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Eastman Strings was founded in 1992, yet it is already an integral part of the long and glorious history of one of the most fascinating musical traditions the world has known. Through their violin and bow making activities, they are attached to a tradition nearly 500 years old, and strive to maintain a level of artistic and commercial achievement worthy of their predecessors.

In 1992, Qian Ni, who had come to the United States from China to study music, founded Eastman Strings. In the beginning, he and his two musician colleagues bought instruments from Western-trained violin makers from their home town in China, but before long, they saw that a different approach was needed. Mr. Ni hired a group of established master violinmakers, and with their help, he established a large master violin workshop devoted to the handcrafting of instruments—one of the first the world had known since the first half of the 20th century. In the short time since this workshop was founded, the reputation of Eastman Strings’ instruments for tonal quality and craftsmanship excellence has become a worldwide standard. After establishing the instrument making workshop, Qian Ni went on to found a bow making workshop based on the same principals. In both workshops, master makers train and oversee talented woodworkers to create some of the world’s finest student, step-up, and professional instruments and bows.

Today, the instrument and bow making workshops of Eastman Strings operate in precisely the same manner as late 19th century European workshops. They have virtually no power tools aside from the band saws used to cut out the necks and the outlines of the tops and backs of instruments. Chisels, knives, gouges, and scrapers, in the hands of outstandingly gifted craftspeople, are the primary tools used to create these modern instruments and bows, using methods centuries old. Thanks to Eastman Strings, string players today have advantages unknown to earlier generations: quality instruments, bows, and cases available world-wide at affordable prices.

These Eastman bows are all entirely hand-crafted of genuine aged pernambuco wood or carbon fiber. Each bow starts with quality materials, and is hand crafted for ideal weight, balance and strength.

Silver Model 90 Pernambuco:

The model 90 is the silver-mounted bow from the Andreas Eastman workshop. Following the tradition bowmakers have adhered to for centuries, they only mount their professional quality bows in silver. The wood is of exceptional quality, hand-carved to reveal its full tonal and aesthetic potential. These bows are available for violin, viola, and cello in full size only.

Select Nickel Model 80 Pernambuco:

The Andreas Eastman model 80 bows have all of the features of the model 60 bows, but are made of more select pernambuco. The selection process emphasizes straightness of grain, uniformity of color, density and strength, and absence of blemishes. Handcrafted with great attention to detail, these are the finest nickel-mounted bows available. These bows are available for all string instruments: the violin in sizes from 1/4 to 4/4, the viola in full size only, the cello in sizes from 1/2 to 4/4, and the bass with a German or French frog in 1/2 and 3/4 sizes.

Nickel Model 60 Pernambuco:

Andreas Eastman model 60 bows have all the features you expect in a fine pernambuco bow: aged wood, fully mounted ebony frog with colorful mother-of-pearl slide and Parisian eyes, leather grip with silver winding, and unbleached Mongolian horsehair, all made entirely by hand. These bows are available for all string instruments: the violin in sizes from 1/4 to 4/4, the viola in full size only, the cello in sizes from 1/4 to 4/4, and the bass with a German or French frog in 1/2 and 3/4 sizes.

Cadenza Model 305 Carbon Fiber:

Professionals will perceive quality in the Cadenza model 305. This bow is unique, with a pernambuco faced carbon fiber stick. It has a leather grip with silver wrap, a fully silver mounted ebony frog with a pearl eye and a silver button with pearl. These bows are available for violin, viola, and cello in full size only.

Cadenza Model 304 Carbon Fiber:

Discerning players recognize the superior quality and classic elegance of the Cadenza model 304. This bow is unique, with a pernambuco faced carbon fiber stick. It has a leather grip with nickel silver wrap, a fully nickel mounted ebony frog with a pearl Parisian eye and a nickel silver button with pearl. These bows are available for violin, viola, and cello in full size only.

Cadenza Model 302 Carbon Fiber:

Advanced students appreciate the classic feel of the Cadenza model 302. Refined balance and the beauty of the colorful mother-of-pearl slide and Parisian eye set this bow apart. It has a woven carbon fiber stick, a leather grip with nickel silver wrap, a fully nickel mounted ebony frog with a pearl Parisian eye and a nickel silver button with pearl. These bows are available for violin, viola, and cello in full size only.

Visit the official Eastman Strings website for more information.