£2,250
August Rau was a very accomplished German maker who trained with Nürnberger, Knopf and Weichold before becoming independent. This is an example from his later period – it’s a great player in very good condition, but with a replacement adjuster.
The stick is of light brown octagonal section pernambuco, mounts are silver and ebony.
I know I sound like a broken record, but German bows are so undervalued. I’m particularly drawn to the bows which follow the Knopf tradition like this one, not too heavy, with sprightly responsive sticks. I had a Rau bow as a teenager, and perhaps that’s why this bow feels so immediately familiar, especially the balance of the stick which is slightly towards the heel. This is a very tactile bow, quick to react, but not stiff in a way which alienates you from the sound. The tone is very slightly coloured, not enough to describe as gritty, but enough to warm up a rather clinical sounding violin.
If you are enlightened enough to realise that bows don’t necessarily have to be French, then this bow would be a great choice for an advanced student. The replacement adjuster makes it more affordable, but doesn’t compromise its playability in any way.
Mounts: silver/ebony
Dimensions: length 74.4cm, weight 59.3 grams
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Ref: sr276
