Product Review: The CodaBow

Recently, Fiddler magazine asked a few professionals what they thought of the graphite-fiber CodaBow Classic for violin (suggested retail $775). Some of the professionals already owned CodaBows, others were sent samples. Here are some of their impressions.
I played with the CodaBow for two weeks, using several fiddles and comparing it with several bows. At first I was disappointed. The bow felt strange, colder to the touch than wood, and my pernambuco bow drew a deeper, richer, and more complex tone. However, I soon discovered that the CodaBow handled wellãway better than any $675* wood bow I can recall, and I became intrigued. Once I got used to the strange feel of the material, I found the CodaBow comfortable to useãvery nicely balanced, fairly springy in a good way, and particularly responsive in fast single bowing, with sharp, clean definition to the notes. All in all, l liked it better for how it worked than for the tone it produced. The six fiddles I tried it with all sounded good using the CodaBow, but even better with most of the pernambuco bows I compared it to. The weight of this particular CodaBow was given as 60.3 grams. The pernambuco bow I regularly use is heavier. On my kitchen scale they weighed 60 grams and 64 grams respectively. I'm not absolutely sure that the ease of handling of the CodaBow at high speed isn't due to a 4 gram advantage, but I suspect it plays well because it's made well. ãJody Stecher *suggested retail price is $775.
I have been using a CodaBow since late September 1996 and my experiences have all been favorable. The bow is shipped in an adequate but not expensive bow case which is a handy thing to have at rehair time. The CodaBow is a round, black stick with a silver wrap. The weight is what you would expect from a good bow, about 60 grams, and the balance works well for old time and bluegrass fiddling. While I fought it a bit at first, the feel soon became apparent and consequently, difficult bowings became easier than with my old favorite of the past twenty years. Since I play old time at contra and square dances and with local bluegrass bands, a rugged bow is a good thing to have. I have dropped the Coda twice at cold dances to no ill affect. Experience with humid summer weather is limited, but this bow displays a consistency of flexibility regardless of humidity and temperature that is not equaled by the wooden bows. The consistency of the composite material over the natural variations in wood allows for smooth bowing and even tone through legato passages. Additionally, there is little noise created from this bow. Bows that I previously thought were quiet, now seem loud.
The CodaBow draws a better tone from all of my fiddles. I heard a mediocre fiddle brought to life with a much sweeter, high ringing overtone when another fiddler tried the bow on his instrument. While not cheap, the CodaBow is worth the investment if you are looking for a highly functional bow under $1000.00. - Bob Buckingham
In this day of bloated prices for bows, the Coda is a possible alternative (though it still costs a heck of a lot more than I would like to spend). I have tried a couple of other makes of non-organic bows but they were considerably more expensive and no better to my feel. l have no problem with the non-traditional aspects of it. If it works it's all right by me.
I like its balance compared to my wood bow which has approximately the same monetary value. It's a little bit on the heavy side, but lighter than my wood bow. It took a month to get used to what I interpret to be its slightly different response than wood.
If you have time and patience you may be able to find a fine wood bow that has been repaired in such a way that it is no longer mint and therefore, not a collector's item. These can be excellent buys. I know many great fiddlers who play on quite cheap, clunky bows. But a beautifully balanced bow can be a great comfort in your dotage.

- Stacy Phillips - from the summer 1997 issue of Fiddler magazine.

< BACK