Carbon Fiber Dbl Bass Bows Arcus/Muesing

Carbon Fiber Double Bass Bows – ARCUS and Müsing

Both brands come from the same workshop in Würzburg, Germany — Bernd Müsing KG. What they have developed for the double bass is the result of an exceptional engineering challenge: ARCUS describes the bass bow as the most difficult project in their entire range, in part because of the deep camber required at a large stick diameter. The result has earned a worldwide following — and, according to ARCUS, simply has no real competition.

What both brands share: hollow carbon fiber sticks with a wall thickness under one millimeter, free vibration, natural resonance at approximately 100 Hz. No collapsing onto the strings, no fatigue, no sensitivity to climate. The stick carries a 30-year warranty.

ARCUS Bass Bows – the S Series only, and for good reason

For the double bass, ARCUS offers exclusively the S Series. The defining disciplines of a bass bow — open, singing tone, effortless response, ideal bouncing behavior — require a specific construction at this scale, and the S Series is the outcome of that work.

Every stick is individually tested and graded acoustically after curing. The number in the model name directly reflects the result. The S6 has been the best-selling ARCUS bass bow worldwide for nearly two decades — tonally on par with the finest conventional bows, and far beyond them in playability. The S7 is the heart of the lineup: enormous dynamic range, direct sound, a significant step forward from any wooden bow. From the S8 and S9, comparison with wooden bows is simply no longer meaningful — the gap is too wide. The S9 is, in ARCUS's own words, the best bass bow in the world.

German-style models weigh approximately 122 g (length 71 cm without / approx. 77.2 cm with liner), French-style approximately 112 g (length 69.8 cm without / approx. 72 cm with liner). We regularly stock German models S4 through S8 Silver as well as the French S Series. Higher models available on request.

Müsing Bass Bows – C Series and L Series

Müsing describes its double bass bow as a loyal companion: exceptionally clear and open sound, excellent response, better projection than most conventional bows — and stainless steel fittings that will still look brand new in a hundred years.

C Series — clear, open sound, excellent response, light and lively bounce. The C3 is the ideal second bow for working professionals, the C4 holds its own against the best conventional bows, the C5 is the masterpiece of the line. German-style models approximately 124 g, French-style approximately 118 g.

L Series — clearer, more focused, more colorful than the C Series. L3 through L5, each individually graded. The L5 is the masterpiece of this series. Same weight range as the C Series. French L bows feature frogs with a mother-of-pearl eye.

The two series differ in tonal philosophy: if you want to stay close to the character of a fine wooden bow, choose the C Series. If you are looking for more clarity, openness, and tonal color, you will find it in the L Series.