Glasser X-Series Carbon Fiber X-Bow with Horsehair (4/4 Violin)

I am an adult beginner playing for 3 years. My first (wood) bow came with my violin and always felt a bit unbalanced. It wasn't a bad bow but this one is much better; it's light and smooth throughout the entire length making playing a bit easier. The length is a tad longer than normal though.UpdateNow as a solidly intermediate student, I can see how unbalanced the bow is; the sound is forced and heavy. Bowing and bow changes take "work." From a weight perspective, the upgrade bows I'm looking at are roughly the same but the balance and flexibility is quite different. However, at the price-point I bought this, it's a good value and has served me well.

The Glasser X-Series Carbon Fiber is a nice bow, much better than the bow that came with my violin. It plays smoothly, is well-balanced and produces great tone. However, the photo advertised here on Amazon shows a Glasser Braided Carbon Fiber bow, not an X-Series bow. As a result, when I opened my package, I was shocked to see a plain, black bow with a half-lined Paulus frog, no brand markings and no braided carbon pattern. I originally thought I had been duped and that someone had slipped a generic bow into the box. After doing some research on Glasser's website, it seems the X-Series bow is not a fancy braided carbon bow, but a plain black, unbranded bow with no Glasser markings. I've notified the vendor in hopes that they'll place a correct photo. Other than initially thinking I received the wrong bow, I'm pretty happy with how the X-Series plays.UPDATE: March 21, 2014 (this is also my reply to the comment to my review)Since I made my purchase years ago, this seller has corrected the photo they are using. However, part of the confusion is also the way they are naming the bow in the title. They refer to this as the Glasser "Carbon Fiber" bow, when it is in fact a "Carbon Graphite." The Glasser Carbon Fibre bow uses a braided carbon fibre pattern, and shows the Glasser logo on the bow, which was shown in the photo they used when I made my purchase. What they are actually selling is the X-Series Carbon "Graphite" bow, which shows no logo that I know of. The names are quite similar, so I can't fault the seller too much for such an easy mistake to make.To sum things up, if you're expecting the Glasser Braided Carbon "Fiber" bow as I was, that is not what you will receive. This is the Carbon "Graphite" model, not Carbon "Fiber." Still a good price for a nice bow though; it's the best I've found so far.

I'd like to first start off with... I PAID $40 FOR THIS BOW!,shipped.I think it worth at least that,it appears to be well made,plays very well,seems to be top quality but it does not have the Glasser name anywhere on it.It sound good maybe a little more bow bounce because its lighter but its good.If you tried I don't think you'll find a cheaper (less expensive bow) of this quality.My one concern was when i got it I thought it could have been packaged better but to my surprise the bow was fine.

My son started playing again and he likes it 👍

purchased for my son. states the mechanism to tighten the strings has failed after 2 months due to poor design.