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The Schuster family of violinmakers and bowmakers that operated mainly in Markneukirchen, is huge, with dictionaries listing between 20 and 30 names. Not all these makers excelled to greatness, but one stands out for the exceptional quality of his bows - Adolf Curt Schuster (1890-1947).
This bow is by Adolf C. Schuster and is an impeccable example of his powers as bowmaker.
He early on recognised the merits of French bows and spent his entire life studying and emulating the work of particularly Voirin and Tubbs. There is very little about his work that is German and in many ways he is more "un-German" than his better French counterparts. Playing with an Adolf C. Schuster bow is similar to playing with a Tubbs, the properties of which he copied with an extraordinary degree of success - they have the same light suppleness that is so sought after and appreciated in good French bows, yet with just the right degree of firmness and balance not to detract from the suppleness but yet which gives more direct control over the string without becoming hard or weighty. In my own experience I found that the A C Schusters I have used in fact at times superseded the Tubbs bows I have tried in their control, balance and general response to what the player intends and asks for. These are excellent bows.
This bow was discovered in a very negnected state and was recently completely cleaned up and serviced by Svend Christensen. The nut is original, bearing the maker's brand on the flank. The octagonal stick is from a beautiful piece of dark red pernambuco in impeccable condition.
This bow is marginally firmer than many other Schusters I tried and owned, and apart from excellent balance and response, it has extraordinary articulation. It is my own personal bow of choice.
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The Stick :
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Octagonal, excellent flamed red-brown pernambuco.
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The Nut :
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Ebony, Parisian eye. Original to the bow, free from cracks or repairs. Bears the maker's stamp in the left flank. Original adjuster button.
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Wrapping :
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Imitation whalebone wrapping, recent. New black leather thumbpad. All renovation on the bow was recently carried out by Svend Christensen.
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Condition :
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Impeccable, as new.
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Provenance :
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This bow was bought from a dealer in Leipzig in about 1950. It belonged to a good amateur violinist in Pietermaritzburg who left it to his family at his death. This bow, paired with another A. C. Schuster, was discovered in a very neglected condition in an old violin case a few years ago. It was bought from the family in 2008 by Johan Grobbelaar, who now uses this as his principal bow.
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