Is it time to get my bow rehaired? How can I tell?
As you consider the best ways to keep your instruments and bows sounding and playing their best, you may wonder, how will I know it’s time to get my bow rehaired? Recently, we had a chance to ask our Givens Violins in-house full time bow restorer Annelisa Guries and here is what she had to say:
How often do I need to get my bow rehaired? Annelisa suggested about every 6-12 months. It really depends on how much you play. For an entry level student, once a year is enough. If you are a player who practices and plays daily, twice a year or about every 6 months is recommended. You could easily combine your instrument check up and your bow rehair at the same time. We recommend 6 months checkups for both instruments and bows. This would be a great way to have your instrument and bow sounding and playing their best.
1. What are some of the signs that my bow needs a rehair? There are many things to look out for when trying to determine if your bow needs a rehair.
• One of the main visual cues would be yellow or darkened hair. This often occurs near the frog on the player’s side- where the players hand meets the hair. The oils from the skin begin to darken this area of the hair over time.
• Another hint is a lot of missing or broken hairs, either at the tip or at the frog.
• Additionally, if your bow refuses to tighten up to playing tension, if the hair seems very stretched out and droopy.
• If the hair feels slippery despite constant rosining, then a rehair is necessary.
2. What’s the turnaround time for a bow rehair? A typical turnaround time for a bow rehair is 1-2 business days. Please keep in mind our business days are Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm. It is always best to call and schedule this appointment ahead of time to ensure that we can rehair your bow in the timeframe that you had in mind.
3. I live out of state, how can I get my bow rehaired? We have a lot of experience carefully packing and shipping bows back and forth for rehairs and repairs. You can call or email us anytime to make these arrangements and ask any additional questions about turnaround time.
At any time, if you just want the bow restorer to take a look at your bow to determine if it’s time for a rehair, stop by and our workshop will check it out for you. For your convenience, we offer free loaner bows while yours is in for a rehair, so you can continue practicing and participating in rehearsals, concerts.
