I tightened my French pernambuco bow during rehearsal. Snap. The stick broke right at the head. I filed a claim for the $5,000 insured value. The insurer sent me a check for $1,000. They claimed the bow was “consumable” and had “depreciated” due to age and prior use.
Key Takeaways
- Bows are “Fragile” Risks: Insurers know bows break under tension. Some apply high depreciation or have specific sub-limits for bows unless they are scheduled separately with an appraisal.
- Depreciation on Re-Cambering: If the bow had lost its camber (curve) over time, the insurer argues it was already near end-of-life (Inherent Vice).
- The “Stick” vs. The “Frog”: The value is in the stick. If the stick breaks, the value is gone. The frog and button can be salvaged, but they are a fraction of the value.
- Agreed Value prevents Depreciation: As with vintage guitars, you must have an Agreed Value policy. This guarantees the $5,000 payout regardless of “wear and tear.”
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Wear and Tear vs. Accident.”
Bows wear out. They lose curve. They get fatigue.
If a bow snaps while being tightened, the insurer argues it was due to “fatigue” (excluded).
If the bow snaps because you hit it against a music stand, that is an “accident” (covered).
The cause of loss description is critical.
The Investigation (My Analysis of String Specialists)
I looked at the niche world of violin insurance.
Clarion
- The Specialist: They are the go-to for strings.
- The Policy: They cover bow breakage. They understand that a broken stick is a total loss, not a repairable item.
Lark Music Insurance
- The Feature: They offer “Devaluation” coverage. Even if a spline repair fixes the bow (mechanically), its value drops 90%. Lark pays the value drop.
Homeowners
- The Fail: A general adjuster doesn’t know what Pernambuco is. They will depreciate it like a 10-year-old laptop.
[IMAGE: Photo of a violin bow snapped cleanly just behind the head]
Comparison Table
| Feature | Standard Policy | String Specialist (Clarion/Lark) |
| Snap while tightening | Denied (Wear/Tear) | Covered |
| Snap due to impact | Covered (ACV) | Covered (Agreed Value) |
| Depreciation | Applied | None (Agreed Value) |
| Devaluation after repair | No | Yes |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Get a Bow Appraisal: Separate from the violin. Appraise the bow on its own merits.
- Insure as Agreed Value: Lock in the $5,000.
- Describe the Incident Properly: Be honest, but specific. “The bow struck the stand and broke” is an accident. “It broke while playing” invites a fatigue investigation.
- Save the Parts: Do not throw away the frog or the broken stick. The insurer owns the salvage rights if they pay you.
FAQ
Can a broken bow be fixed?
Yes, with a spline. But the value is destroyed. It becomes a “player’s bow” worth 10-20% of the original.
What if the horsehair breaks?
That is maintenance (consumable). Not covered.
Is carbon fiber better for insurance?
Carbon fiber bows rarely break. They are lower risk, but also lower value usually.