Double Bass Beginner bow question

[turf3]

One thing I did not mention is I have neither the time or motivation to master the bowing technique!

I simply want to learn and expand. All of the gigs I do on upright are in the bluegrass, older country, traditional gospel and folk.
If it works out I might bow 1 or 2 songs here and there. This is the reason I am looking at inexpensive options.

if it works out I will definitely buy a quality bow. From what I have read here maybe I should keep on what I am doing finger style. What are you thoughts considering all of this?

Well, I don't know how you define "master".

I will say that using the bow will instantly show all your intonation issues. I'd say that though I actually PLAY with a bow about 2% of the time, I practice about 50% with the bow.

All that said, I reiterate that the way to learn arco bass playing is to take lessons with a qualified bassist, not ask a "violin-playing buddy".

 

[Mark_T]

"Master" is probably a bit hyperbolic a word to use, but I will say that you shouldn't expect to just "grip it and rip it" (like Hansel, so hot right now) on the bow. If that's your plan, then I don't really have any advice for you.

If you're willing to put some time and effort in, @turf3's suggestion that you find a Real Bass Teacher will be really helpful. He's also right that practicing with the bow will help you find and fix holes you didn't know you had.

I agree also with the suggestion that you not be overly cost-driven but obviously everyone's buying equipment on a budget and none of us can tell you what you can afford. But it is true that there are better and worse ways to blow $100, and often a better way is to wait a bit and scrape together another $75 and get a better bow. There's been good advice in here on options. Gollihur and String Emporium have done me well. I also owned a Vingobow "Rainbow Bouncy" which I thought was actually a totally reasonable bow (enough so that I couldn't resist buying an Arcus; the Rainbow Bouncy ended up donated to a local middle school along with another bow I wasn't using).

Good luck!

 

[oren]

Starting to learn the bow can be a deep rabbit hole! About a year ago I decided I should really learn how to use the bow (I’m primarily a jazz player who came to double bass after many years of electric). I started taking lessons every two week with a wonderful local teacher, and now I’m playing in our community symphony, and almost all my practice time is with the bow, which has absolutely been good for my jazz playing.

I have an inexpensive Christopher bow that I bought from Mark Sonsken’s shop when I lived in Chicago - I think it was right around $200. My teacher recently told me that it will be a long time before I need anything better.

I do notice that Gollihur has an inexpensive fiberglass bow for $120: Double Bass Bow by Glasser - Fiberglas/horse hair

Good luck!

 

[dc-upright]

Thought I would follow up on this thread and thank everyone for all of the advise!
I have wound up with a cheaper German bow and a teacher!
I am enjoying learning to bow very much, and I very understand now why everyone says to get a teacher.
I am just getting started but having a great time!