Although much of my recambering work is directly for musicians, it often happens that a player who is considering purchasing an antique bow from a dealer, will come to me to see if it would be possible to remove some inconsistencies in the playing qualities of a bow. In the majority of cases it is possible to assure the player that such necessary improvements can be made and this will often make the difference whether the bow is sold. Even though the price tag of an antique bow can be substantial, it must be said that if the camber is not perfectly restored, then it’s original playing qualities cannot be fully realised. This will obviously influence the player’s decision and if the bow is subsequently purchased, the player usually comes to me to have the work done, with a greater confidence in their decision.

Generally speaking, the role of camber in the performance of a bow has been largely underplayed by those who sell them. This is understandable if the bow is to remain in a collection, rarely being used; but if it’s to be used consistently by a professional musician, then it is to the detriment and disadvantage of the player who depends on it for their performance. Simply put, an antique bow can never reach it’s full potential unless it’s camber has been correctly adjusted and restored. It is for this reason that much of my recambering work has been for those dealers who are aware of it’s importance to the player and that a perfectly cambered bow, is actually much easier to sell.