In Home Bow Trial

Bow Trial Program

Welcome to J.S. Fisher Violins, and thank you for your interest in our bow trial program! The best way to evaluate a bow is to play it for yourself. Our bow trial program allows you to compare up to three bows at a time, for one week, in the comfort of your home. We cover the shipping costs (within the contiguous USA) and there is no obligation to make a purchase.

Availability

Before placing your trial order, please note that we do have some bows for sale that we do not offer for trial. Currently, we offer the following lines of bows in our trial program:

• Arcus Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass Bows
• Musing Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass Bows
• CodaBow Violin Bows
• Note:  For CodaBow Viola, Cello, and Bass Bows, we do offer free professional consultation (see below). Once we've helped you select the models that are most likely to meet your needs, we'll refer you to CodaBow, to arrange trial of the bows directly.
• JonPaul Pernambuco Violin Bows
• JonPaul Carrera Model Carbon Fiber Violin Bow

Availability for trial also depends on availability of the particular bow. Some bows may already be on trial or out-of-stock, at any given time.

Professional Colsultation

After receiving your trial request, we'll contact you, by phone, usually within 24 hours, to discuss what bows might be a good fit for your particular needs. We've been matching musicians with their ideal bows for more than 20 years and have found the consultation to be a valuable part of the experience.  It is also required, before the trial can proceed.

Requesting Your Consultaiton & Trial

To request your trial, just tell us a bit about what you're looking for in the comments/desired bows section, above. Then, click add to cart,and proceed through our secure checkout. Or, contact us to arrange to arrange a free consultation, prior to ordering.

Shipping

We ship trials by UPS Ground, with a signature required upon delivery. For security reasons, bows must ship to your verified credit card billing address. We cover the cost of shipping and return shipping, within the contiguous United States. Shipments to Alaska, Hawaii, and non-contiguous territories can be ordered, but will have an additional cost for shipping.

When will I get my bows?

Delivery times will depend on the bows you seek. We will discuss this in our initial consultation. Note that bows often must be obtained specifically for your trial, prior to shipment. And, availability depends on our inventory, and that of the bow makers and distributors. Additionally, there is sometimes a waiting list for certain models, if they happen to be on trial to other customers.

Receiving / Unpacking the Trial

We'll send confirmation and tracking so you can watch for the arrival of your bows. Trials ship by UPS Ground and require a signature on delivery. If you're not at home when they attempt delivery, they will typically leave a note, and hold the package for pickup at a local UPS affiliate, like Staples, CVS, or a UPS Store.

The bows will come in a wooden bow case, within a cardboard box, cushioned at each end with foam. Be sure to keep all the packing materials, as you'll need them at the end of the week. Inside the bow case, in addition to the bows, you'll find our bow trial sheet, listing the bows, prices, recommendations, and instructions. You'll also find a pre-paid UPS return label. Again, keep this safe, as you'll need it at the end of the week.

The bows will be rosined and ready to play. You'll just need to tighten the hair. Feel free to rosin the bows, as needed, throughout the week. But, keep in mind that application of your rosin could impact the performance of the bows. Note any changes in how the bows play before and after application. Old rosin will impart a scratchy, unpleasant sound. So, we recommend using only high-quality, fresh rosin. (You should replace your rosin at least annually.)

Purchasing a Bow

Once you've had the bows in your possession for a week, we ask that you return them, so that we can help other customers. If a few extra days would be helpful, send us an email. We are often able to approve a short extension. If you choose to keep one of the bows, just send us an email to let us know. We'll send you a link to complete your purchase. Financing is available via Shop Pay.

Can I arrange a second trial with different bows?

Additional trials can usually be arranged, provided the requested bows are available. Just let us know how your trial is going, what you like/don't like about the bows, and we'll do our best to guide you in the right direction.

Returning the Trial

Whether you choose to keep a bow or not, thank you for choosing J.S. Fisher Violins! At the end of the week, if you've not found your ideal bow, please contact us to tell us how these particular models worked for you. We may be able to point you in the right direction, and if desired, can arrange a second trial.

To return the trial, place any bows you choose not to purchase back in the bow case. Close the case, and place back in the cardboard box. Note that the bow case fits best inside the box at a bit of an angle. Place the foam cushion back in the box, at the end of the bow case. Tape the box closed with packing tape. (The folks at your local UPS store can assist with this, if you don't happen to have packing tape on hand.) Apply the pre-paid return label over the old shipping label. And, take the package to your local UPS store or affiliate for shipping. Note that we use UPS, not USPS, so please do not drop the package at the post office. Please ask for a receipt, as a record of where you dropped off the package. And, that's it! Hopefully, you've found the trial helpful. If you have additional questions about the bows or the trial, at any time, please don't hesitate to ask! Thank you, again, for choosing J.S. Fisher Violins!