Players' Reviews

Since 1999 thousands of musicians around the globe have made an Arcus their primary bow.

Most of these players are unknown to us as the majority of our bows are sold though our dealers. Many musicians also prefer discretion in regard of the equipment they use which we fully understand because the work of the musician should always receive all the attention.

Still, quite a few players have shared their experiences with their Arcus bows over the years and we are happy to share them with you here.

If you’d like to let us know about your Arcus story, you may use this page. Your report will be published on this page after our activation.

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Andrea Montalbano, Violin
I'm really impressed by the balance and the nice sound
Andreas Halsch, Cello
...excited by the fast response, their lightness and playability.
Andreas Kanev, Violin
It appears the Arcus has some unexpected teaching skills!
Andreas Müller, Cello
Consequently my bow technique has improved significantly
Andrew Victor, Violin
Some things felt so much easier...I felt like I was cheating
Andy Pastor, Violin
I’m enjoying the T8 everyday, I seem to be getting less sleep these days, playing the violin with your bow too late into the evening, loosing track of time enjoying the experience!
Anja Choquer, Cello
Not even through the long rehearsals of an orchestra weekend have I ever suffered from signs of fatigue in my arm.
Anne Akiko Meyers, Violin
I used to think that using a heavy stick produced a bigger sound but now I believe it really is quite the opposite.
Annika Stumpe, Violin
I don't call it "bow" any more, but "my magic wand".
Anselm Hauke, Bass
This is the best bow I have ever played!
Axel Ghazi, Cello
It feels to me like a new discovery of the bow.
Barry Guyer, Violin
...the improvement it makes to the sound is amazing
Bill Nolan, Violin
I frankly can't imagine a bow being better,...
Bink Williams, Violin
The Arcus is the best bow that I've ever played; my Coda has been retired.
Byol Kang, Violin
without words
Camillo Lepido, Cello
I face orchestral life with less fatigue...
Charles Strang, Violin
I sold my 'Voirin'.
Christian Zgraggen, Viola
I will sell all my wooden bows.
Christoph Goebel, Cello
Before I learned about the Arcus bows I thought new materials could never take over from the centuries old tradition of wooden bows...
Clare Pusey, Cello
I am now doing a lot of electric cello work...
Collin Arneson, Violin
The sound of my S7 is miles past my very nice wood bow
Daniel L., Violin
Thanks to the Arcus S8 I am finally able to play without pain... even five hours are no longer a problem.
Dölf Weder, Cello
My original scepticism about carbon bows has given way to Arcus enthusiasm!
Dr. Christian Göpfert, Cello
...my right shoulder is finally free of pain again,...
Dr. Klaus Moeckelmann, Viola
I especially appreciate how much power you can apply even at the tip, if necessary, or near the bridge,...
Dr. Michael B., Violin
...and the pain in my right shoulder is almost completely gone!
Dr. Michael Krauß, Violin
...the S8 plays in a totally different league of sound.
Dr. Tapani Yrjola, Violin
...but liked it so much that I started using the Arcus bow as my first bow instead of my French bow.
Elke Höppner, Cello
Well, the pain in my right wrist is gone, since I play with the Arcus bow.
Ensemble Pyramide, Ensembles
Since we string players use the Arcus bows,...
Ethan Heath, Viola
...somewhat to my surprise, it has become the bow I chose 99.9% of the time.
Eva Brönner, Cello
I have become totally addicted to the sound
Fabian Müller, Bass
The selection shipment from ARCUS quickly showed me that the bows were in a different league in terms of response and handling.
Florian Mohr, Viola
With this bow I have no longer troubles with my wrist, not even after long Wagner-or Strauss operas.
Franck Leprince, Violin
I treated myself to one of these 20th Anniversary bows last December. I have to say, that it is terrific in every way. It helps with the most intricate bowing styles by making them feel easier to execute, and has enormous power, and really gets the best tone out of the instrument.
Frederic Moisan, Violin
...you have to admit that you would have to pay a lot more for a pernambuco bow with similar qualities as my Arcus.
Frederick J Weiss, Bass
I always imagined a bow like this!
Gary Dixon, Bass
I found the Arcus bow to be superior in every manner of importance to the player...
Gene Wie, Violin
I wonder why I waited so long to try them again,...
Georg Kemetter, Violin
The bow responds faster than wooden bows. It allows me as an amateur to play more beautiful.
Greg Kehret, Bass
The bow handles with perfect predcitability and makes my bass sing most beautiful.
Günter Birett, Violin
