Apply rosin on my new hair

Rem's · #1 10-10-2007, 01:26 PM

Hello !
I'm new on this forum ! I'm French

, and I don't speak English very well…sorry.
Nevertheless, I have a question. I've rehaired my bow and bought a fresh Pops rosin, and I'd like to know how to apply Pops for first time on my new hair. Is it better to apply it gradually : 2 or 3 swipes, then I play a few minutes, 2 or 3 swipes again, play a few minutes etc. until I obtain a good grab ; or is it better to apply more rosin at first (how much in this case ?). Someone told me that too much fresh Pops rosin at the same time can melt and damage my hair.
In a word, can you give me some instructions, a methodology ? I would be grateful !

Thank you.

MingusAmongUs · #2 10-10-2007, 03:26 PM

Your English sounds fine to me, but then I'm an American -- our English is pretty poor too!

By most accounts, 2 or 3 swipes is all you should need at any time. Any more than that and it will gum up your hair. Maybe, as you say, you'll need to apply it more frequently at first, but less is always more with Pops. If and only IF you're having trouble getting a good grab, then apply another swipe or two.

shostkontrabass · #3 10-10-2007, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MingusAmongUs

By most accounts, 2 or 3 swipes is all you should need at any time. Any more than that and it will gum up your hair. Maybe, as you say, you'll need to apply it more frequently at first, but less is always more with Pops. If and only IF you're having trouble getting a good grab, then apply another swipe or two.

I completely agree. You can always add more rosin, but it'll take some time to work off any excess. I put on 3 swipes when I got my bow rehaired last month and it was just fine.

Rem's · #4 10-10-2007, 11:41 PM

Ok ! Thank you !

toman · #5 10-11-2007, 01:42 AM

My luthier rosins up new hair with some kind of light rosin before I pick it up, so aside from some more frequent applications for a few days, it's no big deal.

ClassicalBass · #6 10-11-2007, 12:29 PM

Pop's is extremely sticky rosin. If your looking for something with good grab, but with a softer tone, I'd recommend Carlson's.

In any case, I'll mirror the others in saying that you definitely shouldn't swipe more than 3 times with Pop's.

Jordi Carrasco · #7 10-17-2007, 02:47 PM

I use to use it like normally. When you need more rosin, apply more rosin. it will take some time before you really have rosin in the bowhair.

Pops is a very good rosin if u use it properly. It is stick but, still its what the pro:s uses.

Rem's · #8 10-20-2007, 01:20 AM

Thank you very much !

Bassist4life89 · #9 10-22-2007, 09:00 AM

To all bassists, i suggest, if the guy who rehairs your bow doesn't do it, to powder rosin your bow. To do this you grind up some cello rosin, preferably Hill Cello Rosin. Then get a clean rag and get some powder on the rag and run the rag along the bow. this will give you a good rosin base on the bow. this rosin also makes it easier for your new rosin to stick to the bow. THIS IS NOT A REPLACEMENT FOR ROSINING YOUR BOW!!! this just helps you out

toman · #10 10-22-2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordi Carrasco

\

Pops is a very good rosin if u use it properly. It is stick but, still its what the pro:s uses.

I'm not a pro, but I have spent a good deal of time with guys who earn their beans playing bass, and they don't swipe pop's. Maybe if you're talking bluegrass or something, but... In my experience, Pop's is simply a mess.

Silversorcerer · #11 10-22-2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

I'm not a pro, but I have spent a good deal of time with guys who earn their beans playing bass, and they don't swipe pop's. Maybe if you're talking bluegrass or something, but... In my experience, Pop's is simply a mess.

I used Pops exclusively for quite a long time. It was recommended by my teacher, who is a classically trained orchestra instructor. It was also recommended by the string shop which is operated by a former school music director.

There are some situations where I think it is nearly indispensable. Like for instance a cool evening outdoor performance where most of the playing is pizz, but you have to interject a bowed solo. That's when I'm going to swipe some Pops on there. It will not be as smooth as the Oak I prefer, but the first note of the solo is going to start instead of slip or scratch.

Another time when I swipe some Pops on there is when I have new bow hair.

Of course there is the other common meaning of swipe that we need to clarify: Somebody swiped my Pops!

No, respectable pros don't swipe anyone's Pops, they swipe their own Pops or borrow some from the guys that remembered to bring it along.

Recalling a recent outdoor festival where there were three of us DB players getting ready to play and only one of us had Pops, the other two were like, "Hey, can I get a swipe off of that?" It was one of those coolish, misty kind of days when "experienced" professional performers know that something else might skid without making a sound. We were all playing different stuff;- folk, rock, jazz.

A small point to me but perhaps something to consider is that the above quoted post seems to indicate ("...Maybe if you are talking blue grass or something....") that arco in this genre is somehow different from arco in another genre regarding the rosin or the professionals working in this genre?

Perhaps you'd like to elaborate on that part of your post? Maybe not?

ClassicalBass · #12 10-22-2007, 02:18 PM

The rosin you use also varies based on climate. Pops becomes ridiculously sticky in the summer here (I live in Vegas), and it becomes difficult (for me) to get a clean, non-scratchy sound during that time. During the winter, however, it breaks down, requiring twice as many swipes as before. I prefer a rosin which sounds good all of the time, and is always reliable for the same quality of sound.

I switched to Carlson's, and haven't had that problem. So what if pros use Pops? Not all of them do, I assure you. And when I become a pro, you can add one more to that list. Just because "the pros do it" doesn't make it the only choice.

toman · #13 10-22-2007, 07:06 PM

On my bluegrass comment; I just meant that I know nothing about it and that some other rosin might be appropriate. I'm not bashing Pop's or trying to turn anyone off from it, just saying that in my experience it's like a big blob of mutant goop. But, mutant goop probably has its uses!

Silversorcerer · #14 10-26-2007, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toman

I'm not bashing Pop's or trying to turn anyone off from it, just saying that in my experience it's like a big blob of mutant goop. But, mutant goop probably has its uses!

Thanks for the clarification .....

Rem's · #15 10-27-2007, 03:32 AM

OK, ClassicalBass, I will try Carlsson ! Thank you !