Well, after 8 months of joyful noisemaking (true... just ask my wife), I have my first (and surely not last) dumb question:

Every time I'm done playing, I loosen the hair on my bow. I try to do it pretty religiously -- but is that necessary? Will hair (it's white horsehair on my R.A. Meinel French bow) stretch out if I forget and leave the bow at tension overnight?

Also, when should I rehair this sucker?

thanks for any learned (or any smart-ass) replies :)

-a

I'll give a shot of smart-ass answer:

I think that the hair stretching is not as much of a concern as the bow loosing it's camber. It won't happen overnite, but a bow will keep its elastic qualities for a longer period if you loosen the hair when you're done playing. I still do it (religiously, I guess) with my carbon fiber bow although it is supposed to hold its shape forever...

Thanks, Olivier... I hadn't thought about the wood losing its "bounce" but I suppose that's a greater concern than the hair stretching.

Thanks!

-a

You're welcome.

Now, you can rehair whenever you feel like it. No particular rule, and YMMV, as it is said in the Yoo-Ess-uv-Ay.
Take it easy,
O

Added in proof: Sounds like the dumb-ass side of the reply. Maybe I should rehair...

My orchestra mentor told me to rehair when the hair doesn't hold the rosin as well. If you find yourself needing more rosin than usual, it's time. He suggested rehairing every year or year and a half if you're playing arco a lot. (I know you play jazz).