Violins, Violas, Cellos and Basses...is the Bow more important than the Instrument?

Excerpt:

They were archetiers, craftsmen who make bows for violins, violas, cellos and basses, and wood from the pernambuco tree is the only known material, synthetic or natural, out of which a bow maker can construct a top-quality, performance level bow.

Go read Saving the Music Tree.