Synthetic horsehair in use

Since I've been using it, I've been able to gain some experience with synthetic horsehair. I've also been able to draw on feedback from different types of customers, not to mention the fellow bow makers I've discussed it with. So I'm going to tell you all about it in this article. Hopefully, it will give you more information about this type of product. Mind you, the subject may seem tendentious, but it's not!

Please note that in this article I'll only be talking about Coruss synthetic horsehair, not fishing line or any other musical toy invention.

 

 

Synthetic horsehair in use

Of course, the first question is: does it work? The answer is quite simple: yes, they work just as well as natural horsehair. They're just as effective at setting the rope in motion. However, if you use the same technique and rosin as with natural horsehair, the sound and feel will be different:

• More volume, which may displease some.
• Homogeneous sound from top to bottom.
• More clarity, which also has its drawbacks.
• Longer life and easier maintenance.
• Varies constantly in length.
• In fact, the sensation and friction are different.

Here's a summary of the results you can expect from such highlights. As for the rest, it's important to make up your own mind. As with any type of material, it will work in some cases and be avoided in others.

 

A few comments on synthetic horsehair

Generally speaking, if you're used to using the same bits, bows and rosin. You may have to adapt to get the same sound as before. From a purely technical point of view, I won't be of any help... On the other hand, think thatadapting the rosin would enable you to adapt the response to get closer to your old sensations. I think a drier recipe might do the trick. However, there is no absolute answer and you'll have to find the winning combination yourself.

Just as when you discover a new bow or instrument, you have to learn to tame it before you can fully exploit its potential.

On the other hand, there's a rather unfortunate aspect to synthetic horsehair: it's not necessarily well suited to beginners. Let me explain: horsehair gives a very clear character to the sound, and the volume is also amplified. This is why players who are not yet very comfortable with the bow will emphasize their shortcomings. From this point of view, it's true that students and teachers are likely to get a headache pretty quickly. On the other hand, it would also help to bring out the flaws and work on them. It's all a question of positioning.

 

 

Synthetic horsehair from the point of view of luthiers and bow makers

For musicians, there's no doubt about having to adapt to a new tool. However, we mustn't forget that there are also a few transpositions to be made on the craftsmen's side.

First of all, the hydrophobic nature of this horsehair requires more precise wick management. It cannot be made elastic by soaking. What's more, it's rather risky to involve the flame in handling. According to the manufacturer, it is possible to use the flame to shrink the wick. In that case, you'd have to use water all the time to prevent the fibers from melting. Besides, I don't know what effect exposure to the flame has on the scales, so I prefer to avoid it altogether. Having said that, I've heard that some people use a hairdryer with success.

Next, it's important to understand that this wick will stretch a lot at first, before finding its stability. This is exactly what happens with synthetic strings when they are first installed. That's why it's important to set it up fairly short from the start, especially on carbon bows. Otherwise, the frog will quickly reach the end of its travel. For my part, I simulate bow tension to stabilize the bit as much as possible before it leaves the workshop.

 

Slightly different, more precise work

I also wanted to talk about the constant diameter of the fibers, because the bow design provides for a narrowing of the bit in the head mortise. It's tiny, but the thickness of the horsehair is greater on the young side(up) than at the head(the old side). The constant thickness of synthetic horsehair means that this old design compresses the bit and sometimes prevents it from sitting properly. This is why this adaptation, which in practice would be very easy to make, would be rather annoying if you had to switch back to natural horsehair... This is why, once again, you have to be very precise about the quantity of the bundle, finding the right compromise.

Finally, in terms of performance, it's worth noting that all bristles can be used. This is a huge advantage. In today's horsehair boots, bow makers can spend hours sorting them. That's why the most fastidious will throw away up to half the original weight. It's a waste of time and money, because it all ends up in the garbage can.

It would be a real blessing if this hair worked better with beginners' practice, as it would avoid wasting time on inferior bows. Finally, it would also be an opportunity to considerably increase the longevity of all those "disposable" bows whose only lifespan is the use of their poor-quality wick.

 

Synthetic hair and pollution

I'd like to take this opportunity to touch on the sensitive subject of waste. Our society's major problems include pollution, recycling and the use of non-renewable materials.

And indeed, synthetic horsehair is a plastic material derived from organic chemistry. Although many people will decry it as a pollutant, it does have some advantages over natural horsehair:

• Synthetic horsehair lasts much longer than its natural version. This means less consumption over the years.
• It is also locally produced (at least for us), which gives it a smaller ecological footprint than products imported by plane or boat from the other side of the world (natural horsehair).
• All its components are authorized for use in the European waste treatment chain.

As for natural horsehair, we also have to ask ourselves what detergents, treatments, preservatives and other chemical baths it has undergone. And above all, what will happen to them when we burn or throw them away?

Finally, when it comes to ropes, they pose exactly the same problems. With the exception of Warchal, no manufacturer currently has a recycling program in place for its materials. In the end, it's no better or worse than any other product available today.

 

Here are a few more thoughts on my experience with Coruss horsehair. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them at the bottom of the page. I'd also like to make it clear that I'm not for or against the use of any kind of horsehair. I offer the tools and the musicians have them, while I remain focused on my goal of providing you with the best sound and transcending your playing experience.