Pepper hair problems (?)

[So Low Bass]

I just had my bow rehaired, for the first time with pepper hair. I rarely rehair a bow, so have little experience breaking new hair in.

I'm having.... a different experience with response. The sound- when I get it- IS more edgy and "high" sounding- great! But overall, the bow is less responsive and harder to grab the fundamental of each note, like I need rosin, but I don't for sure.

Is pepper brighter but less grabby? Should I just wait until it "plays itself in"

[Eli_Upright12]

Originally Posted by So Low Bass

I just had my bow rehaired, for the first time with pepper hair. I rarely rehair a bow, so have little experience breaking new hair in.

I'm having.... a different experience with response. The sound- when I get it- IS more edgy and "high" sounding- great! But overall, the bow is less responsive and harder to grab the fundamental of each note, like I need rosin, but I don't for sure.

Is pepper brighter but less grabby? Should I just wait until it "plays itself in"

You probably need more rosin. What kind are you using? Often the hair doesnt start to hold rosin until there is a lot of it in there. I know when I rehaired I started with a more powdery rosin and working gradually towards a stickier rosin like Kolsteins. I think that might of helped, but I dont have any reason to back that method.

[St-Teddy-Hall]

Continue using a liberal amount of rosin for the next week or so. The combination of black/white hair is interesting because each type responds differently to rosin. This may be why you're having some difficulties. It will break in soon though, do not despair !

[Eric Rene Roy]

Originally Posted by So Low Bass

I just had my bow rehaired, for the first time with pepper hair. I rarely rehair a bow, so have little experience breaking new hair in.

I'm having.... a different experience with response. The sound- when I get it- IS more edgy and "high" sounding- great! But overall, the bow is less responsive and harder to grab the fundamental of each note, like I need rosin, but I don't for sure.

Is pepper brighter but less grabby? Should I just wait until it "plays itself in"

Looking through old posts and saw this. It's been a few weeks for you and your bow now...how's the progress?

[AndreyR]

I had the same thing a few month ago. Just practice everyday, and rosin the bow - 3-5 strokes up and 3-5 strokes down on the cake. Don't overrosin, especially with kolstein's - the rosin is so sticky it will make you use more force, and eventually your hand gets cramped. It took me about 2 weeks to get the sound out of the salt and pepper hair.