Bows

We have an extensive selection of bows available to match both the instrument and player, from beginner to professional.  Our collection includes bows from Germany, France, Brazil, the United States and China.  We are commissioning bows from up and coming Bulgarian and American makers.     

We carry bows made of fiberglass, wood, carbon fiber, brazilwood and pernambuco.  When comparing bows, the buyer should be aware that between the categories of natural materials, there is an overlap of quality that occurs.  There are excellent brazilwood bows that easily out perform many of the new, “cheap” pernambuco bows.  The name pernambuco simply refers to the type of wood, and is not in itself a guarantee of quality.  All our bows are hand selected by Bill and play tested by Karl to assure the best playability and value.  We invite you to come in to the shop and play a variety of bows when making a selection.

Beginner Bows

• Glasser Fiberglass           
• Wood

These entry-level bows are $35 for violin and viola, $45 for cello.

Carbon Fiber

We carry carbon fiber bows from Artisan (China), and from JonPaul, (United States).  From Artisan, we have the Sopra, Volta and Terzo models.  From JonPaul we carry the Bravo, Legacy, Arpège and Avanti models.   Please visit www.jonpaulbows.com for more information on their bows and excellent warranty.  Please call for prices on specific models.

Brazilwood and Similar Wood

Made from wood no longer available for harvest, our older brazilwood bows have proven themselves over decades of service.  Our selection is predominately from Germany and France, and most are an average of 50 years old.  These bows generally offer better playability and produce better sound than new, inexpensive pernambuco bows.

Pernambuco

$300 to $1,000

 Brazil, for centuries the source of the finest bow making wood, is now the source for fine bows.  We are pleased to offer bows from Arcos Brasil, a company that we have worked with for years.  We have sampled other company’s offerings, but find that Arcos Brasil offers consistently high quality bows.  We currently offer full-size violin, viola and cello bows, and will soon carry a limited number of fractional sizes as well.  Of special interest to us is Arcos Brasil’s commitment to the well being of their bow-makers and their families, as well as to the environment.  They are active partners in the effort to plant thousands of young pernambuco trees in order for the species to survive.  More information is available at www.arcosbrasil.com.  

A partial listing of bows currently in stock:

• Dörfler
• Knoll
• Seifert
• Ary France
• Schiker
• Arcos Brasil

$1,000 to $4,000

In November 2005, Gailes' Violin Shop, Inc. was one of only ten violin shops in the United States to be guests of the French Government for one week of tours and meetings with fine makers and craftsmen of instruments and bows.  Bill was so impressed with the work of Jean François Daber, archetier in Lyon, France, that we now offer their fine bows in our shop.  The Daber bows we currently carry are the NICOLAS DELAUNE* and the F.VINCENT à LYON* models for violin, viola and cello.  We will soon also have their top of the line J.F. DABER LYON* in stock.  Please visit their website at http://www.jfdaber.com for a more in-depth look at this fine firm.

 A partial listing of the new and old European bows currently in stock:

• Herm. W. Prell
• L. Bausch
• Nicolas Delaune
• G. Cone & Fils a Lyon
• Albin Hums
• Horst Schicker
• Davot a Paris/Morizot
• Didion
• Fcois Lotte
• Grandini (J.T.L.)
• G. Prager
• W.A.Pfretzschner
• Dodd family-Transitional-composite
• F. Vincent à Lyon*

Home Contact Us gailesemail@yahoo.com Phone: 301 474 4300 Fax 301 474 4380 Toll- Free: 1 800 245 3167