Its lower weight compared to usual wooden bows improves my endurance and reduces fatigue significantly.
Harald Halsch, Bass
...provides the most relaxed playing.
Helmut Wagenmann, Cello
The clarity, projection, the timbre and the easy handling have convinced me completely.
Hessisches Staatsorchester, Ensembles
Already four members of the Hessisches Staatsorchester Wiesbaden play with Arcus bows.
Hideaki Takagi, Bass
My Arcus produces a very rich volume of sound as soon as I make a move!
Hitoshi Maezawa, Violin
The quality of a bow for string instruments can be defined mainly on how well it allows the player to gain full control over his performance. Arcus has this quality. In addition, Arcus bows offer “a new dimension” in sound, compared to most traditional wooden bows...the sound produced with an Arcus bow is quite like with an old Tourte.
Holger Kinzel, Violin
For Irish folk music the Arcus is perfect
Hugo Holleman, Violin
With the Arcus I achieve for the first time in my life the phrasing I had always meant to play.
Igor Epstein, Violin
Since I mainly play jazz and klezmer music and these types of music require very unusual bow techniques, I find the ARCUS bows to be the best I have ever used in my long stage and musician life.
Ilkka Vesioja, Cello
I feel that I have reached a higher level of playing...
Inessa Enakyi, Violin
I can already feel the improvement on the top notes! This is great!
Isabelle Faust, Violin
My Arcus allows me to play very powerful and still keeps a surprising subtleness and precision at the same time.
Jameson D Platte, Cello
...next to an F.X. Tourte, a D. Peccatte and a Simon
Jan Willot-Förster, Violin
A unique balance between agility and power with a response that amazes.
Jessica, Cello
What a joy to be able to play again!! The pain disappeared completely, like blown away
Jim Fellows, Violin
Although there are other bows in their cases, the Arcus bow is the bow that is being used ALL the time by ALL of them!
Jim Fellows, Viola
So we have also bought Arcus Concerto bows for all of our 4 children...
Johannes Raab, Cello
These bows are brilliant!
John Addison, Cello
This is basically only possible by using an Arcus bow,...
John Briant, Violin
I bought my S4 about 2 months ago. It is very light and very stiff. This makes it very fast to move - fast notes and fast string crossings are great. It also responds very fast...
Jonas Erni, Violin
We have just played Symphony No. 8 from Anton Bruckner, and I was still completely relaxed afterwards!
Jonny Gee, Bass
My Arcus bow is perfect: delicate and light response, but with a huge fat power transmission ready to kick in whenever I need it.
Jooni Hwang, Violin
...my "Ferrari bow".
Jörg Marquardt, Violin
After only half an hour my playing has improved much more than I would ever have expected.
Jörg Schuster, Cello
...talk about progress, beautiful sound, extreme durability and protecting nature.
Josep Galí, Cello
The ARCUS is definitely the best bow I have ever tried.
Joyce Reinholds, Cello
My work load seems to have been cut in half
Kai Hofert, Bass
What I especially appreciate in my "Concerto" bass bow is the full sound it draws...
Laura Jenkins, Cello
They are not making carbon-fibre tennis racquets to perform just like wooden tennis racquets...
Leonid Gorkhov, Cello
Within minutes of playing with an Arcus bow my opinion was changed
Liz Rose, Viola
As a violist who has experienced a lot of tendonitis a lightweight bow such as these is most welcomed.
Louis Fantasia, Bass
...and am almost pain-free.
Luis Garcia, Violin
Finally I understand what "a relaxed bow hand" means!
Mairead O'Friel-Murphy, Cello
My S5 cello bow really does feel like an extension of my right arm
Marcel D. Van Someren, Cello
...Under the ear, the T6 seemed to have richer overtones than the S6...
Marcello Iaconetti, Violin
Simply brilliant
Maria Maddalena Main, Violin
With the S7 you can avoid to think about technical problems...
Markus Protze, Viola
...I experience a completely new level in the ease of play and relaxation of the right Hand.
Marta Kletinitch, Violin
Triple chords can be played so nicely and the bow also helps greatly in avoiding unintentional "bow-vibrato"...
Martin Andersen, Viola
You obviously are continuing to develop the potential of the Arcus bows, and I am grateful for your successful efforts.
Martin Chamberlain, Cello
... and I feel like I have made great improvements to my playing with my new Arcus.
Martin Ebinger, Violin
...an almost unlimited spectrum of sound colours.
Martin Welter, Violin
In regard of the beauty of tone the S9 bow is quite a bit ahead of the fine wooden bows that I own.
Martina Bertoni, Cello
Since the very beginning, I was struck by the incredible quality (brilliance and depth) in sound and response.
Mathias Kölling, Violin
The S9 has opened a new world for me.
Matthias Zeller, Violin
