Jens Paulus, Bass bows

We first met bow maker, Jens Paulus, in Germany about 4 years ago.  He comes from a typically wonderful tradition of bow making that he learned from his father, also a very distinguished bow maker whom passed away just a couple years before we met.  Jens is somewhere in his late 30's and a very skilled bass bow maker.  One word that that keeps popping up in my mind with Paulus' bows, is elegance.  The lines, the arching and the highest quality of materials and workmanship make his bows really stand out.  They play like a dream.  Looks and playability, is what you would expect in the best of the best.  You won't find too many Paulus bows in the USA.  I think we are the only dealers here that offer his bows, but in Europe there is a waitlist of bass players eager to get one of his German or French model bows.  He is just so busy there that I had to wait over a year to get a bow!   We have a few now.

Jens Paulus French Sartory bass bow:

The French bow measures 26 5/8" inches and is a Sartory French model.  There is nothing 'German' about this stick, other than the high degree and quality of workmanship.  It has the proper arching, weight and widths directly copied from a nice French Sartory bow that he keeps.  It is French, via Germany!  The width at the hair (coming out of tip) measures 5/8" across and then 3/4" across at the ferule (where the hair comes out of the frog).  That's perfect.  While this one weighs 138 grams, it feels much lighter due to the nice balance of the bow.  Balance is key to making an easy playing bow.  A bow that is well balanced will give the illusion of being light (like this one), but actually heavier and pulls out a nice bottom of sound. 

How does the Paulus bow play?  Read what we wrote about his German bow, in that you can easily play long strokes, like in Beethoven's Recitative (Symhony #9) opening or then the short eight-notes in his symphony #5 (Trio).  A very nimble, yet strong bow.  It pulls a nice string long note, but responds beautifully on the short 'pecky' notes.  (Think Mozart Symphony #35!!) $2,500

Jens Paulus German model bass bow:

The theme here with our German bows coming from Germany is that we don't tell the Germans how to make their 'German' bows!! It is such an art form and tradition there, there is nothing to worry about as far as keeping this model 'in the box' as we like to say. We only tell them about aesthetics and sometimes mention weight parameters.  Even that is not needed most of the time.  This particular German bow has an elegant silver ring on the adjuster and here Jens insisted on the silver and leather wrapping.  Often great bow makers will use the wrapping (metal and/or leather) as a way to balance the stick more.

For the German bow makers (wherever they live!) more than likely they will strive to copy bows by the most sought after German maker, H.R. Pfretzchner.  Pfretzchner was to Germany, what Sartory is to French bows and France.  He made elegant bows, (not clubs!) and found the exact point of arching on the bow that would maximize the drawing power of the long notes, but at the same time get incredible short play (detaché, spicatto).   Often not, some bows get an incredible big long note, but fail on the powerful short strokes, or sometimes it is the opposite: A dynamite detache stick, but peters out towards the tip on long notes with a loss of power.  We need both!!  The Paulus, does both amazingly well.  You can extend the long note all the way out to the tip and back, (like on Beethoven's Recitative opening), or tear into Beethoven Symphony #5 Trio eighth-notes.  A big sound and very easy to play.

Here is a great example of how modern bow makers copy the best bows that not only matches the quality of workmanship and playability, but exceeds it.

This Paulus German bow measures 27 5/8" from tip to butt (not included adjuster.)  The width of the hair coming out of tip is 5/8" and then 3/4" out of the frog ferule.  The average weight of his German bows, 133-138 gms.  $2,500

Click on the photos for much large and more detailed image:

About ordering:  Customers can easily call and order by phone or to try one of these (or a combination) of bows from String Emporium, 800-600-2689 or 480-785-5491.  Ask for Steve, as he's the bow snob here! We will not offer any bows in the shopping cart if they are out of stock.  If you simply want to order and buy one here, you can.  As long as you see it available here...it is!  We try to never sell or take orders for anything 'Out of Stock' here.

 

Bow Packaged Deal Price 1. String Emporium Deluxe Bow Case and Rosin, $55 $65.00 Bow Case Model : French German Bow Case Color : Black Brown Ruby Red Navy Blue Forest Green Rosin : Pop's Kolstein Soft Kolstein All-Weather Carlsson Nymans   2. String Emporium Bow Quiver and Rosin, $35 $45.00 Bow Quiver Color : Black Rosin : Pop's Carlsson Nyman Kolstein All Weather Kolstein Soft 3. String Emporium Deluxe Bow Case, S.E. Quiver and Rosin (saves $54) $90.00 Bow Case Model : French German Bow Case Color : Black Brown Ruby Red Navy Blue Forest Green Rosin : Pop's Kolstein Soft Kolstein All-Weather Carlsson Nymans Bow Quiver Color : Brown Black

Customers can arrange to try a combination of bows from different makers and price ranges.  When we ship out, we simply 'authorize' your credit card (much like they would at a hotel) and then simply ship and wait to hear back. Our bow trial is 5 days.  We feel that that is certainly plenty of time, it also helps us keep the bows clean and new looking.