There are a ton of great options out there for carbon fiber violin bows, and the options are overwhelming. As a professional violinist, I’ve played on a lot of different bows over the years, and my students often ask for recommendations on what bows they should buy.
This guide will help you find the best bow according to your own individual needs.
Quick Look: Best Carbon Fiber Violin Bows
★ #1 Best Carbon Fiber Violin Bow Overall: Fiddlerman ★
- Best Cheap Carbon Fiber Violin Bow: Vio Music Woven
- Best Carbon Fiber Violin Bow Under $200: Fiddlerman Hybrid
- Best Professional Grade Carbon Fiber Violin Bow: Codabow Diamond
It’s important to make sure that you first have a violin that you love, as that’s the most important tool in making the sound that you want. But bows can go a long way in improving your sound and helping you progress on your violin journey.
Why Choose a Carbon Fiber Violin Bow?
Traditionally, violin bows have been made out of two specific types of wood, but in recent years, technological innovations in composite materials have made it possible to make world-class bows out of synthetic materials.
These bows are generally far less fragile than wooden bows, and you can get an excellent carbon fiber bow for a fraction of the price of a handmade wood bow.
They’re also far more temperature resistant than wood bows, so if you play outside a lot, these are a great option. Many professional violinists carry both wood and carbon fiber bows and use them interchangeably.
Types of Carbon Fiber Violin Bows
There is a range of carbon fiber bows, from very affordable options for beginning students to professional quality, meticulously designed options for professional players.
Bows for Beginning Students
These bows are very affordable. They’re a great option for beginning students. They’re made with high-quality materials, although they lack much of the flexibility and control of higher-priced models.
Bows for Beginning and Intermediate Students
The next level up are bows that work for both beginning and intermediate students. They’re a good investment for students hoping to quickly improve their skills.
Bows for All Levels
These bows are great for players of all levels. They’re a great option for a backup bow or an alternative to expensive wood bows.
Professional Quality
Carefully crafted to the highest level of refinement, these bows are comparable to the most sophisticated handmade wood bows and are not suitable for beginning players.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Violin Bow
There are many things to consider when choosing your violin bow. The weight and balance of the bow is crucial for the kind of sound you produce, so the bow you choose should feel good in your hand. You should also be able to play a wide range of bow strokes and the full range of dynamics, both on and off the string.
The advantage of carbon fiber bows is that you can get a very high-quality bow for far cheaper than traditional wood bows, meaning that beginners can get a high-quality bow without breaking the bank.
Size
Violin bows are specifically sized based on the size of the violin you’re playing, so if you have a 1/2 size violin, you should have a 1/2 size bow to go along with it.
Weight and Balance
A bow must be the right weight and be balanced evenly, otherwise it will make an even tone quality far more difficult. Because carbon fiber bows are not as individually unique as wood bows, these factors are far easier to control in this type of bow.
Price
You can get a world-class carbon fiber bow for as little as $300, and often for far less. You should determine your needs and how much you have to spend before deciding on which bow to buy.
7 Best Carbon Fiber Violin Bows
Below, you’ll find my 10 favorite carbon fiber violin bows. I’ve included bows with a range of prices and with descriptions of the strengths of each to help you find the right bow for your needs.
1. Crescent Well Balanced Carbon Fiber Violin Bow
- Size: 32 inches
- Weight: 2.39 ounces
- Material & finish: Black, carbon fiber
- Best for: Beginning violinists
The Crescent Well Balanced is an incredibly affordable, basic carbon fiber bow. While it might not be versatile enough for more advanced players, it’s a great option for beginning students on a budget.
✅ Affordable
✅ Quality materials
✅ Highly rated, compares to more expensive models
✅ Natural horsehair and ebony frog
❌ Not as versatile for more advanced players
❌ Limited control and flexibility
Why I Recommend It
If you’re on a budget and searching for a bow that compares to more expensive brands, this is the one for you. It doesn’t sacrifice quality despite the very low price, and I’d recommend this to any beginning violin students.
2. Vio Music Woven Carbon Fiber Violin Bow
- Size: 30.3 inches
- Weight: 0.8 ounces
- Material & finish: Black, woven carbon fiber
- Best for: Beginning and intermediate violinists
The Vio Music Woven carbon fiber bow is another great option for a high-quality, affordable bow. It’s well balanced and lightweight, making it an excellent option for beginning and intermediate students.
