Authentic Double bass bows from the 18th and 19th centuries are often still looked upon as curiosities by today’s bassist.
But why is this? Were these bows simply stepping stones in the evolution towards our modern bow, or could it be that earlier bows may have been ideally adapted to the requirements of their respective eras?
The present study aims to create a database of extant authentic Double bass bows from the past, to analyse their playing characteristics, and to identify the schools of Double bass playing to which they belong, providing insights into sound and articulation concepts pertinent to research in historical performance practice.

Picture: Double bass bows (David Sinclair)