This is likely a really dumb question - but what the heck...

I`ve just purchased a very nice, brazilwood bow for about $200. The pernambuco bow was $300 (made by Saldo).

They have some pernambuco bows for sale on eBay - most have no brand given. Are these worth considering or not? Because if they are I wouldn`t mind another bow as a back up - and I`d like to try the pernambuco to see if I can tell the difference. However, I`m not prepared to invest too much more money in another bow at this point in time.

The unbranded bows on ebay will be of Chinese origin, and that isn`t always a bad thing, our chinese bows are proving very popular. The thing you should be aware of, though, is that "pernambuco" is used to describe bows mae of various woods the great majority of which will not be pernambuco. Pernambuco these days is rare and expensive and a bow for the kind of prices you see on ebay simply will not be pernambuco.

The major problem we find with our chinese bows is that you have to go through a lot of bows to find a straight one. The vast majority of bows which are not straight have simply been badly haired, but a rehair would generally cost more than the price of the bow for these cheap ones. Try to get a guarantee from the seller than the bow, with hair tightened, is perfectly straight. We are only able to sell about half of ours.

Liz

Thank you Liz - that`s the kind of stuff I was wondering about.



Do you sell on eBay? I don`t recall reading...

Never mind - just found you while I was browsing...

Pfft. I can purchase a nice bow for 30.00$ canadian in a local music shop. Strung and everything... Meh.

Melissa, you`re a beginner. You don`t know what a "nice bow" is. I`m not even sure I do, I`ve never even tried one with a list price above $300.

Liz

I`m scared to try a bow over $300...what if I like it? I can`t afford to buy it!

:-)

I have another dumb question. I had a spot of trouble with the guy I bought the bow from on eBay (although he has a 100% reputation and I don`t think he`s a charlatan). I still haven`t received the bow either.

How do you determine what feedback to leave? Someone else left a `neutral` and I checked and he left this same person a `negative` in retaliation.

The mistake was entirely on his end, but he hasn`t admitted to making one in our e-mails. Therefore I`m assuming he thinks he did great!

In short...I sent a MO ASAP. It was delivered within a week (international order) and his Post Office made a mistake and put it in the wrong box. Meanwhile he sends me `notices of non-payment`. I tracked down the MO and he admits his PO makes many mistakes.

Any suggestions? I am not an eBay fan nor am I a big buyer, but I also don`t want an undeserved negative.

If he`s admitted the post office made a mistake, presumably they`re able to put it right? What does he say he is going to do?

Liz

He really didn`t say much of anything. No apology for accusing me of non-payment when he should have checked with his PO first. When he finally did get the MO he told me he was shipping the bow , but I still haven`t received it. Since it`s coming from the US I`m not upset with the time it takes, I expect it to take 7-14 days from the time of shipping. Hopefully it makes it here this week.

It`s just that this was a rather stressful experience. I don`t think he was quite as `business-like` as he should have been and I can`t, unless I lie, leave positive feedback, but seen I`ve seen him retaliate - I`m worried about NOT leaving a positive feedback, if you know what I mean.

Do I have to leave any feedback at all? I hear that ommission is the better part of valour .

No, there is no compulsion on you to leave any feedback at all.

Let us know what the bow is like when it finally arrives.

Liz

Well! The bow FINALLY arrived in good condition! I must say, it does play very well! And the difference is noticable even at my level of playing - it`s quite amazing really - still can`t quite get my mind around it all! :D All told I`m very pleased with it. It also looks very nice!

The seller did however, when I e-mailed him to let him know the bow arrived safely, ask that I now go leave him a positive feedback.

I think he forgot the two demands for payment while the payment was sitting at his post office.

hey Nox, what kind of bow did you purchase?

I ended up with two (yes, I know...what was I thinking?...LOL). Both are what I think are interemediate quality pernambuco with silver fittings. So, not the very cheapest - which I wanted to avoid...but not the best either. And I didn`t really pay for the `name` either - one is unsigned and both are mass produced (China I`m assuming).

I`m pleased with both of them and am currently practicing with both to see if I prefer one over the other. I do seem to have slight preference for one (the more recent one) but I don`t know if it`s due to an imagined or real difference. It could be that the hair on the one is a little looser - if I ever need to have it rehaired I`d like them to tighten it up a bit. Regardless, they`re both great compared to anything I`ve had previously!

about purchasing a bow - what do you think about bows made from artificial materials [such as carbon fibre]? Their weight about 57-63g and their price is about 55$-250$. My teacher has one of theese and i must say i was astounded by it`s quality. but what do You think about bows made from artificial materials?