The bow is much more than an accessory; it's a very important part of sound creation. The weight and rigidity of the stick, and the quality of the bit, profoundly determine the control of the sound. Whether for violin, viola, cello or any other bowed string instrument. For this reason, we'll discuss the frequency at which the bow should be re-drawn. We'll also look at the different characteristics of the horsehair that makes up the wick.
The life of a wick - what is remécher?
Bows of various qualities pass through the workshop: from prestigious antiques to industrially manufactured carbon bows. A variety of styles and materials, with almost only one thing in common: the horsehair bit. The action of rehairing a bow is the act of getting rid of a worn-out bit and replacing it. This is a rather technical operation that can only be carried out by a luthier or bow maker.
The importance of horsehair quality
The high-quality horsehair used for the bow strings comes mainly from Mongolian stallions. The robustness of these hardy species provides a thick hair perfect for use on bowed strings.
Here are a few facts about horsehair:
- White horsehair is the most popular, but there are also salt-pepper and black horsehair with their own characteristics. Black horsehair is used on double bass bows, for example. It provides more grip, giving better bass results.
- High-quality horsehair is not sourced from mares, as urine splashes can damage it.
- Some low-quality horsehair is bleached using chemical processes that alter its properties. High-quality horsehair is never treated.
- Very recently, synthetic horsehair was developed by Coruss. A French project I mention in this article: Coruss, le crin synthétique.
Choosing a quality wick when rewiring will give better overall sound results. But you'll also gain greater stability over time thanks to increased resistance.
On peut également noter que le crin est une matière « vivante » sensible à l’hygrométrie, la température et aux UV. En effet, la chaleur et les rayons ultraviolets assèchent le poil et le rendent cassant. Ils peuvent aussi se retrouver attaqués par des insectes et autres moisissures dans le cas de longues périodes de stockage.
However, horsehair alone is not enough to set a string in motion. To achieve this, we use a special resin: rosin. To find out more about rosin, read this article: Rosin: the secret ingredient
Finally, if you'd like to find out more about natural horsehair. You can also read this article:
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Why bow again?
I sometimes see that even experienced musicians find themselves playing with insufficient or dirty bits. To the point of being detrimental to their sound, of course, but also to the integrity of their precious bows.
Une mèche trop usée causera des problèmes plus ou moins réversibles sur les baguettes. En effet, plus le côté joué de la mèche va s’amenuiser, plus la baguette va se rapprocher des cordes de l’instrument. Il est fort possible que celle-ci soit « limée » à la longue par les cordes les plus modernes (en métal).
What's more, a new wick under tension evenly distributes the balance of a bow's camber. We use mainly one side of the wick, thus wearing it down more quickly. Once tensioned, the stick can twist sideways. This happens when the tension is no longer evenly distributed.
Poorly maintained rods can become permanently deformed. These defects can be repaired, but require the intervention of a bow maker to straighten them out. These operations are nevertheless risky and costly.
On low-value bows, there's no need to worry too much. The lost wood may not handicap playing. What's more, any deformation of the stick may be alleviated with the new bit. Prestigious bows, whether antique or modern, are a different story. These delicate sticks are often traded for thousands of euros, and the slightest defect can lead to a significant discount. That's why it's important to pay attention to the quality of the wick and its installation.
How often should I rehair my bow?
Depending on the musician, the frequency between re-waxes can vary from three months to several years. This will depend on two main factors: the number of hours of use and the style of music played. In fact, it's more a question of the way you attack with the bow. As a result, an aggressive soloist's fuse will need to be renewed more often than that of an occasional player. Professional musicians who play every day will therefore need to have their bows rehaired every 3 to 6 months. For occasional players and students, this can sometimes be several years. Some people estimate that the optimum use of a wick is 150 hours of playing.
Recommendation on re-watering frequency :
- For professionals, 3 to 6 months' use, sometimes less for very intensive use.
- Music school students or serious amateurs can choose to do this once a year. At the beginning of each school year, or before final exams, for example.
- For hobbyists or occasional enthusiasts, once a year is fine. But as long as the wick is healthy, it can last longer.
How to detect wick wear?
Wick wear is inexorable with the passage of time. It will be attacked by micro-organisms, mites, oxidize or dry out. Generally speaking, if the bow has been stored for years, the wick is probably worth changing. Here are the other cases:
- First of all, if you have to add more and more rosin to maintain the grip of the horsehair on the string. Its scales are surely worn and no longer grip the rope as effectively.
- It's also possible that the wick is clogged or blackened. This is caused by the accumulation of oxidized rosin, dust, perspiration and dirt.
- What's more, if the bristles break at an accelerated frequency, they may already be too worn or simply of poor quality. Don't be caught playing the strings on the stick of your bow.
- Humidity is an important factor. If you change environment, the strands may contract or expand exaggeratedly. If they contract too much, it may become impossible to relax the bow. This could cause serious damage to the stick, or even break it.
- Finally, if the wick tension drops significantly. Perhaps the shim inside the frog has slipped or the ligature has come loose.
Cleaning the bow or wick.
Ideally, the bow and wick should be cleaned with a soft cloth at the end of each playing session. The aim is to avoid, as far as possible, the accumulation of rosin or other body secretions such as perspiration or finger grease. These precautions also help to keep the horsehair and drumsticks in healthy condition.
You can also use a fine-toothed comb to dislodge clumps of rosin from the horsehair. This, together with the parallel use of a cloth, removes most of the residue that saturates the ribbon.
The technique of using pure alcohol to strip bow hair is not recommended for stand-alone use. Although I thought a few years ago that it would damage the hair. I have to admit that this is not exactly the case. However, I'll explain in another article.
Getting your bow back in shape at the workshop
If you think you need to have your bow rehaired, please don't hesitate to contact me: I'll be happy to take on the task.
You can also consult the page dealing with all the bow-related services offered by the workshop: Bow drying and repair
