I still use this bow after several months but it bothers me that it bows to the right when laied on its side. When I lay it on a flat surface on its side with or without tension, the bow arches 5/8" in the center. When tensioning or removing tension, the curve changes about 1/8" give or take. I still use it but consider this a defect in manufacturing. Need better quality control. This is my only fault with this bow and it is better than the bow that came with my setup but feel I got suckered out of my money considering the price.

I'm loving this violin bow! It responds to touch exceptionally, producing a clear and articulate sound. The grip is comfortable, and the balance is perfect.

There are some amazing string instruments coming out of China these days at incredible prices; the trick is finding the really good ones. I was intrigued by Fiddlerman's claim that he had tried out 100 cheap carbon bows and liked this maker, so I decided to give it a try. I agree with him -- the bow is straight, decently balanced, has nice healthy camber and (for a carbon bow) a lively action. It weighs 60 or 62 grams, so it feels very much like a wood bow (conversely if you're looking for an extra light carbon bow, this is not going to be your model)

I have tried out carbon bows at price ranges from $250 to $800 and this cheapie bow holds its own quite well. It is difficult to find a carbon bow that is firm but not harsh and has enough camber and wiggle to support staccato and sautille in at least a limited way -- which this bow can do. Legato performance is uneven, but that is typical during a break-in period (the horsehair on this bow appears to be OK quality but it has not been prepped at all -- so the buyer needs to spend some time working in rosin till the hair breaks in a little.)

My best bow is a quality pernambucco bow with a soft, supple action that is great for Mozart/Beethoven/Haydn where you are off the string / on the string in quick succession. That kind of bow is expensive (usually $1500-$2000 and up), and I have yet to encounter a carbon bow that can compete in that arena.

However, carbon is nice when you want to crank up high tension -- say, late 19th century music, or situations where you need to press for more volume. Or if you are playing outside or in a setting where you don't want to put an expensive stick at risk. Quality wood bows do not like to be over-tightened or over-pressed -- it can damage their delicate camber. Carbon bows are great for this purpose because they're so durable.

I guess to sum up, this bow is a no brainer for a student at this price, and would find a use for a lot of advanced players. I am not persuaded that it's worth spending serious money for carbon when a bow this good can be bought for well under $100. Nice work Fiddlerman.

Well add me to the chorus that is singing praise about this bow.

This was intended to replace a bow that came with a student outfit (Stentor II). The Stentor bow was...ok, I guess, but it just didn't have a balanced feel to it, which wasn't a surprise.

I think the packaging bears mention, though there is a fine line mentioning that in an Amazon review. I was disappointed that it was only secured in the box with some crumpled up paper. The bow was rattling about in the box some, but fortunately this is a strong bow (how strong? Check out Fiddlerman's video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOjs84ShSp0) and it didn't seem the worse for wear. Still, I'd prefer that it were packed a little more securely.

The bow I received was a little different than the photos...the "Fiddlerman" name is simply engraved, no gold to it or anything. However, it was in good shape. I have to say, when I picked it up it seemed much lighter than the bow it was replacing, so much so that I had to weigh it. Nope, came in right around 60 grams. That's what proper balance is going to get you...the bow is going to feel much lighter than it actually is. I found it quite easy to hold with no pinkie strain at all.

I decided to go dark rosin with this bow, and though the hair was not pre-rosined (really, thanks Fiddlerman for that...I like to be able to pick my own rosin) it only took me about five minutes to get it all set up. And then, heart in my mouth, I drew some notes.

Wow.

In the back of my mind throughout this process, I confess to thinking "how good can this thing *really* be?" Had I fallen for a gimmick and cheap marketing talk? Am I doomed to wander the Earth forever in search of a decent, reasonably priced bow? Well, it's pretty darned good and there is nothing oversold about this bow. It's balanced. it's agile. The weight is appropriate and drawing it is effortless. In short, it's a dream to use, and before I knew it, a half hour had passed with me just jamming on the violin. That's when I knew I could not give this to my kid.

Or at least...I'd have to get another one. After all, if you're going to learn, why not learn with a great bow?

I don't know how I found this bow. Honestly I am a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to these things and wasn't looking for a bow made of space-age materials. But found it I did, and I couldn't be happier with this. It's a very good bow.

my daughter current bow is giving up. fixing it would cost $85. when Switching to the new one, her teacher comment was she's doing better and asked if she's been practicing more because she improved a lot. The bow is helping in the sound of her violin.