The Bench
Without the Bow, the Instrument Has No Voice.
Philip learned bow making as an apprentice in Kansas City and made his first bow at college with nothing but a file and an X-Acto knife. Fifty years later he still makes them by hand from pernambuco, the Brazilian hardwood that has been the standard for fine bows for two centuries. He also carries a wide range of bows to try, at prices that start where students start.
What This Covers
Handmade Bows & Bow Repair
Bows made by hand from pernambuco — Philip's own trade since his apprenticeship
A large selection of bows to try, from student sizes up through professional sticks
Bow repair: frog and eyelet work, windings, lapping and thumb leather, head plates
Cambering and straightening of warped sticks
Honest guidance on what a better bow will and won't do for your sound
Bows for violin, viola, cello and double bass
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a better bow really make a difference?
Yes, and usually more than players expect. The bow is what actually makes the string speak — it controls articulation, response and a great deal of what you hear as "tone." Many players get a bigger improvement from a better bow than from a more expensive instrument. Come try a few against your own instrument and judge for yourself.
What is pernambuco and why does it matter?
Pernambuco is a dense Brazilian hardwood that has been the standard for fine bows since the late 1700s. It combines strength, springiness and weight in a way no other wood quite matches, which is why it's still what serious bows are made from. Philip makes his bows from it.
Should I buy a carbon fiber or a wood bow?
Both have a place. Carbon fiber is durable, consistent and largely weatherproof, which makes it sensible for a young student, an outdoor gig or a spare. Good wood bows generally have more character and a wider range of response. Philip will let you play them side by side rather than tell you what to think.
Can you fix a broken bow?
Often, depending on where it broke. Frogs, eyelets, windings, thumb leather and head plates are routine. A warped stick can usually be re-cambered. A break through the head or a badly cracked stick is more serious and sometimes not economical — Philip will look at it and tell you honestly.
Also at the Shop
Other Ways Philip Can Help
Bow Rehairing
Professional bow rehairing in Houston for violin, viola, cello and bass bows. Done by hand by a bow maker with 50 years at the bench. Call (713) 729-2231.
Learn moreViolins, Violas, Cellos & Basses for Sale
A deep selection of violins, violas, cellos and basses for sale in Houston — student through professional, every budget. Try them in the shop. (713) 729-2231.
Learn moreAppraisals & Insurance Valuations
Violin, viola, cello and bow appraisals in Houston for insurance and estate purposes, from a luthier with fifty years of instruments through his hands. (713) 729-2231.
Learn moreGet Started
Try a Few. You'll Hear the Difference.
Bring your instrument and play them yourself — that's the only way to choose a bow.