Topic: Incredibow, have you seen this thing?

[dalebygod]

I've played one in england and have to admit i do like them fairly well, but i can't force myself to use one. Something about the house?

[Rena]

What a strange thing. Just checked out the website. I especially love the "firebows." Though I'd love an electric violin some day, I'm purely acoustic, so I wouldnt be looking for an incredibow any time soon! But they gave me a smile, I'll give them that. Would love to hear more about people's experiences with them- who knows, maybe in the future I'll pay 60$ and give one a try.

[dalebygod]

Rena, I tried one and played hoedowns with it and a bit of bluegrass, and it seemed to handle quite well. The bow did bounce, but it didn't show up on the strings. Strange thing!

[bryan]

I just received a featherweight incredibow with naked graphite stick (no pvc skin)


It rosined easily, and plays well.  I've only got about an hour on it but here are first impressions:   [ compared against my Steiner $120 brazil wood bow - only bow I've ever used]

Definitely louder
sound seems more focused
need to play more (or record myself) to really determine change in tone
Plays easily  - light, well balanced, tracks well
hair tension seems high, but I get no undesired  bouncing

I've only been fiddling for a year so I don't really know about all of the different classical bow strokes, but first impressions are good, I prefer it to my Steiner bow already.

My wife said "the incredibow sounds much better, louder and the tone is way better"

I was worried about adjusting to the light weight, but the balance is good and it feels lighter in my hand but I didn't have any trouble using it.


the only downsides: it looks ok, but does not have the production attention to detail you would get from a larger commercial shop and it still smells like epoxy or something.

bryan

[giannaviolins]

They seem to work quite well once gotten used to.  I have several here at the moment.  A bit folksy!  But they work and seem indestructable.

Steve

[LA91331]

Well, recently I got my hands on one of these Incredibows and I am very satisfied. I don't play violin,viola, cello or any traditional bowed instrument. I am currently playing and experimenting with a TogaMan Guitar Viol(bowed guitar) from Jonathan Wilson Designs-- www.bowedguitar.com --

I was using  a cheap 1/4 size wood violin bow. Jonathan was able to obtain a few of these Incredibows and lent one to me. I was so amazed by the sound, feel, and comfort level that I bought it off him. I love the response of it and even the baroque look. I might buy another one later on as well. Incredibow was able to build some 1/4 size bows for Jonathan. I feel that 1/4 size bows work better on the Viol for fast runs, but I might a full size bow for long notes and orchestrated arrangements. In all, it well worth the price and you will not be disapointed.


Later,

Oscar

[madfiddler]

http://www.bowedguitar.com/

Yikes... that is very cool... Looks like a cross between a modern guitar, and some kind of middle eastern instrument... Can you do some recordings and post them here?

Forget that... link here...

http://bowedguitar.tripod.com/therainbow.mp3

[fidla]

My incredibows arrived.  I took them both to a couple rehearsals and a gig last night.  I have to be honest with you guys, I was disappointed.  Everything people had been saying up to now led me to believe these would be something totally awesome.  Now let me be fair, I had been sceptical from the start, and, classically trained for so many years, I am a bit of a stickler for a traditional-shaped bow.  But I have also been doing a lot of research personally into the development of alternative bows and so I would say that I have a reasonably open mind compared to most.

My impressions:

1.  the sticks are very springy - not very stiff.  I found that difficult to handle when chopping, comping and playing off beats.  I found that I had to concentrate on keeping the stick from springing out of my hand, it was especially difficult to control during the gig last night when my right hand got sweaty.  I'm used to a different grip and a more stable stick, so I have to be honest I lost the bow a couple times (once turing OBS and the other during a solo on Sweet Georgia Brown - how embarrassing!  I've played that tune for 25 years!)

2.  the grip is ok.  not as bad as I thought it would be.  I like the way I can hold it without needing all of my fingers in contact with the stick.  I find it easy playing fast, quick notes.  Easier than I expected.  Once again, when my hand was sweaty, I lost control of the stick.

3.  the hair is synthetic and contrary to what's been said here, Tartini rosin does NOT work.  I had to apply and reapply the rosin many times (up to 4) before I finally had to switch bows in frustration.  I don't know what you guys are talking about, but the rosin slips off.  It's especially bad at the tip and the frog, where it gets the most pressure.  At one point during the gig last night, the bass player turned to me and said "having trouble with your bow, son?"  I've never had these comments before in all my years of playing.  Talk about embarrassing.  Told him I was trying out a new bow. 

4.  The stick is pretty cool looking.  I got a lot of curious comments from band mates and audience members.  I think if the manufacturer can make the grip better and the stick stiffer, there will be fewer control issues.  Maybe it's just me, but I think those 2 simple things can improve this bow an awful lot!

Overall, I'd say the bow is a really cool idea.  I'm actually impressed with the design idea.  The frog design is also very cool.  It's light in the hand, which makes it easier to play with thumb and fore-finger, especially good for Irish fiddling (trebles and cuts and other right hand ornamentation).  If the manufacturer can fix the grip and stiffen the stick, I think this bow could be a winner.

BTW, I received an email from Ed Wilcox, the manufacturer, who told me the price on these bows is going up by $50 (from $89 to $139) this month.  I guess they realized after doing their taxes they were losing money on the bows.

Get 'em while they're hot.  Better yet, buy these 2 from me.

[madfiddler]

Interesting points Adam.. I haven't experienced loosing the bow or the springyness you're talking about... My only negative comment about them is that my hand slowely moves up the bow when I play.

Ed runs a yahoo group for customer comments etc. I'm on there... I seriously suggest you join the group and say exactly what you have said here.. no holds barred...

