If you’ve been playing violin, viola, or cello for a while, you’ll know just how essential the bow is in shaping your sound. And at the heart of your bow’s performance is the horsehair — a natural material that wears out over time. Whether it’s gone brittle, become too dirty, lost its grip, or simply lost too many strands, there comes a time when a bow rehair becomes necessary.
Why Rehair Your Bow?
Bow hair doesn’t last forever. With regular use, the tiny scales on the hair that grip the string and hold rosin begin to wear smooth. As that happens, your bow loses its bite — tone becomes inconsistent, response suffers, and your control over dynamics can weaken. Even if the bow still “works,” it’s probably not working as well as it could.
A professional bow rehair costs around $200 and up, depending on the maker and materials. It’s a worthwhile investment if your bow is of decent quality — but if you’re using a very basic bow, it might be the perfect time to explore an upgrade. You’d be surprised what a better bow can do for your sound!
What Goes Into a Bow Rehair?
Rehairing a bow is a delicate, skilled craft — one that takes years to master. Around 180 individual strands of horsehair are carefully tied at each end using a traditional knot (a trade secret among bow makers), and held in place in the head and frog with fitted wooden wedges. At the frog, the hair is spread evenly with a special wedge and enclosed in a small metal ferrule.
A properly rehaired bow will have many aspects, some include:
- Even tension across the hair ribbon
- Straight hair, with no criss-crossing strands
- A slightly fuller amount of hair on the fingerboard side (a subtle but deliberate detail)
Where to Get Your Bow Rehaired in Brisbane
In recent years, several of Brisbane’s most experienced bow rehairers have retired or scaled back their work. So where can you go now? Thankfully, there are still a few trusted professionals around — including a few fresh faces!
Archetier ( Bow Maker)
- John Simmers
Violin Workshops
- Shannon Luk
- Ilya Grawert
- Olaf Grawert
- Cornel Palade
- Fiddler Dan (thats me )
Violin Shops
- Vivace Violins – Offers in-house bow rehair services (Jared / Adrian at time or writing).
- Animato Strings – Sends bows to a Queensland-based rehairer.(David H.?)
- Simply for Strings – Sends bows to a trusted technician in Sydney?
Retired or by referal (if you know them you might be lucky)
Helga Grawert
Mark Holt
Lance Scot
Trevor Liversidge (Archetier)
David Heckenberg
If your bow isn’t performing like it used to, or you’ve never had it rehaired, now’s a great time to show it some love. Whether you’re looking to rehair your favourite stick or upgrade to something better, Strings That Sing is here to help point you in the right direction.
Got questions about your bow or need a rehair? Get in touch with us — or come visit Fiddler Dan for a chat and a quote.