Are violin bows really made with horsehair?
Yes. The hair on violin bows – and viola, cello, and double bass bows – comes from the tail of a horse. But, it’s replaced every few months or so, and it’s not the most important – or most valuable – part of the bow. The stick is what really counts, its weight, balance, strength, flexibility, and responsiveness, all of which are determined by the quality of the wood and the artistry of the bow maker, and all of which in turn determine what quality of sound the bow will draw from an instrument. The sticks of all fine bows are made from one kind of wood, a brazilwood called Pernambuco, which is the name of its region of origin in Brazil. It is an extremely strong and dense wood, so dense that it does not float. An interesting note: the country, Brazil, got its name from the wood, and not the other way around.
