Tête-Bêche Violin Bow

The Tête-Bêche Bow by Gilles Nehr

For over 25 years, alongside his traditional bowmaking work, Gilles Nehr has been meticulously developing a revolutionary bow model: the Tête-Bêche. This innovative design is crafted to meet the diverse needs of violinists, violists, cellists, and soon, double bassists.

The Tête-Bêche bow model is a pragmatic and empirical solution designed to enhance the core attributes of traditional bows. It provides exceptional resistance, superior sound quality, and a unique self-rehairing feature, all while maintaining the same weight and balance as traditional bows.

The Tête-Bêche model is not just a bow; it is a fusion of tradition and innovation, tailored to elevate your playing experience. Discover the perfect blend of craftsmanship and convenience with the Tête-Bêche bow by Gilles Nehr.

Archet Tête-Bêche Classique Classic Tête-Bêche bow

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How to buy a Tête-Bêche Classique

Archet Tête-Bêche de Collection Collector's Tête-Bêche bow

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Unique design for each bow

Tête-Bêche Classique

Design

Stick in wood, head and frog in titanium, button and hook in bronze.

Titanium coatings

Black

Golden

Self-rehairing

Hair hank cassette

Woods

Pernambuco

The legendary wood of choice for bows, renowned for its unique qualities.

With Pernambuco classified as an endangered and protected species, its rarity has intensified, and available stocks are dwindling. Gilles Nehr’s own precious supply, secured over 25 years ago, is now very small, but it still allows him to craft bows of extraordinary artistry.

A wood that comes in a variety of types, ranging from dense to light, offering a fast and quick response or a softer feel.

Pernambuco's natural color varies from vibrant orange to rich red and deep brown.

Natural

Aged

Giraffe Thorn Acacia

Giraffe Thorn Acacia stands as an exceptional alternative to Pernambuco, offering a responsible choice for those mindful of ecological impact.

This wood is of incredible quality, rivaling Pernambuco in high performance. It is dense, quick, and powerful, producing a focused yet warm and beautiful sound—often even richer than dense Pernambuco.

While its light natural color may be less striking and the variety of types more limited, its consistency is a significant advantage. Almost every stick of Acacia is suitable for bowmaking, unlike Pernambuco, which requires sorting through lower-quality wood to find the best pieces. This results in less waste of Acacia trees, making it an almost entirely usable and high-quality resource.