Violin Bow by James Tubbs, London, circa 1890
About James Tubbs
In common with a great many other players, James Tubbs is one of my absolute favourite bow makers. Whilst it´s true to say that I´ve played plenty of weak Tubbs bows, it´s also fair to say that the very best of his bows play as well as the greatest French sticks. Thought to have made over a thousand bows in his career, Tubbs was a highly-skilled workman who prized output above all else.
It seems likely that Tubbs´ upbringing as the eldest of 11 children in a poor London household went some way towards creating such a ferocious work ethic. Tubbs initially trained with his father, William Tubbs Jnr, before starting his own workshop in the 1850s. Famously, he produced bows for W.E. Hill and Sons from around 1858: the relationship soured in later years and Tubbs was known to rebrand these sticks with his own Jas Tubbs brand whenever he got the opportunity! James Tubbs is often referred to as the `English Tourte´ and his impact on the development of the bow cannot be underestimated.
About the bow
The bow weighs 63.5 grams and the mounts are of silver and ebony. The round stick measures 728 mm in length.
How does it play?
Like all good James Tubbs bows, this bow has an incredible grip. This makes it a very versatile playing bow, able to make lots of sound with even the slowest of strokes. It also means that the bow has brilliant articulation in all situations: it plays really well off the string but has a Rolls Royce smoothness in legato passages.
Condition
The bow is in excellent condition. It is stamped Jas Tubbs on the player side of the stick.
Further information
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