Cello Bows Arcus/Muesing

Carbon Fiber Cello Bows – ARCUS and Müsing

The cello places higher physical demands on its bow than the violin or viola: greater string tension, longer scale length, and a tone that needs to fill the room. Conventional wooden bows are structurally too soft for modern cello strings — steel and tungsten windings under high tension. In a strong forte, they collapse onto the strings, slow down the response, and cap both volume and dynamic range. ARCUS and Müsing have solved this problem.

Both brands come from the same workshop in Würzburg, Germany — Bernd Müsing KG. Their sticks are hollow, with a wall thickness under one millimeter and a resin content well below the market average. Stiffness is significantly higher than that of conventional wooden bows, while weight stays at or below the same level. The natural resonance frequency sits at approximately 100 Hz — a full octave above classical wooden bows. The result: freer vibration, a clearer sound, and noticeably less fatigue in the bowing arm, even through the longest rehearsals and concerts. Both are completely climate-proof and ship with a 30-year warranty on the stick.

ARCUS Cello Bows – T Series and S Series

ARCUS offers two main series for cello, each with a distinct tonal character and instrument pairing. As with all ARCUS bows, every stick is individually tested and graded acoustically after curing — the number in the model name directly reflects this classification. From grade 6, the sound matches that of the finest old pernambuco bows; from grade 7, there is no wooden bow equivalent.

T Series (approx. 71 g) — the all-rounder. Warm and brilliant at the same time, a match for almost any cello. The high-strength stick with its shallower camber delivers powerful playing with a soft attack — and no collapsing onto the strings. Round stick. T4 through T9.

S Series (approx. 68 g) — for soloists and large, dark-voiced instruments. Brilliant, powerful, extremely dynamic and agile. Especially well suited for cellos modeled after Goffriller or Montagnana, where more projection and clarity are needed. Available with round stick (steadier, follows precisely) or octagonal stick (very lively, practically bounces on its own). S4 through S9. String note: S bows reach their full character with Thomastik Spirocore Tungsten and Versum strings; with very bright, focused strings, the sound can become too narrow.

We also regularly have refurbished one-of-a-kind bows from earlier ARCUS series in stock — fully overhauled, freshly haired, with full warranty. These bows are available exclusively through us.

Müsing Cello Bows – C Series and L Series

Müsing puts it bluntly: in a blind test, you cannot tell a Müsing cello bow from one costing two or three times as much — except that the Müsing may have the edge in bow noise and maximum volume. Both series weigh approximately 75 g, with stiffness roughly 50% above the average of comparable bows.

C Series (C2 through C5) — the pernambuco replacement. Sounds like a fine pernambuco bow, only clearer and louder. Every stick is individually graded: the C2 clearly outperforms standard carbon fiber bows, the C3 rivals many expensive master bows, the C4 and C5 go further still. Classic or ergonomic frog available for the C3 and C4.

L Series (L3 through L6) — with an aluminum tip as a deliberate counterweight. Even thinner wall than the C Series, resulting in freer vibration and a more open, colorful sound. In Müsing's own comparative tests, the L5 and L6 have yet to find a wooden bow that can keep up.

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