Bows, hairs and their relation

Monika

use about 2 sorts of hair, one more elastic than the other.

Less elastic plays with more attack and I use that for cello bows, while the other one gives a slightly smoother change in bowings. I make sure that the elastic is not extremely elastic (as that will give too many problems in my climate with extreme changes in humidity -around 80% at home compared to as low as 30% in some concert halls in winter...) and that the less elastic is not brittle or harsh.



For a violin bow I use between 160 to 200 hairs, both are exceptions. That depends on stiffness (and/or the ability of the frog to accomodate) only. A heavy bow stick is most of the times a stiff one as well. I do that by feel (but I am a player as well), but you can also measure stiffness. Simply support the stick behind head and at thumb (without hair), attach 1lb and measure deviation from without weight, using a fine micrometer scale.

Be sure to select your individual bow hanks from the bundle carefully as to my knowledge all commercially available hair has lots of defective hair in it!