How tight is your bow?

[Thomas Erickson]

I think rehairing technique and hair quality/variety are something (well, among many things) that are really lacking or absent, at least in the US. It may seem like a minor thing, but bow hair, at least to the orchestra player, is a pretty big deal!

[Bin Hire]

Interesting. It's probably closer to seven years since I had my bow rehaired. It still seems to play fine and there is plenty of hair. Are you saying that the hair 'wears out'?

[Thomas Erickson]

For sure. Not only does it stretch, like Ken says, but rosin builds up and it just plain gets dirty and worn out.

I say that if you play with the same bow every day, it should be rehaired once a year. Naturally I don't follow my own advice, but every time I get a rehair I wish I'd done it sooner!

I have a great nurnberger its one made by his son but still my prized possesion since im poor the bow needs a rehair badly I think the hair has been on for about ten years & rather than breaking lots of hairs it's just so smooth it won't grab no matter how much rosin you put on (I'm sure pops would work). Where do you guys get your bows rehaired? Also Ken what style bow do you use?

[Thomas Erickson]

Unless you live in a major urban center and know who to go to, I'd say just send your bow to one of the well know shops and have it done. If you call, they'll send you a tube to ship it in.

And for the record, Pops rosin is a sticky disaster, at least in my opinion and that of many others. I've found that it makes a mess of bow hair, the top of your bass, the inside of your bass bag/bow case, carpet, and anything else it comes near.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Joshua phelps

I have a great nurnberger its one made by his son but still my prized possesion since im poor the bow needs a rehair badly I think the hair has been on for about ten years & rather than breaking lots of hairs it's just so smooth it won't grab no matter how much rosin you put on (I'm sure pops would work). Where do you guys get your bows rehaired? Also Ken what style bow do you use?

Many of the Bows here I have used personally; http://www.kensmithbasses.com/doublebasses/bows/

Thomas - I agree on pops. I tried a cake pops & it melted in my studio in the dead of winter. It is a huge mess & especially for the top. I love oak rosin all around plus the added benefit of just taking a soft cloth to go over the top after practice & the very occasional polish to clean my bass & not having to use something way more harse like kolsteins to get huge clumps of rosin off. Ken - you play french & German bows? Which do you prefer?

Ken - I just realized that there were like 20 French & only 1 german & those were ksb bows. Guess I have my answer

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

For sure. Not only does it stretch, like Ken says, but rosin builds up and it just plain gets dirty and worn out.

I say that if you play with the same bow every day, it should be rehaired once a year. Naturally I don't follow my own advice, but every time I get a rehair I wish I'd done it sooner!

Oops, I need a rehair!
My hair has been on far too long; though it still sounds good.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Richard Prowse

Oops, I need a rehair!
My hair has been on far too long; though it still sounds good.

My hair in some spots is long gone and I still need a hair cut besides.

Still, I don't think it's long enough for a German bow..

I wish I could try playing several nice bows but ive never had the opportunity other than my nurnberger & some of my teachers bows. I've tried French & wanted to be a French player but I could never develop my grip without having serious pain after only an hour or so of playing. I have really big hands so I don't know if that had anything to do with it. I like the attack you get from French bow but my German grip is coming along ok too.

[Richard Prowse]

Originally Posted by Joshua phelps

I wish I could try playing several nice bows but ive never had the opportunity other than my nurnberger & some of my teachers bows. I've tried French & wanted to be a French player but I could never develop my grip without having serious pain after only an hour or so of playing. I have really big hands so I don't know if that had anything to do with it. I like the attack you get from French bow but my German grip is coming along ok too.

I played French for years and changed to German because of an injury - my brother had taken some German bow lessons with a guy in the NZSO and guided me. Now and again I try French just for fun, but I'd never go back.

"My hair in some spots is long gone and I still need a hair cut besides.
Still, I don't think it's long enough for a German bow.. "
I get it Ken, very good switch of hair type.