M

I see they have a solution to my hand slipping up the bow now... a hexgrip... like a normal grip on a violin bow...

[fidla]

Interesting points Adam.. I haven't experienced loosing the bow or the springyness you're talking about... My only negative comment about them is that my hand slowely moves up the bow when I play.

Ed runs a yahoo group for customer comments etc. I'm on there... I seriously suggest you join the group and say exactly what you have said here.. no holds barred...

M

I see they have a solution to my hand slipping up the bow now... a hexgrip... like a normal grip on a violin bow...

what's the link to the group?

[skip]

well, i finally ran into one of these things yesterday, and have to say that i was quite taken with it...except the one i played had this really icky sparkly finish on it. i played it for about 20 minutes or so, and while it's hard for me to articulate the difference between the incredibow and my bow, or any bow i've ever played, i really liked the feel of it. i was playing it after i'd really warmed up for about 2 hours and found it to be very responsive, there was no sense of it slowing me down. i've been experimenting a lot with bouncing lately, and while i couldn't quite get it to do what i can do on my regular stick, i could feel that adjusting to it would be easy.

so i ordered one, just the plain ol' nekkid graphite one.
i'm really looking forward to getting my new toy.

skip

[madfiddler]

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Incredibow/

[fidla]

I did it!  <SOB!>  I posted my honest feelings on a manufacturer's website!  Now everybody hates me they hate me!  Oh, woe is me...mark made me do it.  It's his fault.  Blame him not me

Ok what the f**K blame me

It's my honest opinion.  And I left it open to Ed.  If he can fix the electrostatic principal (plastic hair doesnt attract rosin), then I might be willing to take a 2nd go at the bow.

[Nutting Girl]

I adore my (blue sparkley) Incredibow.

I keep two bows in my case. One is pernambuco fully silver mounted Mongolian Stallion hair etc etc. The other is a blue sparkley Incredibow.

Incredibow wins every time for ease of playing and clarity of sound - great for the dancers. I haven't had problems with rosining. Especially after I got the idea of using much less than usual.

Still, I doubt that one bow fits all. Wouldn't life be dull if that were the case?

[Steve_W]

I did it!  <SOB!>  I posted my honest feelings on a manufacturer's website!  Now everybody hates me they hate me!  Oh, woe is me...mark made me do it.  It's his fault.  Blame him not me

Ok what the f**K blame me

It's my honest opinion.  And I left it open to Ed.  If he can fix the electrostatic principal (plastic hair doesnt attract rosin), then I might be willing to take a 2nd go at the bow.

Good for you!  Don't be a sheep! -Steve

[Jack002]

Man, sorry everyone hates you, Fidla. Its great you gave your opinion. Our type just has no friends for tellin' like it is, huh? Bummer! 


 

[Joe Gerardi]

Fidla:
I don't think it was the negative review that made everyone hate you...

..Joe

[madfiddler]

Mmm, sorry Adam... I haven't read anything there that would make me think they hate you.. To be really honest, when I suggested it, I thought in my head you'd post along the lines of "Hi guys, I've got a bow, and I'm having a few problems...etc.. etc.. got any thoughts.. etc.. etc.."

Anyway, Ed's solution seemed worthwhile indeed, he's extremely interested in getting people's opinions on his bows....

[Joe Gerardi]

Mine just arrived. I got a red Featherweight from Steve and Gianna at Gianna Violins. Even to my incredibly untrained arm and total lack of ability, it plays better on my violin than the bow that came with my electric. (Though, that really ain't saying much: A hacksaw would probably play better.)

No rosin, except what was on my strings, (I was practicing with my instructional DVD when it came) and it played stronger and louder right away. The lightness is probably a boon to a beginner like me, but I will probably have to get a decent traditional bow to learn properly. I was working on "Dixie" and it seemed easier to play. (Well, except for the cramping in my left hand. That stayed the same.

..Joe

[Pete Hartley]

will anyone have one at buxton? on the friday night ?

[madfiddler]

Yup, I'll bring a light weight, standard weight, and poss. a cello bow, which you may prefer for the 7 string...

[giannaviolins]

Joe, Glad you like it.  I believe we've rosined all of these up before shipping. 

In regard to the hair not taking rosin, one batch of the Incredibows had hair that wouldn't take rosin.  The others have all held rosin quite well, to my surprise and relief. 

[skip]

well, i'm kinda bummin'...got an email from ed at incredibow saying it would probably  be a few weeks before he could get mine out...so i have to wait --I HATE TO WAIT!

[madfiddler]

It'll definately be worth the wait though.... I too hate waiting for things

[marktheharp]

We just got an email from someone suffering from ME who said that they can play for much longer with the incredibow than they could with their "normal" one. Other comments we've had are that people can "change direction" with it more easily than with a conventional bow.

And I do think Ed's open to criticism - after all, it's only by getting things wrong that you can get them right, and I think he's most of the way there. Certainly for the money they're pretty amazing.

I'm not saying they're the answer to everything but they do work really well as a second bow - a lot of people have one in addition to their regular bow. But one person we sold one to a month ago, who I met in a session again yesterday, said he hasn't used his "old" bow at all since he bought the incredibow. And he got accused of having practised where he said the only difference was the lighter weight of the incredibow.

We actually stock them in the UK - because I believe you shouldn't have to wait if you want to have something. One of the reasons for this approach is that when I was younger I got really peed off with shops that promised to "order things" for me (a big bane of some shops in the UK). I believe you should never have to wait for weeks for something you've paid money for. Of course, if you're ordering a custom increidbow, then that's different, but you shouldn't have to wait for an off-the-shelf product.