As you can see we offer Otto Durrschmidt bows in three quality levels:

• AB600 is the least expensive and is a Workshop or Nickel Silver Quality Bow. The wood is always good quality Pernambuco. The Master Bow maker designs the bows and supervises every step of the work. Not all Master Bow Makers offer Workshop quality bows; they are a wonderful way to experience the highest quality standards for a fraction of the cost of a Master Bow. The winding is usually soft leather over nickel silver wire.

• AB605 is the middle price bow and is a Silver Quality Bow. It is made from a higher grade of Pernambuco that is dryer, harder, and more flexible than AB600. This makes a bow that is more suited to an advanced player's technical demands. The Master makes this bow himself, with help in finishing the bow. This level may be wrapped with either silver wire or 'fishbein", a black and tan colored traditional bow making material.

• AB610 is the highest priced bow and is also a Silver Quality Bow. This grade of Pernambuco is rarer than AB605 quality wood. Also it is very hard and dense; it takes much longer to carve and shape the stick to attain a proper weight and balance. The finished stick's silhouette is slimmer for improved flexibility, good bounce in the spiccato, and better traction at the tip to meet the demands of professional play. The Master makes these bows himself, including the frogs, ferrules, and handmade buttons. These Silver quality sticks may be wrapped in either silver wire, or in 'fishbein.'
  
  About grading: The sticks are first graded for their quality before they are carved. During carving and shaping of the stick they are tested and a second round of grading is completed. After the bow has been shaped, the curve has been set, and the frog attached, it is graded a third time. Then it is played and a bow may change in its quality level grade as it is finished based upon its better (or lesser) performance characteristics. Only the best quality bows having the most strength, flexibility, and performance qualities receive the top grade of AB610.
  
  When we receive the Silver Quality Bows from Durrschmidt they are sometimes wrapped with fishbein which is a black and tan colored traditional bow making material. The purpose of the winding is to add weight and to make a final balancing of the bow so winding is added last, long after the grading and carving of the stick has been completed. Only some Pernambuco has the moisture/weight ratio that enables the use of 'fishbein' lapping, which is lighter weight than silver wire. Fishbein wrapped bows are guaranteed to be made of Silver Quality Pernambuco.