Premium Carbon Fiber Violin Bow with Red Silver Inlaid Pattern - Round Silver Wrap & Cupronickel Parts - Fleur De Lys Design - Fully-Lined Abalone - Perfect for Professional Performances, Student Practice & Orchestra Use

I am very, very happy with my SKY 4/4 carbon fiber bow. Recently someone gave me an inexpensive student violin outfit that they weren't using, but the bow that came with the outfit was sadly nonfunctional, with half of the hair gone and the rest unable to tighten enough for playing. I'm a total beginner, but I can still say that this bow is superior in every way to the old bow. Even just looking at it, the construction is much finer and sturdier. It's a very pretty bow - I think it looks far more elegant in person than in the photos. I chose carbon fiber because I didn't want to worry so much about humidity and warping and so on. As for functionality, it is much easier to hold than the other bow and is also lighter. It seems to be a good bow - I can't really judge sound quality since I still have the original strings on the instrument (which need to be replaced) and with only a couple of days of playing under my belt, I am still quite terrible at playing the violin! the bow seemed to take rosin just fine - it only took me a couple of minutes to get it to a playable state.All-in-all, I am very pleased with my purchase. I had wanted a functional bow that didn't cost more than my violin but would still last, and I think this was a good choice. I also think it could transfer over to a nicer instrument if/when I upgrade. If you are a beginner looking for a decent yet inexpensive bow, or maybe a better violinist wanting a practice or outdoors bow, this one will not disappoint!