After a long week at school I chose to unwind by rehairing some bows. The quiet, the unique nature of each bow, and the possibilities each piece of musical materiel I return to service fuel my passion for repair.
I started by choosing some viola bows unmarked by brand or maker but of sturdy student quality. I thought they would be great to keep around my classroom for demonstration purposes or, more usefully, as spares when a student bow fails. However, I quickly realized why the hairs were so old on the ones I’d chosen to return to service…the bows were never meant to be rehaired in the first place.
This collection of bows once accompanied low quality student instruments that had been purchased online then donated to my program after the student quit (no wonder). The price point of these instruments makes it so the instrument and bow are barely functional, frustrating to use, and not meant for longevity. As an orchestra director, you quickly realize it’s always a good idea to have some extra instruments and bows in your fleet in the event of damage, need, or a newly-enrolled student who needs to start playing yesterday.
After detaching the frog I discovered the slide was just decoration and cracking it open revealed the remaining hair and plug. Furthermore, both the frog and tip plugs appeared super-glued! I would resign myself to the inevitability of throwing the sticks away as they are useless without functional frogs.
After realizing my viola bow rehairs will go nowhere that night, I moved on to a lonely 1/2 size cello bow. Lovely bow in need of rehair and deep cleaning, but otherwise healthy. After cleaning then polishing, I trimmed the hair from the student-grade hank I keep on hand and tied one end with care.
The original tip plug was a bit gluey and hardened with age but, most disappointingly, was a bit loose. I cut a new plug which takes great time and attention, not only to get the angles right but to get every part of the plug to match the mortise. My new plug, alas, was also eventually a bit loose. Both plugs went in my ziplock bag of “didn’t fit but might fit something else” plugs.
So, the journey continues. Correctly diagnosing the problem, finding the least invasive solution, and completing the job, all the while reducing the time from start to finish is what I consider time well spent. Time to brew a fresh cup of tea and try again.
“Without craftsmanship, inspiration is a mere reed shaken in the wind.” – Johannes Brahms