Can You Rehair a Production Violin, Viola, Cello, or Bass Bow?

If you play violin, viola, cello, or bass, you’ll eventually need to rehair your bow — but not every bow is actually built to make that process easy. Here’s what rehairing involves, why some production bows cause problems for rehairing specialists, and how to choose a bow that will hold up for years of maintenance ahead.

What Does It Mean to Rehair a Bow?

Rehairing is the routine process of replacing the horsehair strung between a bow’s frog and tip, and it’s a standard part of owning any violin, viola, cello, or bass bow. Regular players typically need a rehair every six months to a year, depending on how often the bow is played and how the hair holds up over time.

Why Some Production Bows Are Difficult to Rehair

Rehairing sounds simple, but it depends entirely on how a bow was built in the first place. Many economical, mass-produced bows are manufactured without rehairing or long-term maintenance in mind. Common design shortcuts include round-cornered machined mortises in awkward placements, rails that extend all the way to the ferrule and block a proper spreader wedge fit, and tip mortises that leave too little room for a secure hairknot and a well-made plug. These flaws can make a normal rehair extremely time-consuming, which drives up the cost and, in many violin shops without a dedicated rehair specialist, pushes otherwise usable bows into the “bow graveyard” — or the trash.

What Makes a Bow Truly Rehairable by Design

A genuinely rehairable bow is engineered with its hidden, unseen areas in mind: inside the frog, the head, and underneath the ferrule. When those areas are shaped correctly, a rehair specialist can achieve a clean spreader wedge fit and has enough room for a proper hairknot and plug, regardless of where the work is done. That kind of thoughtful construction is what allows a violin, viola, cello, or bass bow to withstand years, or even decades, of routine maintenance without shortcuts.

How We Choose Rehairable Violin, Viola, Cello & Bass Bows

Our bow specialists at Liebhaber & Company, Abe and Jasmin, select only bows built by sustainability-minded manufacturers who design specifically for rehairability. Simplifying that decision for our clients was actually one of the main reasons this business exists: we don’t treat bows as disposable, and every bow we sell is chosen because it can withstand the demands of heavy use and still come out of a rehair in great condition.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bow Rehairing

Can any violin, viola, cello, or bass bow be rehaired?

Technically, most bows can have new hair installed, but not all of them can be rehaired properly. Bows with poorly designed mortises or ferrule areas can make the process so difficult and costly that many shops and players end up avoiding it altogether. Many imported production bows are not made with rehair in mind and have glued pearl slides, ferrules, and plugs. These can lead to damage when being removed for regular maintenance or rehair, and require the skill of an experienced rehair specialist for successful rehair outcomes.

How often should I rehair my bow?

Most regularly played violin, viola, cello, and bass bows need a rehair roughly every six months to a year, though this varies based on playing frequency, hair quality, and climate. We recommend that our clients only rehair when necessary and not on a set schedule.

Why do some production bows end up discarded instead of rehaired?

When a bow’s frog, head, or ferrule area is machined without maintenance in mind, the labor required for a proper rehair can become cost-prohibitive, especially for shops without a specialized rehair technician on staff.

What should I look for when buying a bow that will be easy to rehair later?

Look for bows from manufacturers known for maintenance-friendly construction, particularly well-designed mortises and ferrule areas, rather than choosing based on price alone.

Does rehairing work the same way for violin, viola, cello, and bass bows?

The core process is similar across all four, though bass bows in particular require proportionally more hair and slightly different frog and mortise considerations given their size.

A bow that’s difficult to rehair will cost you time and money for as long as you own it. Browse our selection of violin, viola, cello, and bass bows chosen specifically for long-term, hassle-free rehairing.