Topic: Incredibow, have you seen this thing?

[madfiddler]

I also shall be getting a standard weight after trying it at Fiddle Hell, and a Cello bow to test with the 6 string. I'll post thoughts here also after I get them.

[Alex_E]

My standard Incredibow arrived today, together with a 10.5 inch version of the minibow, with the chrome finish.
Both rosined easier than a standard wooden bow I purchased recently and the sound from them is equal to my good wood bow and better than the cheapie.
I'm particularly impressed with the chrome finish on the little bow and plan to buy a standard size bow in that finish when I complete my magnesium bodied violins, as magnesium polishes to a mirror finish and they will match each other perfectly.

[Brokenstring]

 
I got mine, a lightweight, and it was exactly what I'd hoped. The lightweight helps my speed, and it's definitely louder. It made my dogs howl. Because of the lighter weight, I can move the bow faster and hit those ornaments and triplets easier. I can't wait to take it to a jam soon, but I've decided I'm going to practice with regular bows for the most part and save my Incredibow for the abuse it will receive at jams. I'm amazed it doesn't bottom out on the bow when I bear down hard. The hair, synthetic, didn't take long to rosin with the Dominant resin I got with a set of strings.
It was well worth $80.

[dalebygod]

I do happen to like my bow that lyman gave me. He always said it was his favorite stick he'd ever had. I don't know, but I like it. It feels right to me, even with only half hair in it.
the increibows? Man i can't say. After re-thinking i'd try one if it were free, just to know how if i could get the same control in a studio as i did just trying one out in buxton. But since i really don't need another stick, that's about the only way i'd use one. Every bow is going to sound different in the studio. That would be the test i think. I can't see any reason to buy one with the stick i have unless i knew for sure it would give me a 'different tone' in the studio. Not better, just different. Who makes them?

[madfiddler]

A company called Serinity Mountain http://www.musicblade.com/Incredibow.htm

[peakfiddler]

As these things were originally intended for 'sawplaying' are we including a section for it in the next fiddle hell ? Cos, if we are I'd better start polishing my rip saw - could be fun 

[peakfiddler]

Well I did do some saw playing about ten years ago when I had a brand new 'Spear & Jackson' panel saw. It's now gone a bit discoloured and lost it's shine.
They play better when they are clean and polished.

Pipe spanners are good for playing tunes on as well.

[Ott Lake Rambler]

After a few more weeks or months, are you folks still pleased with your incredibow, or has the novelty faded a bit?

I'd like to get a new bow soon (I only have a $95 brazilwood bow) and I don't want to spend more than $200.  In that price range, is the Incredibow my best choice?

[Brokenstring]

Since it's only $80, give it a shot. If you don't like it, put it on eBay or sell it on the classifieds here.
Some post-purchase observations: It does seem a little top heavy, since there's no frog to balance it on the bottom, but if I don't think about that and I exert bow pressure properly, that is not a problem.
Usually when I play a fast tune with several people, I get carried away and break a few hairs on a regular bow. I've yet to break a strand with this one in 2 weeks.
I did notice a little  bounce problem last night in the mid-section of the bow (I was exerting too much pressure downward) but I have to deal with that problem when playing my wood bows too.
Even knowing all that, I'd still buy one again. Just know this: there is no magic bullet that will automatically transform your playing. It's taken me awhile and a few dollars to realize that.

[Lllizard]

I got a featherweight incredibow yesterday and I'm not doing so well with it.  I rosined it very thoroughly (I think) with Hill's dark rosin, but it sounds a little scratchy to me and doesn't all give me the sound as quick as my other bow.  So today I wiped most of the dark rosin off with a handkerchief and applied Hill's light rosin.  Same results.  I'd play a song, put on more rosin, and play another song.  Is there a possibility I'm applying too much rosin; the end of my finger board is as white as it's ever been and the bow stick is covered with a fine dusting of rosin.   I don't put much rosin on my regular bow and get very little on my violin, and still I get a louder clearer sound with it that with the incredibow
     I was able to improve the sound by playing very close to the bridge.  I wonder if the type of strings matter; I'm using Pirastro Obligato and for the E string, a Helicore aluminum wrap.

