John Greenwood is a maker of artist quality violin, viola, cello, and bass bows.
As an accomplished conservatory train
ed violinist
and active chamber musician, John is uncommonly attuned to the playing and tone producing qualities of his bows throughout the making process, when subtle adjustments can yield dynamic results. Musicians
playing his bows include principal players in the San Francisco Symphony,
soloists, and prominent members other major professional ensembles.
Each Greenwood bow is a unique piece, meticulously crafted one at a time. It's gratifying that many demanding professional players continue to put aside famous French and other "big named" bows after acquiring a Greenwood bow. Not to take anything away from the finest well preserved specimens, but numerous older antique bows are now priced far more for their value as rare collectables than for their perfection as playing tools. Greenwood bows continuously meet and exceed the challenge when matched up against famous historical makers.
John also maintains a busy practice rehairing, repairing, and restoring bows. He is routinely entrusted to work on rare and valuable bows made by the most famous makers. His loyal repeat customers are testament to the consistent quality of his work.
John received comprehensive training in the traditional handmade “French Method” of bowmaking during an extended instruction period with the renowned French master, Jean Grunberger. He has further engaged in valuable studies working along side such modern masters as Tim Baker and Pierre-Yves Fuchs.
John Greenwood continues to be a regular participant in the Oberlin Bowmaking Workshop, the premier annual gathering of master level bowmakers. This forum has been an invaluable resource for sharing ideas and advancing the art of bowmaking in America.
Some Bow Photos
Violin Bow, 58gms. Octagonal.
Cello Bow, 80gms. Round.
Viola Bow, Gold Mounted, 69gms. Round.
Violin Bow, Mother-of-Pearl Shield, 59gms. Round.
Materials
The
soul of a fine bow resides in the stick. The finest bows are fashioned principally from
pernambuco, an increasingly scarce tropical wood, which comes only from the coastal forests of
Brazil. John has been fortunate to have assembled a substantial cache of
seasoned top quality pernambuco wood, the quality of which rivals that of the great French masters.
The vast majority of John's wood supply was obtained in an ecologically responsible manner from salvaged timber. Sources include: Fence posts, railroad ties, floor boards, and naturally downed timber on the forest floor. An additional positive by-product of wood from this source is that it has often been cut and seasoning for easily 50 to over 100 years!
Each Greenwood bow is made with the finest materials and absolutely without compromise. Before commencing work, each stick is meticulously evaluated to determine its greatest potential. This includes: 1) Testing the wood ultrasonically using a Lucchi Meter which objectively measures the relative liveliness and stiffness of the stick; 2) determining the density of each specimen by floating each stick in prepared saltwater solutions of varying densities; 3) and of course, careful visual inspection of each piece. Wood that does not meet the most exacting quality standards is rejected.
Ultimately, it's hard won experience which guides the bowmaker to the most appropriate stick for the bow he wants to create.
John
is an active member of the International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative (IPCI) which is devoted to the legal distribution, responsible conservation, and renewal of pernambuco wood in its native Brazil. In an effort to conserve pernambuco supplies John continues to actively experiment with substitute exotic wood species such as pau d'arco (ipe),
amourette (snakewood), and swartzia (wamara). Painstaking wood selection has resulted in bows with playing qualities intriguingly and objectively comparable to that of fine pernambuco.
Trying a Greenwood Bow
If you would like to try out a Greenwood bow, please contact us. Although John has an ongoing customer waiting list, he generally maintains a representative stock of bows for immediate trial.
If possible, John would prefer to meet with you personally by appointment in his San Francisco workshop. When you visit you're encouraged to bring along your own instrument and the bow(s) that you currently play with. We do have instruments in the workshop if bringing your own instrument isn't practical. Working together, we can then discuss your playing style and what sort of bow would be ideal for you and your instrument.
Violin Bows: Starting at $3,500
Viola Bows: Starting at $3,600
Cello Bows: Starting at $3,800
Bass Bows (French and German): Starting at $4,500
Bow Rehairing, Restoration, and Repairs
We are dedicated to providing you with the highest quality work on your better quality bows. With the hands-on experience gained from working on literally hundreds and hundreds of bows, we offer:
Expert rehairing, with the finest hair :
Bow rehairs can often be completed in less than 24 hours. We carry a multiple of hair varieties to satisfy every requirement.
Skillful repairs and Restoration :
Repairs include: Replacing broken ivory tip plates, repairing broken heads, installing new eyelets and/or screws, recambering(rebending) the bow stick to improve playability, replacing pearl slides and eyes in the frog, bushing worn screw-holes in sticks, resoldering or replacing damaged or missing metal parts on the frog, etc.
With John's seasoned bowmaking skill and practical playing experience, we're confident that we can meet your high expectations. We look forward to working with you.
Please note that our hours are by appointment only.
Telephone: (415) 664-2624
Address: 301 Carl Street, Suite 11, San Francisco, CA 94117 USA
Email: john@greenwoodbows.com