What kind of hair should I get?

Eli_Upright12 · #1 07-20-2008, 10:46 PM

So I'm just starting this poll, tell me what kind I should get no strings attached, no explanation needed, just tell me what kind you like best. Just for fun to see what happens.

David Potts · #2 07-21-2008, 06:23 AM

Isn't white hair just bleached other hair?

DP

sonix · #3 07-21-2008, 06:35 AM

i had ****** white hair on my first bow. i'm now using salt and pepper because i wanted a darker sound. I think my next rehair will be all black.

in reality, i think the quality of the hair matters more than the color. ask for samples,and feel for thickness / coarseness.

Eli_Upright12 · #4 07-21-2008, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Potts

Isn't white hair just bleached other hair?

DP

cheap stuff is, the good stuff is harvested white.

toman · #5 07-21-2008, 04:32 PM

The best stuff I've had is not really white, but more of a silver color; very fine and installed in a very thin, tight ribbon. That said, I think I'm going to look around for some good black hair, just for the heck of it. It seems burly and rough; maybe time for a change.

The one thing I don't like is a whole bunch of hair installed so it's all inconsistent with hairs to break all over the place.

Bob Branstetter · #6 07-22-2008, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eli_Upright12

cheap stuff is, the good stuff is harvested white.

Absolutely right. It's relatively easy to tell the difference. Bleached hair will be pure white end to end. Unbleached white hair will be slightly yellow at one end. The very best hair is sorted by hand for uniformity of size and texture. Only a small percentage of bow hair is hand sorted and it is considerably more expensive than ordinary hair. This is the kind of hair you will find in rehairs from the best bow shops.

JayR · #7 07-22-2008, 02:51 PM

I've been using salt and pepper hair with Brohan Oak medium rosin (with a swipe of soft when it's not so damn hot) for the last 6 months are so and I've been pretty happy with it. Black hair, in my experience, tends to goop up a little too easily (especially with pops. good god.), but of course that's a subjective claim and it may be all in my head.

Eli_Upright12 · #8 07-22-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayR

I've been using salt and pepper hair with Brohan Oak medium rosin (with a swipe of soft when it's not so damn hot) for the last 6 months are so and I've been pretty happy with it. Black hair, in my experience, tends to goop up a little too easily (especially with pops. good god.), but of course that's a subjective claim and it may be all in my head.

Yeah I had a talk with my teacher about it today then dropped it off, my options were just black or white, the rehairer runs a small business out of his garage, but does very good work. I ended up choosing white just because I already had black. Also it was only 45 dollars.

goodgig · #9 07-29-2008, 11:01 AM

My Prochownik has light brown/bone hair (natural) with a few darker hairs thrown in for good measure. The bow sounded fantastic sans rosin when I first picked it up - (or maybe the last one to audition the bow had found the holy grail brand of rosin?). I've never seen color used for bow hair before. Has anyone else?

Gary

Bass Barrister · #10 08-25-2008, 05:20 PM

I spent some time with Zdzislaw today in Chicago and asked him to look over a Prochownik bow that I just selected from a group sent me by George Vance. I was not real pleased with the hair on this bow, which had most likely been through several trials and voyages before I received it.

Zdzislaw, upon examining it, was also not pleased with the state of the hair and immediatley told me that he would send me a hank of new hair upon his return to Canada which I can then take to my rehair-er and have mounted. He says that he selects and processes his own hair, taken from horses near his home. It is that bone color which I also had not seen before.

You may want to e-mail and see if he would be able to supply your needs. He's very helpful.

jgbass · #11 08-26-2008, 10:54 AM

I have tried both the white and black, and salt and pepper. I tend to prefer the salt and pepper but have the white, or rather, off white on.

I am curious about the thickness or coarseness of the hair. What is ideal, and how does that affect the sound? I know my new rehair has less coarse hair and it sounds better.

Silversorcerer · #12 09-24-2008, 08:41 PM

Observations of pros in action: Recent ASO concert with 7 basses. 3 were using black hair, one using salt & pepper, 3 using white.

Principal Ralph Jones uses black. I prefer the black.

pao_bass · #13 11-10-2008, 06:38 AM

I would go for unbleached white if were to choose one. If you're doing a lot of orchestral work, maybe I would recommend trying black or salt and pepper

Joe Ergle · #14 11-10-2008, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonix

in reality, i think the quality of the hair matters more than the color. ask for samples,and feel for thickness / coarseness.

+++++++++++++

Good black hair beats bad white hair, and good white hair beats bad black hair. It's a simple concept really. When you get your bow rehaired, ask the luthier to put the best hair he currently has on it. If he says it's all good stuff, THEN you get to pick which color it is.

Chris Hodges · #15 11-11-2008, 10:29 AM

I was at a master class yesterday and the host bassist, Dr. Sergio Acerb, uses black.

Isn't natural white hair more coarse than black?

Rodger Bryan · #16 11-17-2008, 08:09 PM

My order of preference:
1. Mongolian unbleached
2. live Stallion- most expensive
3. mixed or salt & pepper
4. black

I also learned from a bow rehairing workshop that some black hair is dyed. I wonder about the longevity of the dyed stuff. I think the only way to tell would be to swab a hair with alcohol and see if anything rubs off...

The Mongolian is my favorite for the $, but I like the longevity/elasticity of the live Stallion.