My other problem with it is that I'm getting more bounce and it sometimes feels like it's going to go out of control.  That may be because I'm used to playing with a light bow hold and not much pressure.

The bow I've been using is a wood one that I got in 1970 with a upper level Suzuki student violin.  And it's never been rehaired.  I can't believe it's of really high quality.  (When I upgrade my violin four years ago the $300 bow I bought with it was better than the old bow - only that bow broke completely into a couple years ago when I dropped it on it's tip.  )

I'm not giving up on the incredibow yet.  I'll try different rosin and see if I can adapt my technique. 

However, one of the articles here on bows suggested that different violins react differently with different bows depending on their resonancy (did I say that right?).  Maybe it just doesn't suit my violin.   And I seem to remember on the Arcus website that they said that their carbon fiber bows varied alot with different violins because of the nature of carbon fiber.  ( http://www.arcus-bow.de/English/introduction.htm  -"One of the distinctive characteristics of our bows is their variation. The cause for the differences in feel and sound result from the capricious nature of carbon fibre and from our hand-made production. The differences are difficult to measure, but our trained ears and fingers can easily determine their individuality. While the differences in the playing characteristics are quite personal and when you try a selection of Arcus bows you will find the one that suites you pretty soon. The differences in the sound are of two different kinds: the tuning of the stick, which should be matched to the instrument to produce a big and open sound and deliver the best response.")  Is the Incredibow made of carbon fiber?  Opps, just looked - they are made of composite graphite.

[rosenun]

I bought a featherweight incredibow which arrived at the end of July. I have finally made up my mind about it - Its brilliant!

At first I seriously over-rosined it and had all the symptoms that Lllizard describes. It has taken nearly six weeks of occational playing and no more rosin to get it going properly.

I used it all weekend at Swanage folk festival. It produces more volume, a clear bright tone (under the ear at least), it doesn't stretch in the rain and it survives being dropped or stepped on.

The only down side is being so light it has even more propensity to lift in a strong cross wind than a conventional bow.

So Lllizard don't use different rosin or different strings, just keep playing until the rosin wears off to the correct amount and then lightly rosin as and when it seems to need it.

All in all a very good 50 quids worth imported to the UK.

[Lllizard]

At first I seriously over-rosined it and had all the symptoms that Lllizard describes. It has taken nearly six weeks of occational playing and no more rosin to get it going properly.

So Lllizard don't use different rosin or different strings, just keep playing until the rosin wears off to the correct amount and then lightly rosin as and when it seems to need it. ....

Yes, that's what I wanted to hear!  Did you get the bouncing too?  That wouldn't be from too much rosin, would it?

[rosenun]

I think the featherweight, being so very light, needs a bit of bow pressure to prevent the bounce. As a morris fiddler I have to do that anyway to compete with the melodeons and I hold the bow up the stick so it's probably not so noticable.

[Jacuba]

the incredibow seems to want to be pressed into the string; it responds better and sounds good when you do it. Normal bows sound best when you use them to pull the sound out of the string; after a point, pressure squashes the sound. I get a sore arm after playing with the incredibow for a long time because I press more than with a normal bow. After several months, I still like the incredibow for rock and certain bluegrass and jazz situations, but I just got an arcus cadenza and the incredibow sounds positively offensive compared to that thing, especially for classical music... Also the difference in surface noise is huge, and especially noticeable when you play with a bridge pickup; the incredibow is much noisier. But it's hard to compare the two when you consider the price difference and the situations where having an unbreakable bow comes in handy. I think everyone should have one in their arsenal. It's like a speed pick or something like that for mandolin. It's financially viable to have one even if you only use it once in a while. Plus it's nice to know that if all your other bows explode, you'll at least have something to fall back on.

