off shoot from Dead Bow

[ClassicalBassNY]

I have heard that the oil on fingers not being good for a bow are a myth. I have been told by luthier's it is fine to touch the hair. This makes sense to me, based on my understand of the microscopic hooks on hair and the function of rosin. Does the oil on the hands ruin the hooks? Or then what is the logic behind how oil from the skin can wreck the hair?

[Andrew McGregor]

Getting rosin on your fingers and then playing can wreck your fingers :-)

The oil changes the grip and texture of the rosin, so you get slippery spots. It doesn't last long, but it's annoying while it does.

[JtheJazzMan]

Go with the Keep It Simple method: Hair -> Rosin -> String

Anything else is an extra variable and a contaminant.

[ClassicalBassNY]

Originally Posted by JtheJazzMan

Go with the Keep It Simple method: Hair -> Rosin -> String

Anything else is an extra variable and a contaminant.

I'm not saying I think we should all touch our bow hair, I think its played up like doom ensues if you touch it, I want to know how much truth behind that. Is it even harmful to the least? Something another swipe on the keg wont fix?

On the same topic, I comb mine out with a toothbrush, just once in a while. Any one else do any hair maintenance stuff like that?

[JtheJazzMan]

Yeh I use a toothbrush sometimes just to keep the hairs roughed up and even.

And no, oils wouldnt damage the hair, in fact they should keep the hairs in good condition, like leather. But not good condition to be used as a bow, thats all.

[ClassicalBassNY]

I feel there is no real down fall to touching the hair, I could sound like a total amateur, but I'm not I touch my hair all the time and the bow has no "dead spots" where I touch, I kind of like rough up the hair with my thumb to keep the strands from getting stuck together with rosin.

[Andrew McGregor]

You can do that... just run your finger over the BACK of the hair, that way there's no oil on the playing surface, and you get less rosin on your hand.

[Fletcher Lanning]

When I asked a luthier about this he told me that touching the hair will not immediately ruin it. What you are trying to avoid is saturating the hair with oil and salt from your hands. The hair on your bow is slightly rough and dry. The rosin sticks in these microscopic nooks and crannies to grip the string.

Imagine its like one of the shampoo commercials with a closeup of the damaged hair being renewed by the essential oils in the conditioner. In sufficient amounts, the oil from your skin can saturate and smooth out the roughness of the hair leaving you with the 'dead spots' that can't grip the string.

[movado1]

Go with the Keep It Simple method: Hair -> Rosin -> String

Anything else is an extra variable and a contaminant.

I agree with the opinion.