So you’re looking to step up from your very first bow… or maybe you’re looking for an “all-terrain” second bow… or maybe you’re a huge fan of carbon fiber bows. Whether your reason for searching for a carbon fiber cello bow is one of those three or a different one entirely, we’re going to take a look at some of the best carbon fiber bows for cello that are on the market today – for budgets of all kinds. The most expensive bow making its way onto this list comes in at just under $500, and the cheapest is well under $50!
Best Carbon Fiber Bows
| Viola String | Recommended For |
| 1. CodaBow Diamond NX | Advanced/Intermediate+ |
| 2. JonPaul Bravo | Advanced/Intermediate+ |
| 3. CodaBow Prodigy | Advanced/Intermediate |
| 4. Fiddlerman | Intermediate |
| 5. VingoBow Mongolia Horsehair Bow | Beginner/Early Intermediate |
| 6. VingoBow Black Carbon Fiber Bow | Beginner/Early Intermediate |
| 7. Vio #680 | Beginner/Early Intermediate |
| 8. Sky Satin | Beginner/Early Intermediate |
Carbon fiber bows are sometimes referred to as graphite bows – they are one in the same. These bows are sort of a “best of both worlds” between fiberglass and wooden bows. They aid in producing a high-end sound, and are very sturdy.
Many string players, especially old school thinkers, believe that a carbon fiber bow will never achieve the same quality of sound that a wooden bow will. While there is no doubt that that would have been true a decade or so ago, over the past few years designers and engineers along with modern technology have developed carbon fiber bows that are shaping up very well in comparison to their wooden counterparts. In fact, in this day and age, it is not uncommon to find a professional who carries a carbon fiber bow in addition to their wooden bow. An additional advantage of the carbon fiber bow is that it is virtually unaffected by the weather in the way that wooden bows are. Traditionally it was always worrisome for string players to be out playing in weather that was anything less than ideal, but because concerts, weddings, and other events were planned well in advance, the show had to go on. The carbon fiber bow relieves a lot of that stress, as using it in less than ideal conditions will not result in a potentially broken or ruined bow.
1. CodaBow Diamond NX Carbon Fiber 4/4 Cello Bow
While this bow is on the expensive side for this list, the quality and features of this bow more than make the price tag worth the investment. Sturdiness of this bow is not anything to worry about; the core is made out of Blended Kevlar – the same material you would find in bulletproof vests! Appearance wise, this bow has a sleek looking diamond weave finish.
A composite scientist, aerospace engineer, and bowmaker are responsible for the founding of CodaBow. The weaving together of these very important backgrounds results in a very high-quality carbon fiber cello bow.
This bow (as well as every other bow produced by CodaBow) is produced in the United States of America, and the sound quality is difficult to match – even by some of the high-end wooden bows on the market! People who have used this bow recommend it for both advanced players and even advanced beginners, and praise it for its ease of handling, great sound, and how well balanced it is. One tip from someone who has purchased and used this bow is that it will need a lot of rosin when the hairs on the bow are new.
2. JonPaul Bravo Model Carbon Fiber 4/4 Cello Bow
This carbon fiber cello bow is best described as a professional bow for players on a budget. Rather than $1500+ cello bows, this one comes in under $500 – about 1/3 of the price of bows it shares all of its features with. Users of this bow not only appreciate and rave about the quality sound they achieve with this bow, but also love the feeling of this bow. The shape of this bow as well as the frog is comfortable when playing – something that is extremely important when you start playing more and more both in groups and practicing. This light, well-balanced bow is a great step-up carbon fiber cello bow for cellists, and will serve you well indoors, outdoors and even in crammed spaces like a pit orchestra or small room.
3. CodaBow Prodigy Carbon Fiber 4/4 Cello Bow
The USA made CodaBow Prodigy differs from the Diamond in that the core is Blended Acoustic rather than Blended Kevlar. This bow is about $100 cheaper than the Diamond NX bow, and features the same attractive diamond weave finish.
A composite scientist, aerospace engineer, and bowmaker are responsible for the founding of CodaBow. The weaving together of these very important backgrounds results in a very high-quality carbon fiber cello bow.
As we all know, looks don’t matter if it doesn’t sound good – but this bow sounds great too! An enthusiastic user of this bow left a review saying that using this bow makes him feel like he has a whole new cello when switching from his former bow to this one! He does warn that it is a little bit harder to get used to, as it is on the stiff side, and is not as forgiving – but after getting over the learning curve, the full sound that this bow helps achieve is well worth the time it takes to get used to it. While it may not be an ideal bow for the beginning player who is just starting out, this bow would be a fantastic step-up bow for players as they transition to a new instrument, or who are just ready to take their playing to the next level with more quality equipment.
4. Fiddlerman Carbon Fiber Cello Bow
This hand-made carbon fiber cello bow has been made to replicate expensive wooden bows, but this one comes in under $100! Specifically modeled after the Pernambuco wooden bow in both shape and weight, people who have used this bow review that the feel is actually also very similar to that of the wooden bow.
Users all agree that the bow is excellent for the price.
5. VingoBow Black Mongolia Horsehair Carbon Fiber Cello Bow
This carbon fiber cello bow again features Mongolian horse hair as well as a high density ebony frog mounted with nickel silver fitting. While the price tag might make you think it’s a lesser quality bow, VingoBow is specialized in bows. While it would not be the right bow for very advanced players, it does make an excellent step-up bow for beginning and early intermediate players.
Users of this bow enjoy the sound and appreciate the quality of the hair used with the bow. The bow not loosen very much, making it a bit less agile as other bows out on the market, but for the price tag, will easily take care of what the beginner player will need from a bow.
6. VingoBow Black Carbon Fiber Cello Bow
This black carbon fiber cello bow finds the perfect combination of balance, strength, and flexibility. Coming in at under $50, this bow is great for players who don’t have tons of money to throw at the highest end wooden bows, or even the more expensive carbon fiber bows.
People who have used this bow praise it for its balance and craftsmanship. This bow is lightweight, so if you are looking for a heavier bow, this one won’t be the best option for you – but it makes an excellent low-cost lightweight carbon fiber cello bow.
7. Vio Music #680 Carbon Fiber Bow
The Vio Music carbon fiber cello bow features and ebony frog, natural Mongolian horse hair, and a nickel silver mount. For the price, it is a nice bow. It makes an excellent first step-up, especially if the bow that came with the cello is giving you trouble and you don’t want to spend lots of money on a more expensive bow.
People who have purchased this bow describe it as a remarkable step up from very beginner bows – both in sound and feel. While the more advanced player may not like this bow as much, it is great for the beginning player in the early stages of work on the cello.
8. Sky Satin Carbon Fiber Bow
This hand carved lightweight carbon fiber cello bow features a new satin pattern, abalone inlays, and genuine Mongolian horsehair. It is strong, stable, and the stiffness aids with excellent response and control.
Users of this bow love the weight, quality, saying that it is a great bow for a low price.
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