Each and every bow that I sell from Sousa passes two tests before entering my inventory.

1. I inspect the craftsmanship and material of the bow.  I am looking for grain direction, grain length, flaws in the material, how the mechanism of the screw works, the fit of the frog, the curvature of the stick, etc.

If the bow passes the 1st inspection then:

2.  I rosin up the bows and play them!  In this stage, I am looking for sound projection and qualities, balance, feel and weight.  Of course, I often measure these physically with tools, but putting the bow onto the string and playing some Dvorak or Mozart puts it into a more real perspective than just raw numbers.  There are just too many variables to a good bow and I find the best way to find great sticks is to just play them. 

In the end, I compile a large selection of consistently excellent performing sticks, with a variety of tonal and playing qualities, all of which I find suitable for different players.  Please contact me to let me know what you are looking for. I enjoy working with customers to find a bow that meets their needs within their budget!