Hair for the bow
Hair is used for bows in violin making.
The hairs are taken from a horses tail, preferably from a white stallion. The quality of the hair depends on the breed and origin of the horse. The best hair comes from Mongolian horses, but other regions also provide adequate hair.
Good bow hair must have the following characteristics:
The hairs are taken from a horses tail, preferably from a white stallion. The quality of the hair depends on the breed and origin of the horse. The best hair comes from Mongolian horses, but other regions also provide adequate hair.
Good bow hair must have the following characteristics:
- Sufficient length
- Even structure
- Sufficient strength und thickness to ensure an even hold for the rosin
- Light, natural color without bleaching
The larger string instruments might require the use of thicker hair to ensure greater durability. For the contrabass, sometimes dark hair is used, which is much coarser.