ERICH STEINER Fully Lined Brazilwood Viola Bow 2005

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We have a German made brazilwood stick from the Steiner workshop. The shop was located just outside the town of Bubenreuth. The town of Bubenreuth became the hub for woodworkers and carvers of all types soon after World War II. Violin, viola, cello, and bass makers relocated there with their entire families. Bow makers like the Steiner family sought out the invitation after WW II to relocate to an area that was looking to welcome instrument makers and bow makers to their village. The area grew and still warrants a stop for players if you’re in Germany.

This bow is new-old stock from 2005. The Steiner family makes bows in pernambuco and in brazilwood. I know two professional bass players that play on Steiner bows in pernambuco, one in the Midwest and one in Upstate New York. These are older bows that I have haired over the years and were made in the early 1980’s. This viola bow is a brazilwood bow. Brazilwood is the typical wood used by makers for good quality student sticks. This is no exception. I like these Steiner bows for a new player or new adult player. The wood is firm in its makeup, octagonal in section, and the frog is fully lined, which is nice to see in a student bow. It really is a step above mounted in nickel. The frog 7 mm pearl eyes, which also tells me that the bow is a higher-grade piece of brazilwood. The stick is easy to handle with the balance point in the lower half of the bow towards the frog. The tip is completed in bone, and the winding has a black thumb leather. If you are looking for a slightly warmer sound, not as bright from your viola as what you are getting from a carbon fiber bow, this stick should be on your radar. German bones for not a lot of money. The Steiner workshop does a very good job with their sticks in both brazilwood and pernambuco. This brazilwood bow gives a player true German craftsmanship from newly discovered old stock. Like all our sticks, the bow has fresh hair and is in excellent condition. The stick would make a great choice for a younger player looking for a traditional bow. Orchestra teachers, this bow would be excellent for your middle school or high school program. Good German bones for a very decent price.

Weight fully haired 72.1 grams