Now that I have done an intense exploration of carbon fibre bows, I want to share my results with everybody involved and interested.
Michael Benter, Bass
After a week I sold my wooden bow.
Michael Speth, Violin
...the first bow that I feel in total control of.
Michiel de Sterke, Violin
In the past I have played with beautiful old French bows, like Sartory and the like, but this bow is superb in quality.
Milena Wilke, Violin
Edouard Lalo - Violinkonzert Nr.2, op. 21 "Symphonie Espagnole" / Arcus M9
Nico Catacchio, Bass
the new S-series bows are… without words
Nigel Berry, Violin
Arcus bows are in a league of their own
Olivia de Burgh, Cello
The S9 is literally perfect
Oriol Sana, Violin
My Arcus bows are really essential in my tours
Orlando Faneite, Violin
...a perfect contact to the strings and an unmatched security which I have experienced neither in my F.N. Voirin nor in any other bow.
Patrick Manet, Bass
Great bow, I can't let it go!
Paul Carlson, Violin
The strokes were so clean and the response so instant that I needed to "recalibrate" my bowing technique.
Paul Fenton, Viola
The history of music is full of examples where a new technology has replaced an old one, simply because it was better.
Paul Hudspith, Cello
I had many right hand/arm issues - but since using an Arcus, I am now injury free!
Paula Hudspith, Cello
It is fun to play and my bow arm is not getting tired at all with this wonderful bow.
Peter Barber, Viola
It's the best bow I have ever owned.
Peter Hörr, Cello
The Arcus Bow delivers the purest of sounds and seems to have unlimited playing capabilities!
Phil Coonce, Violin
I am delighted with my Arcus P9 bow
Philip Roach, Violin
I bought a P5, and I needed to tell you how much I love it...
Rafaël Jimenez, Violin
...thanks to it I have a lot less tension in my wrist, my right hand technique has improved and I have a much more varied sound palette...
Rainer Lewalter, Bass
I was instantly fascinated by the intelligence of these bows.
Rémi Bouyssière, Bass
...I'm convinced by its lightness and balance,...
Ricardo Cyncynates, Violin
I have owned a number of very fine French and English bows, two Simons, D. Peccatte, Henry, Tomassin, Bazin,...
Richard Heinberg, Violin
These bows are amazing.
Richard Wallace, Viola
...with upper partials having a freedom that is rarely possible with a wooden bow.
Robert Plasberg, Violin
My S7 does everything exactly as I want it.
Robert Tavolieri, Violin
Beautifully made and a joy to use.
Ruth Zeger, Violin
...allowed me to play totally pain free and extended my symphony career by many years.
Salvatore Polifrone, Violin
Sam Vallery, Violin
The handling, sound, response, and weight of the T5 is perfect...
Sarah Brittman, Violin
...essential to improving my tone and musicality.
Siegfried H. Pöllmann, Violin
Since 2014 I use an -S8- bow and I am still enthusiastic about it.
Sonja Stojanov, Violin
The Arcus C5 is a clear recommendation for all beginners
Stefan Rodescu, Violin
...but with the Arcus I can have both, plus a noble and pure sound in the upper registers and precision in the bass.
Steve Wright, Bass
I did not tell my teacher I had a new bow. He said "Your bass is really opening up nicely". That wasn't it at all - it was the Arcus bow.
Sven Hannes, Cello
The bow is a dream in every respect.
The Alexander String Quartet, Ensembles
...the reduction in physical fatigue afforded by the lighter and stronger sticks is so significant that we find productivity and endurance significantly improved.
Thomas Buffy, Violin
No matter if I play in the studio, at the Jazz club or open air..
Thomas J Boyer, Violin
My Arcus makes me a much better Haydn/Mozart/Beethoven player.
Tomoya Aomori, Bass
The French Arcus S7 bass bow is by far the best bow...
Uli Widmaier, Viola
Playing this bow (P8) is almost an otherworldly experience. The clarity of sound it draws from my viola is incomprehensible.
Ursula Jenni, Violin
I'd never thought that my new S6 would fit so well to my old violin
Ursula Jenni, Violin
I meant to use it as a backup only, but now I play the Arcus all the time.
Valentin Eichler, Viola
...opens many possibilities in modulating the sound, from the finest pp to extreme ff
Vera Paskaleva, Violin
Thank you very much for thinking of us who spend countless hours in the orchestra pit...
Verena Wittmann, Violin
These bows allow me to shape the sound so much better
Vincent de Greef, Violin
It’s like removing a lead cover from the violin.
Volker Beling, Viola
...my chamber music partners say that my not very large French viola sounds much bigger with it.
William Kralick, Violin
I’ve had my Arcus A6 for a while now and I wouldn’t trade it for any other.
Wim van den Heuvel, Violin
...As someone who is very very hard to convince I must say wow
Wolfgang Jacobmeier, Viola
...provides a level of agility that I have never achieved with a wooden bow.