✅ Affordable
✅ Quality materials
✅ Highly rated
✅ Durable and dependable
❌ Not as versatile for more advanced players
❌ Less flexibility and control than other models
Why I Recommend It
This is another great bow for players on a budget, and it comes highly rated by previous buyers. This bow is perfect for beginning and intermediate players and is highly resistant to breakage or warping.
3. Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Violin Bow
- Size: 29 inches
- Weight: 2.12 ounces
- Material & finish: Nickel plating, mother of pearl, Siberian horse hair, carbon fiber
- Best for: Beginning and intermediate violinists, and professionals looking for a reliable backup bow
The Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Violin Bow is an excellent, all-purpose bow for players of all levels. With slightly more weight than the first two bows on this list, it provides players with a great level of control without sacrificing strength and durability.
It also comes in at a reasonable price, so it’s a great option for players of all levels looking for a versatile bow.
✅ Affordable
✅ Great control
✅ High-quality materials
✅ Versatile and durable
❌ Less control than more advanced models
❌ Not as flexible as more advanced models
Why I Recommend It
For students looking for a bow that will last them a long time without being too expensive, this is the perfect bow. It’s made out of high-quality materials and comes with many of the same abilities as far more expensive wood bows.
4. Glasser X-Series Carbon Fiber X-Bow with Horsehair
- Size: 29.5 inches
- Weight: 2.24 ounces
- Material & finish: Black, carbon fiber, ebony frog with faux pearl eyes and slides
- Best for: Beginning and intermediate violinists, and professionals looking for a reliable backup bow
Comparable to the Fiddlerman carbon fiber bow, the Glasser X-Series is a great option for an affordable and dependable bow for beginning and intermediate students.
✅ Affordable
✅ Great control
✅ High-quality materials
✅ Versatile and durable
❌ Less control than more advanced models
❌ Not as flexible as more advanced models
Why I Recommend It
This is a great option for students looking for a bow they can use for a long time without the price of expensive wood bows.
5. Fiddlerman Hybrid Violin Bow
- Size: 29 inches
- Weight: 2.12 ounces
- Material & finish: Hand-finished “hybrid” carbon fiber core violin bow (pernambuco-wrapped carbon fiber stick), quality Siberian horse hair, copper mounted ebony frog
- Best for: Any level
The Fiddlerman Hybrid Violin Bow has the unique feature of combining the exact design of handmade wooden bows with the durability and affordability of carbon fiber bows.
This bow has a carefully crafted balance and weight distribution, allowing for extensive control and flexibility for any level of player.
✅ Affordable
✅ Carefully crafted and modeled after expensive handmade wood bows
✅ Durable
✅ Good for all levels
❌ More expensive
Why I Recommend It
For students willing to spend a bit more, this is my favorite bow to recommend. While still being quite affordable, especially in comparison to handmade wood bows, this bow has great control and works well for players of all levels.
6. Fiddlerman Performance Series Violin Bow
- Size: 29 inches
- Weight: 2.04 ounces
- Material & finish: Black carbon fiber, sterling silver-mounted ebony frog, Mongolian horsehair
- Best for: Advanced players
Although this bow comes in at a higher price, you get what you pay for. Fiddlerman Performance Series is an excellent option for advanced players looking for a high-quality carbon fiber bow. It comes with much of the same versatility of a handmade wood bow without costing thousands of dollars. It’s durable and long lasting.
✅ Control and flexibility
✅ Durable
✅ Comparable to a wood bow
✅ Long lasting
❌ Expensive
❌ Not for beginning players
Why I Recommend It
For more advanced students and professional players, this is a great bow. It has many of the same capabilities of a high-quality wood bow and is a great option for players looking for an affordable, long-lasting, and durable alternative.
7. Codabow Diamond GX Violin Bow
- Size: 29.5 inches
- Weight: 2.18 ounces
- Material & finish: Codabow signature woven carbon fiber, kevlar acoustic core, sterling silver mounted synthetic ebony core
- Best for: Advanced students and professionals
The gold standard for extremely high-quality, professional-level carbon fiber bows, the Codabow Diamond GX is comparable to handcrafted wood bows of the highest quality. It’s perfect for professionals and advanced students looking for a more durable alternative.
These bows come with a lifetime warranty, and while they’re more expensive, they’re the best of the best.
✅ Unparalleled quality
✅ Lifetime warranty
✅ Professional grade
✅ Durable
❌ Expensive
❌ Not for beginning players
Why I Recommend It
For advanced students looking for a high-quality bow without paying thousands of dollars, this is the absolute best option. This bow is truly incredible and comes with all of the benefits of a custom-made bow without a $40,000 price tag.
