Choosing a Violin
Choosing a bow

The best wood for making bows is the extremely hard wood of the pernambuco tree. This wood can be shaped into the delicate shape of a bow because it is so hard and strong.
The shape, weight, balance, and other features of the bow differ between makers. The only way to select one is to try them all personally. A newly made instrument can be played energetically with a new bow, but an old instrument should probably be played with an old bow to bring out the unique characteristics of the instrument.

Carbon bows have become popular recently. Once you become proficient, it is convenient to have one as a spare when the other bow is being rehaired or is otherwise unavailable. Some modern music also calls for tapping the instrument with the bow, which might not be an attractive proposition with an expensive wooden bow. Some people keep a carbon bow handy for these situations.
The carbon bow produces a much louder and clearer sound than a wooden bow, and so it may be useful for certain pieces. Care, maintenance, and adjustment are the same as with traditional bows.