What Is The Best Horse Hair For Violin Bows?

Bow rehairers can choose from Siberian, Mongolian, Manchurian, Polish, and more recently, Argentinian horsehair; according to Joan Balter, a bow maker and repairer in Berkeley, California, stallion hair from Siberia is generally considered the best.

What kind of horse hair is used for violin bows?

White horsehair is used for violin, viola and cello bows and some bass bows use black horsehair as it is often believed to be coarser. The quality and texture of the hair is determined by the breed of the horse, its diet and the conditions where it lives.

What is the best material for a violin bow?

Pernambuco wood
Pernambuco violin bow material is considered one of the best materials for making a high quality violin bow. Pernambuco wood is used because it has a strong grain with less tendency to warp or twist than other woods.

Are horses killed for bow hair?

Supply. Most horsehair comes from slaughtered horses. Hair for bows comes from tails of horses in cold climates, and is sorted by size. It comes primarily from stallions and costs $150–$400 per pound because of the sorting needed to extract long hairs.

How do you get horse hair for bows?

The hair comes from the tails of horses in really cold climates such as Siberia, Mongolia and Canada. The cold climate causes the horses to produce hair that is thicker and stronger than that produced by horses in warmer climates. 2.

What material is best for hair bows?

You can use almost any type of material to make baby bows, although most people tend to use fabric or silk ribbons because they come in so many different colors.

What violin bows do professionals use?

The vast majority of professional classical musicians play with wood bows. Contemporary violinists will use high-quality wood and carbon fiber bows; I see carbon fiber paired with electric violins and wood with acoustic violins the most, but it is occasionally switched up.

What makes an expensive violin bow?

Pernambuco comes from the same tree as a Brazilwood bow, but Pernambuco come from the denser, heartwood of the tree and this makes it more sensitive for the violin player. Its rarity contributes heavily to the price of the bow.
What Makes a Violin/Viola Bow Expensive?

Do violin bows get better with age?

Old vs. New: An older bow is not necessarily better than a newer bow. Neither is 100% perfect, but don’t pick something simply because it’s older. Newer makers can often rival or outperform older ones and be more affordable (see “Types of Bows,” above).

How much does a high quality violin bow cost?

A good price range for a master-level bow is $1,000 to $2,000. When you’re a master-level violinist, you know exactly what you need. You can hear and feel how different bows respond to your violin.

How often should you Rehair a violin bow?

about every six months
“For most people, every 6 months to once a year is enough if all or most of the hairs are still intact.” Laurie Niles of the Violinist.com adds that “luthiers tend to recommend getting a bow rehair about every six months.”

How long do violin bows last?

In general, luthiers tend to recommend getting a bow rehair about every six months. But what people do in practice can be quite different. Those who play a lot might get it re-haired every three months. But if it’s still sounding good, others might stretch it out quite a bit longer.

Can Vegans play the violin?

No, sadly their unwillingness to eat animal products render them unable to play the instrument that is the violin.

What is horse hair worth?

Horsehair can be used for several applications, including artificial hair, wigs, extensions or in art for weaving projects, says a Camden County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post. The sheriff’s office says a pound of horse hair can sell for anywhere from $500 to $1000 dollars.

Can you replace horse hair on violin bow?

If the horsehair of your bow is worn out, it will have to be rehaired. This operation consists of removing the used hair and replacing it with a new one. It must be performed by a bow maker or a luthier. If you don’t know who you should contact, ask your violin teacher or a violinist living near you.

What are violin bow hairs made of?

horse hair
Bow hair is made from horse hair
The bow hair is made of a hank of horsehair. A single violin bow will use between 160 and 180 individual hairs. These hairs are all attached next to each to form a ribbon. Unusually thick hairs and kinked hairs are removed so that only straight hairs are used.

Is making hair bows profitable?

With 50 yards, you can make 60 bows. If you sell each bow for $10 you can make more than $500 in profit after accounting for the initial expenses. When choosing to sell online, it’s important to make sure your product images are professional, clean, and clear.

What ribbon is best for bows?

Grosgrain ribbons are one of the best ribbons for hair bows. Grosgrain ribbons are thick yet flexible, allowing you to easily tie them as hair bows. The ribbon doesn’t fray on the edges and cut ends can be easily stopped from fraying compared to other ribbon types.

How much should you spend on a violin bow?

A beginner’s bow can cost between $50 – $200, while professional bows will cost thousands of dollars and antique bows even tens of thousands. If you’re an advanced student studying violin as a potential profession, don’t balk at paying anywhere from $500-$1200 for the right bow.

Should violin bow be light or heavy?

There’s a good chance that one or two will stand out. First impressions are very important. The bow shouldn’t seem too light or heavy in the hand. It shouldn’t be too weak or soft: It shouldn’t collapse easily on the hair when playing, or flex too much laterally.

Is a lighter or heavier violin bow better?

The heavier the bow is at the tip, the heavier it will feel. A heavy bow might feel secure in long bow stroke, but it will be harder to make it jump in spiccato. A lighter bow can feel very good to play with, but it can also feel nervous.