[madfiddler]

I've taken delivery of a standard wieght and lightwieght violin bow, and a cello bow to try with my 5+ stringed violins.

I'll let ya know in due course how I get on with them. I hope I'm blown away as much as when I tried Holgers at FH-UK...

One note to UK purchasers... You will get a Customs bill. For me, the package was valued at $120. Customs charge was just VAT and an £8 handling charge, which worked out at around £23 ($42). I think they could have added import duty aswell if they felt like it.

[swarbrules]

Import duty on bows is only a couple of percent.

[Lllizard]

Well I finally got all the excess rosin off my featherweight incredibow.  Actually It only took a week because I was using it daily.  Since then I've been trying to decide what I think about it.  The sound is pretty nice but, unlike some people's experience, it is not louder than my other bow.  The main thing is that it makes my old bow feel like a log - thick and heavy.  The old bow does feel more stable, however; sometimes the incredibow gets real bouncy still although it rarely goes out of control and is a lot more fun.  I also enjoy people's comments about it.  My conclusion is that I'm going to have to break down and spend $500 or so on a good bow, but I'm glad I bought the incredibow.

[Bob]

I've taken delivery of a standard wieght and lightwieght violin bow, and a cello bow to try with my 5+ stringed violins.

I'll let ya know in due course how I get on with them. I hope I'm blown away as much as when I tried Holgers at FH-UK...

One note to UK purchasers... You will get a Customs bill. For me, the package was valued at $120. Customs charge was just VAT and an £8 handling charge, which worked out at around £23 ($42). I think they could have added import duty aswell if they felt like it.

Charges are worked out as follows:

a) UK customs charge a few percent import duty - more on manufactured items than semi-manifacturered - typically 3-5% depending on the item and the country of origin.

b) they take the value of the item, add the cost of shipping and insurance to get the c.i.f figure and then add 17.5% VAT

c) they add a) to b) and pass on to the shipper.

d) shipper then takes this total and adds a handling charge - Royal Mail charge £8 - private courier services vary much more.

[giannaviolins]

I was playing one yesterday.  Suddenly it really made sense.  Got a great tone, very focused, and really nice and easy string changes.  I'm now very happy with these bows.  I still have a few left.

Steve

[GirlOfTheViolin]

oh...
man...
that HAS to be the ugliest bow i have ever seen! haha
 

[swarbrules]

It's the aesthetics that get me. It just looks so ugly and cheap and those who have met me will know I need beautiful things around me to act as a counterbalance.

[rosenun]

I quite like the look but then I always like things that are different. I have to admit that they are pretty tacky up close but look at the price!

I still love using it, it's my first choice bow now.

[Lllizard]

I did a solo in church today.  It was a hymn with a lot of long slow notes and some 6th position work.  I used my ultra light incredibow, which did great - except for one thing.  I was nervous and that made me a little shaky, and it showed up by a bounce/tremer in the bow on the softer slower notes.   It didn't happen when I practiced at home.  I think a heavier bow would stay put on the string better, but the better option would be for me to learn to relax during performances.

A negative:  my thumb does feel cramped on the incredibow, but I've gotten used to it.

A positive:  My incredibow has almost a half inch more hair length than my old bow.  I doesn't seem that it would matter, but it does make the old one feel short when I use it.

[Lllizard]

Last Incredibow report for a while because I just got a very nice Arcos to play with....

I have for the most part grow accustom to the bounce of my featherweight and even like it.  Other bows feel stiff and heavy - except my new one.   

The main problem, which has not gone away, is the way my thumb feels cramped.  It gets pretty uncomfortable when I play a lot. 

[giannaviolins]

New incredibows came in. Fancy colors.  Rainbow mylar shimmering and so on.  Quite interesting and flashy.  Still play well, of course.  New grip.  Think I like it.  Seems more stable.

Steve