Paititi will really help you develop your bowing technique without putting too much strain on your shoulders or arm.

The ADM is mainly made from Brazilwood, which is a reliable and common wood for violin bows. Brazilwood is highly durable making it a great choice for children as it can stand a bit of wear and tear. Children who are learning the violin tend to break bows quite easily, so going for a Brazilwood bow will help with this.

The Brazilwood material will also help with the overall sound production. The ADM bow produces a bright and clear sound, and any player who tries it will notice how easy it is to play with.

It includes genuine Mongolian horse hair which is great for enhancing the tone of the sound produced. If you are a beginner violinist then a bow with Mongolian horsehair will always benefit you and the sound that you will produce.

The ADM is highly recommended for children as it comes in a smaller size than most other bows. One drawback may be the weight and your child may struggle with this in the beginning. However, as time progresses you will notice that the extra weight of the bow can actually assist with tone production and is great for child players who struggle to produce a clear sound.

The Haoyue Carbon Fibre bow is a brilliant bow for anyone that is looking for the perfect balance between quality and price. Although Haoyue may not be a violin bow brand that you may have heard of, they are a reputable brand that delivers high quality at low prices.

The Haoyue bow is one of the best violin bows in terms of weight. At 61g, the Haoyue is one of the lightest bows on this list, making it perfect for anyone in the market for a light bow that won’t cause aches or pains in your shoulders and arms.

Reviews have noted the high quality of the horsehair used on the Haoyue for such a small price. This would suit anyone who has a habit of ‘shredding’ the hair on their bow regularly. The bow hair on this product has been made to last!

The Haoyue has been hand made by highly professional luthiers, so you can be assured that the materials used are some of the best around. Because the brand is not as well known as some of the other brands on the market, the price is much lower than expected. This bow would suit someone who is looking for a quality carbon fiber bow at a fantastic price, and who doesn’t care too much about the brand name.

Although this bow is certainly not the cheapest model on the list here, the D Z Strad is a high quality bow, at a reasonable price point, and is made by one of the most popular violin brands on the market.

The D Z Strad bow is made from quality Brazil wood and an ebony frog. The materials of this bow are fantastic for what you get for the price. If you are looking for a bow that will last through many rehearsals for a number of years, then this could be the one for you!

One of the best qualities of the D Z Strad 500 bows is their overall bounce. If you are a player that is struggling with their staccato technique then the D Z Strad could definitely help you with this. As Chuck G Violin notes (2):

This great and easy bounce point makes the D Z Strad a fantastic choice for intermediate players. Intermediate players tend to move on to more difficult pieces that will use many more techniques that will require a good, bouncy bow. If you are struggling with some of these difficult techniques, then check out the D Z Strad.

How to choose the best Violin Bow for your needs

Before diving in there are a few concepts you should consider. Take the time to understand each, because like good Violin strings, a good bow can make or break your experience.

Brazilwood vs Carbon Fiber

The two most common materials that violin bows are made from are Brazilwood and Carbon Fiber. There are many benefits to both and which one you choose will depend completely on your budget and your personal preference.

Brazilwood bows tend to be the most inexpensive bows to buy, due to the fact that they are inexpensive to produce in large quantities. Because of this, many beginner players, and some intermediate players, will choose to play with a Brazilwood bow until they reach a higher level of playing in the violin. Violins made for beginners (and, often times, intermediate level violins) often come with Brazilwood bows.

Carbon Fiber bows have become increasingly popular within the last 20 years. Carbon Fiber bows are much lighter than Brazilwood bows, but they do tend to cost a lot more. Carbon fiber bows are very durable and you can be assured that they will last a long time, even if you are playing with them every day. These bows tend to be played by more advanced and professional players, but you still don’t see it commonly in Violins aimed at professionals; you’ll see carbon fiber bows in modern Violins, mostly.

Weight

The weight of a bow is highly important with regard to improving your bowing technique and your overall playing. The weight of the bow is one of the most important things you should consider before you purchase your new bow. The average weight of a violin bow is 60g (3). Many bows, however, can be lighter or heavier, depending on the materials used and the hand craftsmanship.

Choosing the appropriate weight of bow will depend on what you most need to focus on. For example, if you struggle with playing very fast and staccato-style sections, then a light bow with a good bounce would be the best choice for you.

Many players struggle with tone production and sound projection. For this, a heavier bow may be the best choice for those types of players.