NATHANIEL FARNY
BOW REPAIR &
RESTORATION
Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass
Bringing a musician's subtlety, touch, and meticulously trained ear to the care of your bow.
NATHANIEL FARNY
Boston, Massachusetts
I studied bow making in the French tradition for five years with Lynn Hannings and George Rubino and completed intensive training in bow repair and restoration at the New Hampshire Violin Craftsmanship Institute. Yearly, I attend the yearly Restoration Workshop at the American Lutherie Institute in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. My shop is located in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.
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As a violinist and violist, I bring a musician’s experience to the care of each bow. The opportunity to assess weight, balance and handling allows me to evaluate completed adjustments and repairs.
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A bow should be an extension of the player; active, responsive and alive in the hand.
BOW SERVICES & REPAIR
REPAIRS
Additional repair services are available, including new tips, windings, eyelets, pearl slides and pearl eyes. Cambering and stick straightening are important options for bows that have lost their spring or have become warped over time. To restore the optimal curve, I carefully heat up the stick and bend it to the ideal shape so that the bow feels active and engaged from the tip to the frog. If your bow feels "squirrelly" or has dead zones where you have to work hard to get the sound to spin, your bow may benefit from some cambering or straightening.
Please contact me to discuss a specific repair.
MAINTENANCE
It is recommended bows be rehaired annually - more frequently with heavy use. When you find yourself having to apply rosin daily and have difficulty getting a clear sound in soft dynamics, it's probably time for new hair. My shop offers rehair services for violin, viola, cello and bass bows, as well as thumb leather replacement, tip repairs and windings.
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Where does the hair come from, and what types of hair are available?
I use only the finest hand-selected stallion horse hair. Horse hair for stringed instruments mostly comes from cold weather climates, where the hair is thicker and stronger, like Mongolia, Siberia, and Canada. Options for hair include white, black, salt and pepper, and chestnut hair. The difference between these is coarseness and strength. Rehaired bows are rosined with very pure powdered starter rosin (unless requested unrosined).
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How long does a rehair take, and what is the cost?
The turnaround time for a standard rehair is 48 hours, and the cost for violin, viola, and cello is $90. For bass the cost of $100. If you need expedited service, I offer same day rehairs for an additional $20 ($110 for violin/viola/cello and $120 for bass).
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Where is the drop-off location and how do I schedule it?
The location for drop-offs is in West Roxbury. Parking is available. To schedule an appointment , fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page.
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Besides a rehair, what else should I be doing with my bow to keep it in good shape?
It is important to keep an eye on the thumb leather, a strip of black leather just above the frog. When this wears away to the stick, it is time to replace it to protect the wood beneath from wear. Thumb leather replacement service is available with a choice of fine leathers, from goat (soft) to kangaroo (thicker, typical for bass) to lizard (thin, durable, and textured).
BOW SALES
My shop provides a selection of reasonably priced, good quality bows suitable to students and professional players of all levels.
Inquiries from teachers are welcome.