Best Carbon Fiber Violin Bow Brands
Recent technology has made incredible, affordable bows a possibility for any level of player.
While there are many brands that made high-quality bows, these are my favorite brands.
Fiddlerman
There are a range of Fiddlerman bows, from affordable, beginning-level models to performance grade options. Fiddlerman has been making bows for many years and their bows are a great option for every level of violinist.
Jonpaul
Jonpaul has a wide range of carbon fiber bows and is a popular option for high-quality products. Handmade in Utah, Jonpaul Bows model their products off of traditional French style bows without the price tag.
Glasser
Glasser, a New York based company, specializes in carbon fiber instruments and bows and is a leader in carbon fiber technology.
Arcus
Arcus is based in Austria and have been making bows since 1999. They’re an excellent option for high-quality, advanced bows for professional players.
Codabow
Founded in 1958, Codabow pioneered carbon fiber technology, and they have developed a unique and extremely advanced formula to make only the best bows. This company specializes in bows for professional musicians, and their products are extremely refined.
Violin Bow Aesthetics & Build
Carbon fiber is relatively uniform in appearance and build, but there are a few defining features.
Material
Carbon fiber bows are made out of pure carbon fiber or woven and composite materials. They come in a range of colors, from silver to black to multicolored. There is a range of carbon fiber, and each company has its own formula, but the general composite parts are the same.
Rosin
Carbon fiber bows use the same quality of horsehair as traditional wood bows, so the choice of rosin can be the same. In many cases, the most affordable options for rosin are actually perfectly effective, so students don’t need to buy the most expensive option to get the highest quality.
See More: Best Violin Rosin Buyer’s Guide
Frog, Windings, and Other Aesthetic Features
Carbon fiber bows come with a range of options for the fastenings and other defining features, from copper and silver fastenings, mother of pearl or ebony fastenings, and other metal adornments.
Frequently Asked Questions:
There are many things to consider when buying a bow! Here are some answers to frequently asked questions:
How Much Do Carbon Fiber Violin Bows Cost?
Carbon fiber bows come in a range of prices, from under $50 to around $900.
What Are the Best Carbon Fiber Violin Bows?
To reiterate, these are my three favorite carbon fiber violin bows, in a range of price levels.
Vio Music Woven Carbon Fiber Violin Bow
The Vio Music Woven Carbon Fiber bow is my favorite choice for an affordable option for beginning and intermediate players. It has an attractive appearance and is made out of high-quality materials.
Fiddlerman Hybrid Violin Bow
For a mid-range option that works for players of all levels, the Fiddlerman Hybrid Violin Bow is my absolute favorite. Made out of high-quality materials and meticulously designed, this bow gives players the quality and control of a handmade wood bow at a far lower price.
Codabow Diamond GX Violin Bow
The Codabow Diamond GX Violin Bow is the gold standard in carbon fiber bows. It’s an incredible option for advanced students and professionals who are looking for a more durable and affordable alternative to custom-made wood bows.
Where Are the Best Carbon Fiber Violin Bows Made?
Carbon fiber bows have been popularized by makers in North America, Europe, and Asia, and there’s no difference in quality.
Where to Buy Carbon Fiber Violin Bows?
There are many places to buy carbon fiber bows today, including Amazon, online music retailers, and your local music shop. I love the option of being able to test out a bow before buying, so local stores are nice, but online shops offer easy shipping and returns, as well as complimentary trial periods, so this can easily be done with whatever option you choose.
Amazon
Amazon has a great selection of instruments and bows, and the customer reviews and item comparison tools are a great way to cross-reference your options. They also offer easy returns and item test options, which makes finding the best instruments and bows a breeze.
Online Music Retailers
Online stores like Sweetwater.com, Fiddlershop.com, and Guitarcenter.com are also great choices, with a huge range of options. If shopping at Amazon is not possible for you, these sites make buying instruments and bows online convenient and affordable.
They also offer instrument guides and information articles to help you make an informed decision.
Your Local Music Store
Your local music store also most likely offers a selection of bows, with the added bonus that you can test them out before you buy. They will also often order products they don’t have in stock, if you have something in mind that you’d like to test out.
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In Conclusion
There’s a huge range of options for carbon fiber violin bows, so it’s important to determine your needs and find a bow that meets your criteria. Carbon fiber bows are increasingly high quality and offer violinists an affordable alternative to much more expensive wood bows without sacrificing technical ability, quality, and flexibility.
I hope this guide helped you find the best option to meet your needs!