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.
Lemur Music offers Otto Durrschmidt bows in three quality levels. AB600 is the least expensive. It is a Workshop or Nickel Silver Quality Bass Bow. The wood is always good quality Pernambuco. The Master Bow maker designs the bows then 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. Please click on title above for all specifications.
Stick: Medium brown color pernambuco octagon shape
Frog: German style ebony frog, mother of pearl slide
Button: Slim German style ebony, no markings
Wrap: Black leather grip, nickel wire winding
Specs: approximately 139 grams, overall length 78 cm
Comment: This is an excellent workshop bow - a good choice for the advancing student. Compares very favorably with Seifert's AB266G, or ARY's AB210G.
Stick:Darker brown color pernambuco octagon shape.
Frog:French style ebony frog, Parisiene eye, mother of pearl slide, fully lined.
Button:Octagon barrel divided ebony button.
Wrap:Either Black and tan Fischbein winding or Silver wire and leather.
Specs:Approximately 137-139 grams, overall length 71.5 cm
Comment: AB605 is a noticeable upgrade from AB600 because the bowmaker uses a better quality stick that draws well, plays louder, and is more flexible for added advantage in more advanced techniques. In addition, AB605 has a higher quality frog. A note about the two kinds of windings these bows might have. Usage is about 50-50 with either Silver or "Fischbein." The deciding factor is weight. When Durrschmidt has an AB605 quality stick that needs little additional weight to correct balance, he uses the whale bone lapping (Fischbein). If the stick needs more weight to correctly balance the stick, he uses silver wire. Available for In-Home, In-Studio Bow Trial.Call 800-246-2277.
Stick: Darker brown color pernambuco octagon shape Frog: German style ebony frog, mother of pearl slide Button: Slender polished ebony button in the German style Wrap: Black leather over black & tan artificial whalebone winding. May vary with silver wire. Specs: Approximately 137-139 grams, overall length 78 cm Comment: This Silver Quality Bass Bow is a noticeable upgrade from AB600 and features a better quality stick that draws well, sounds louder, and is more flexible for added advantage in more advanced techniques.A note about the two kinds of windings these bows might have. The deciding factor is weight. When Durrschmidt has an AB605 quality stick that needs little additional weight to correct balance, he uses the whale bone lapping (Fischbein). If the stick needs more weight to correctly balance the stick, he uses silver wire. Available for In-Home, In-Studio Bow Trial.Call 800-246-2277.
Stick: Medium to dark brown color pernambuco octagon shape Frog: French style ebony frog, Parisiene eye, mother of pearl or abalone slide, hallmarked Button: May be two-piece button in silver and ebony, or may be one piece silver button Wrap: Brown or black leather over silver wire Specs: Approximately 137-139 grams, overall length 72 cm Comment: AB610F is a silver mounted master crafted bow from Meister Ewe Dürrschmidt. He chooses fine grained wood that is aged longer so it is lighter, stronger and more flexible than the woods he uses in his workshop model bows. These fine sticks are cut to be slender but strong in the neck to offer support for the head which is nicely shaped but not overly large. The bows are very nicely balanced for articulate play. The hard, dry sticks draw a dark, clear tone with a ringing volume. These bows remain an exceptionally good value when compared to the price of other master-crafted pernambuco bows.Available for In-Home, In-Studio Bow Trial.Call 800-246-2277.
Stick:Medium to dark brown color pernambuco octagon shape.
Frog:German style ebony frog, mother of pearl or abalone slide, hallmarked.
Button:Slender polished ebony button in the German style.
Wrap:Brown or black leather over silver wire.
Specs:Approximately 137-139 grams, overall length 78 cm.
Comment:AB610G is a silver mounted master crafted bow from Meister Ewe Dürrschmidt.He chooses fine grained wood that is aged longer so it is lighter, stronger and more flexible than the woods he uses in his workshop model bows.These fine sticks are cut to be very slender in the neck and at the tip, which is also proportionally smaller.The bows are very nicely balanced being not too light in the tip.The hard, dry sticks draw a dark, clear tone with a ringing volume.These bows are an exceptionally good value when compared to the price of other master-crafted pernambuco bows. Compare to AB540G, AB690G, and AB266G.Available for In-Home, In-Studio Bow Trial.Call 800-246-2277.
