Technical data
| Instrument | cello |
| Model | 16 |
| Stick | Massaranduba |
| Size | 4/4, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4 |
| Frog | Ebony |
Features
- Model 16 for cello
- Stick of Massaranduba
- Sizes 4/4, 3/4, 1/2 and 1/4
In practice
- For how a bow feels, the balance point matters more than absolute weight. The closer it sits to the tip, the more head-heavy the bow feels.
- Too soft and the stick bottoms out under pressure, making spiccato difficult; too stiff and the stick responds less to your bowing.
- The ferrule at the frog holds and spreads the hair; it is a structural part, not decoration. Through the mass of the metal parts the bow maker also sets the balance point.
- The mother-of-pearl eye in the middle of the frog, by contrast, is purely a matter of finish.
- Slacken after every session so the stick keeps its shape. Never overtighten, apply rosin sparingly and wipe the stick.
- Sideways warp, lost camber or hair falling out unevenly are reasons to have the bow looked at in the workshop.
Versions
- 1/2, BO-C16-1_2
- 1/4, BO-C16-1_4
- 3/4, BO-C16-3_4
- 4/4, BO-C16-4_4
Sound and physics
A 4/4 cello bow measures around 710 mm without the button (the screw head at the frog), weighs 80 to 84 g when finished and carries around 210 hairs. In a pernambuco bow, typically around 55 g of that is the wood of the stick alone. For the powerful cello strings the bow is solidly built, with a hair ribbon around 12 mm wide, around 61 cm of playing length, a head 28 mm high and a frog 24 mm high. Every Götz cello bow has a rounded frog.
Massaranduba is a wood species of its own. It is considerably heavier than pernambuco.
On every Massaranduba model, as on the pernambuco bows, the frog is ebony. Every Götz bow is haired with natural white horsehair.
The Massaranduba models 62 with a round stick and 63 with an octagonal stick sit between 22 and 66 in this series. Up to model 73 the mounts and wire winding are nickel silver (an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc); from model 74 they are sterling silver 925. A lined slide means that the mother-of-pearl slide on the underside of the frog is framed in metal; the Parisian eye is a mother-of-pearl inlay in the frog, set in a brass ring. The frog is made of East Indian ebony (Diospyros ebenum); neither this ebony nor the mother-of-pearl on our bows appears on the species protection lists.
The stars on the stick show the quality grade of a pernambuco bow; besides the wood, details of the finish such as winding and button feed into this grading. Pernambuco bows are stamped on the frog and on the stick, Massaranduba bows on the frog only, and since 2025 every bow has also carried a laser-engraved serial number.
Our experience
In our experience our 4/4 cello bows usually weigh 80 to 82 g. The C70 and C71 cello bows are among the best-selling of all Götz bows. Our Massaranduba is seasoned for at least ten years before it becomes a bow. We recommend Massaranduba bows for beginners because they bring the craftsmanship and fittings of our range at excellent value.
In our experience a model with a higher number brings a harder stick and more handwork.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Götz cello bow weigh?
In 4/4 usually 80 to 82 g.
How much bow force is used on the A string?
At a bow speed of 20 cm/s the stable range lies, depending on the distance from the bridge, between a few grams and around 100 g.
Why is the frog of my Götz cello bow rounded?
The rounded frog is the design used on every Götz cello bow.
What is the difference between models 72 and 73?
The fittings are the same; model 73 additionally has a titanium screw with a copper nut. At 4,510 kg/m³ titanium weighs little more than half as much as steel at 7,800 to 8,000 kg/m³.
What does model 78 S have that the 78 does not?
A silver tip plate at the head; otherwise the fittings are the same.
These texts hold decades of experience and a great deal of heart. They are protected by copyright, C.A. Götz jr. GmbH. Please ask us before any use. Thank you for your appreciation.
