How does one become an expert on bows?
A. This can happen after careful observation, handling and exposure to many bows. One builds up a generic bow database (or call it a set of templates) of characteristics whereby a makers name is associated with a list of features. For example, after viewing and playing with many Sartory bows, one builds up a generic database of features that one has observed in his bows. First, one learns to recognize the difference between let’s say a Sartory, a Voirin and a Peccatte. However, over time, one is able to make out the difference between an early Sartory, with its rounder, feminine head and softer playing stick, and a late Sartory, with its fuller more masculine, angular head. In fact, one starts to notice that no two bows by Sartory (or any other maker) are identical, (but only an expert can distinguish between the two most similar bows Sartory made). In observing a new Sartory, certain features will be familiar with our generic database we have in memory (and how good is our memory?!),
