After every practice session is it best to slacken the bow hair? If you do more than one practice session a day is it wise to keep up the tension of the hair until the end of the day? Would you keep up the tension for more than one day? Your thoughts appreciated on this most welcome. Thanks.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Double Bass The Bow--hair tension
- Thread starter gypsydjango
- Start date
Every single player I have worked with takes tension off even for 10 minute breaks in rehersal.
- Jan 24, 2002
- 2,117
- 950
- Disclosures
- NS Design / AER Endorsing Artist
That’s standard practice, yes. Leaving full tension on the bow can warp the stick over time, and wears out the hair faster.
I don’t completely loosen my bow, normally. I leave just enough tension for the hair to stay in a band, but loose enough that the stick is under no pressure. I’d been told by a bowmaker that was better for the hair. I couldn’t say if that’s even true, but it’s what I do.
I take Paul's approach. If the hairs are left loose and floppy they are more affected by humidity and temperature, and may not re-form an even ribbon when again fully tensioned. If you are using a very hard powdery rosin it sometimes helps remove the rosin dust by letting tension down to floppy and making "samurai swishes" but always come back to a ribbon. I always tension down and up again about the same number of turns before fine tuning for clean note starts.
What about cheaper carbon bows - do they warp in the same way if left under tension? Is anyone in the practice of leaving their bow under (full) tension all the time? (I'm asking for a lazy bass player friend who is definitely not me...)
The carbon Fiber should be fine because the curve is it’s natural state to which it will return, with wood straight is it’s natural state and the curve is heated into it. Should be…although maybe being constantly under stress may cause the carbon fiber to stress crack or something, I don’t know enough about the material honestly, However!!!! The hair will still be under constant tension which, as mentioned above, is not good for the hair and will lead to premature wear and tear and stretching.
it’s only like 5 turns of the button..,just take care of your stuff man.
Last edited:
I know, right? Sometimes I have to fit my practice time in little 5 minute intervals that are often abruptly interrupted with (very) minor kid “emergencies” and I often forget, though. I am a tad OCD and like to keep stuff simple and maintenance-free when possible and would much rather play on a lower quality bow I don’t have to worry about futzing with or wearing out than stress about f’n up my nicer wood joker.
I get that, Fatherhood is full of interesting compromises, and often what’s ideal isn’t what’s practical. For what it’s worth I have a Fiddlerman carbon fiber bow, I think it was $130, and I think it’s an excellent bow for the money the weight, balance, and camber are all very good. It pulls a good sound out of my trash bass. If it makes the difference between practicing or not I wouldn’t worry about leaving that particular bow under tension for a while, I would just expect to rehair it sooner than normal. I think that’s a small price to pay for being able to squeeze in maximum practice time. And if it cracks you’re not out a whole lot. My only caution would be as the hair stretches it is possible to crack the end of the stick by tightening it too much. So just be cautious when you are getting near bottoming it out. Perhaps when you do take it for a rehair explain your situation to the luthier and maybe they could rehair it just a touch shorter than normal so you could maybe get a little extra life out of it. I don’t honestly know if that’s possible or if it works that way, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask.
Last edited:
