The horsehair is the only part of the bow that is usually replaceable, and so it is considered a consumable item. Nevertheless, it is a vital determinant of the performance of the bow, so please be careful when replacing the horsehair.

Many people wrongly believe that a relatively large amount of horsehair should be used. But too much horsehair blurs the performance of the bow. Too much horsehair is like too much fat; it dulls the responsiveness of the bow. You may find that the sound becomes leaner as the amount of horsehair is reduced. Only then will you begin to notice the resonance of the stick (woody sound) in the sound produced by the instrument. You will also become more distinctively aware of the unique character of your bow. Conversely, too much horsehair masks the unique character of the bow.
Ideally, the right quantity is a single line of hairs, but in practice it could be 10% or 20% more. If you find that your bow has too much horsehair, you are strongly advised to make it slimmer by removing the extra hair. As an additional benefit, the bow will become lighter, allowing you to move it with less effort and more responsiveness.

The quality of horsehair is determined by what the horse was fed. Horsehair from horses grown for their meat (which has to be soft) has the best quality for bows. Such horsehair combines appropriate elasticity and strength. Compared with horsehair from grazing horses fed on grass, horsehair from meat horses delivers distinctively better performance by several ranks. Such horsehair is costly, but we prefer to use it.
When replacing the horsehair, you should not to make your decision solely on the basis of cost. Using horsehair of better quality will surely raise the performance of your bow.
Remember that you should loosen the horsehair every time after using the bow.

The frog is installed to the stick at a position close to the grip. It has a screw mechanism so that it can slide back and forth. The frog holds one end of the horsehair while the head of the stick holds the other end. Turning the screw in the frog adjusts the tension of the horsehair stretched along the stick. It is called a frog because of its appearance.
Plastic frog➡Our popular bow products use a plastic frog. Since plastic is lightweight and strong, a plastic frog is unlikely to be damaged seriously if the bow is accidentally dropped on the floor, making it ideal for beginners.
Ebony frog➡Ebony is the traditional material preferred for the frog because of its excellent strength, weight and sweat absorption characteristics. However, an ebony frog needs careful handling because, being made of wood, it is vulnerable to chipping at the corners. All our middle and high-end products come with an ebony frog.
Shape of the frog on a viola bow➡Our viola bows usually come with a rectangular frog. Upon request, however, a viola bow can be made with a round ebony frog.

After use, let's be sure to loosen the "Horse hair".

We offer bass bows in two styles: German and French. Compared with a French style bow, a German style bow has a longer stick with a slightly smaller head. The frog shape is distinctively different between the German and French styles. The way the player holds the bow is also different between the two. With a German style bow, the player holds the frog by applying his/her hand from below. Conversely, with a French style bow, the player applies his/her hand from above, like with a cello. In Japan, most players prefer the German style even though a growing number of players have begun to show interest in the French style.

We currently use the following two wood materials:

Officially known as Macaranduba, this is a brand of wood from the Amazon region in Brazil. It has long been recognized as a preferred material for popular bow products.

This also comes from Brazil but not from the Amazon region; it is a rare type of wood from a mountainous region closer to the Atlantic Ocean (State of Phernambuco). Today, its export and import are banned by the Washington Convention. The large amount of sap in the wood is thought to contribute to the performance of the bow as a musical instrument (resonance, etc.). As the ultimate bow material, we use Phernambuco in all our high-end products. From these materials, we choose and use only those that are suitable for bows in terms of characteristics such as weight and strength.

The white piece stuck to the head is called the tip. The tip is indispensable to protect the head, which is a delicate part of the bow, and to hold one end of the hair by a wedge. It is also an important decoration that adds beauty to the head. The best material is ivory, since it offers the best hardness and tenacity. Today, however, due to legal restrictions, we must look for alternatives. With the help of a major material manufacturer for our products, we have developed and now use an artificial material comparable with ivory in terms of hardness, tenacity, texture, etc.

I continue to believe in the excellence of natural wood.
Recently, we have begun to see some bow products in the market that use carbon graphite or fiberglass as the stick material. Such new materials try to simulate or surpass wood in terms of various physical characteristics. Still, I believe that some irregularities inherent to wood, such as knots and strains, have a positive influence in the world of music. For example, can we digitally reconstruct the sound of a violin?
Wood has a grain pattern characterized by alternating long and short internal sections, the long ones arising from the fast-growing tree in summer and the short ones from the slow-growing tree in winter, naturally forming an excellent laminated composite structure. This contributes greatly to the sound quality. Of course, some people may be concerned about the negative effects of irregularities inherent to natural wood. However, the careful selection through our production system using sophisticated machinery eliminates poor materials and ensures a stable supply of excellent materials.
With ample stocks of raw timber, we allow enough time for natural seasoning, then lavishly use only the finest materials.
SUGITO BOW believes in the excellence of natural wood.

Our viola bows usually come with a rectangular frog.
Upon request, however, a viola bow can be made with a round ebony frog.

Do you know Pherna-chan?
On the carrying case of each of our high-grade bows for children using Phernambuco as the best stick material, you will find a sticker with the illustration of a girl playing a violin.
She clearly enjoys practicing, and she's called Pherna-chan.
We manufacture many types of bow using Phernambuco as the stick material specially designed for use by children.
Phernambuco is the ideal material for bows preferred by professional players. In the hope that children will become accustomed to playing instruments with authentic sound quality by using Phernambuco from childhood, we created Pherna-chan, a mascot associated with these products of ours.
She has been with us since around 1985 as our unique mascot, and she's become so popular that many teachers refer to her when ordering a bow: “I'd like to order one Pherna-chan.” We want people to experience the true excellence of bows from childhood when their sensitivities are the keenest.
Upon switching to a Phernambuco bow, you will immediately notice the difference in sound quality.
The lineup starts from Violin Bow No. 300 (4/4 to 1/16), priced at 32,400 yen (including tax)!
If you would like a sticker too, please state so when returning the questionnaire. →Contact us

In short, the excellence of a bow does not depend on this. Masterpiece bows can be found among round bows as well as rectangular bows; it is simply a matter of personal preference. Most of our bows are round. However, Violin Bows MIII and MIV are available as rectangular (octagonal) bows as well. Sensitive Series bows can also be made octagonal upon request. Please consult us.

A wrapping is provided around the grip of the bow and above the frog. At the place of contact between the player’s hand and the stick, the wrapping determines the feeling of touch. It may also play a role in adjusting the weight and balance of the bow.

Silver threads are woven into silk threads. The material is lightweight. Combining the soft touch of threads with the toughness of silver, the wrapping provides a good grip for the hand holding the bow.

Pure silver wire, 0.3mm in diameter, is used. This is the standard wrapping material.

The wrapping is produced by alternating black and white threads. In spite of being an imitation, the texture is like real baleen. This is a lightweight material.

Silk thread wrapping is bright in color, adding a sense of class to the bow.

※Other There are a variety of color and design also .