Good starter rosin?

Blacksheep · #1 09-22-2007, 09:39 AM

What would be the best rosin for a beginner?

Hemispheres85 · #2 09-22-2007, 09:41 AM

I'm no expert, but I don't think there are rosins meant for specific playing levels.

Just pick up some Pops rosin and you'll be set, it's great stuff.

bassist1962 · #3 09-22-2007, 10:59 AM

I started playing again after 25 years since high school. I ordered some Pop's upon a recomendation, and it has worked well so far.

Blacksheep · #4 09-22-2007, 12:13 PM

any videos or pictures and text describing how to properly apply it?

Hemispheres85 · #5 09-22-2007, 01:03 PM

with your bow tightened, take the red top of the rosin and run it, fast at first then a bit slower, up and down the length of the bow. Do this maybe 5 times back and forth and you'll be set.

dchan · #6 09-22-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemispheres85

with your bow tightened, take the red top of the rosin and run it, fast at first then a bit slower, up and down the length of the bow. Do this maybe 5 times back and forth and you'll be set.

As far as I know, that's the wrong way to apply rosin on bass bows. You run it back and forth on violin, viola, and cello bows, but not bass bows. Not sure why, but bassists just don't apply rosin like that.

You apply rosin on bass bows in quick strokes going only from the frog to the tip. Just do this a couple of times. Never apply from tip to frog.

But from my experience, you should always play using the bow before putting on any rosin. The bow hair will warm up and you'll see that you will be getting more grip as you play longer. Then you can apply rosin as you see fit.

dchan · #7 09-22-2007, 01:19 PM

Ah yes.

And I would suggest Kolstein Soft rosin for the beginners over Pops. Nice and grippy, and not too expensive. And unlike Pops, which is a great rosin when fresh, it will not turn into a hard useless rock after a year or so. Plus, it is only about $10 or so, which is not much more expensive than Pops is.

But in warm climates, it will turn to goop very easily. Always store it in the refrigerator when not in use.

Hemispheres85 · #8 09-22-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchan

As far as I know, that's the wrong way to apply rosin on bass bows. You run it back and forth on violin, viola, and cello bows, but not bass bows. Not sure why, but bassists just don't apply rosin like that.

You apply rosin on bass bows in quick strokes going only from the frog to the tip. Just do this a couple of times. Never apply from tip to frog.

You misinterpreted me. I don't see anything in my post that suggests where to start applying the rosin. Personally, I start from the frog.

reedo35 · #9 09-22-2007, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemispheres85

with your bow tightened, take the red top of the rosin and run it, fast at first then a bit slower, up and down the length of the bow.

This is what you posted. I can see how it could easily be inerpreted as moving the rosin in both directions.

DocBop · #10 09-22-2007, 04:31 PM

My rookie POV

When I brought my bass the store forgot to throw the rosin in the bass of stuff they were giving me. I won't be able to get to the store again for a couple weeks so I bought some Carlsson's from a local music store. When I was able to get back the where I bought the bass they gave me some Pop's. I was using the Pop's and it worked good sometimes a little too good and got real sticky, but summer was blazing and the Pop's was real soft. I switched over to the Carlsson's and using it mainly right now. A little harder but seems to have right amount of grip. Carlsson's also doesn't seem to build up as much on the strings.

Eli_Upright12 · #11 09-22-2007, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dchan

Ah yes.

And I would suggest Kolstein Soft rosin for the beginners over Pops. Nice and grippy, and not too expensive. And unlike Pops, which is a great rosin when fresh, it will not turn into a hard useless rock after a year or so. Plus, it is only about $10 or so, which is not much more expensive than Pops is.

But in warm climates, it will turn to goop very easily. Always store it in the refrigerator when not in use.

I completely agree, I started on it after palying about 6 months on Pops and I noticed immediately (almost as by magic) I got a nice full tone, with little effort, this helped me develop a nice relaxed bow stroke. Also Poop, I mean Pops (just playin) makes a lot of rosin dust and that seems to contribute to squeeks and ugly noises which can be discouraging for beginners.

shostkontrabass · #12 09-22-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blacksheep

any videos or pictures and text describing how to properly apply it?

Tighten the bow and start at the frog. When you are rosining, move the bow, not the rosin, and put enough pressure to get some rosin on the hair, but not so much that it sticks and bounces. This causes uneven amounts of rosin which leads to an uneven tone. Generally, if you're getting a squeaky sound when rosining, you need a bit more pressure (more rosin). ALWAYS go down, never back and forth.

Oh, and try to always rosin on a nice flat part of the rosin cake so it is applied evenly along the width of the hair. I always keep my rosin upside-down so when it runs it will flatten against the lid, leaving a nice, flat place to rosin the bow.

Blacksheep · #13 09-22-2007, 11:30 PM

What about Jade solo?

Bobby King · #14 09-23-2007, 12:43 AM

Sometimes Pops can be a little too grippy. I liked Pops when I was using Superflexibles but I currently have an Olive/Eudoxa combo on my bass and I'm preferring Nyman Swedish Bass Rosin. It's a little harder than Pops and I like the sound I get with it better.

bassist1962 · #15 09-23-2007, 05:21 AM

Carlsson's/Nyman's is another good choice, although I have no personal experience with it. If you can afford it Quinn Violins offers a sampler pack.

$39.54 Bass Rosin Sampler Pack. Includes one each of Kolstein, Pop's, Carlsson, Petz, Royal Oak.

This may be a good way to determin what works for you and what doesn't. Many players use different rosins for climate, bow, bass, string, and many other changes.

Bassist4Life · #16 09-23-2007, 07:49 AM

Pete G · #17 09-23-2007, 08:30 AM

There's no such thing as "beginner's rosin," or a "beginner's bow," for that matter.

Pop's is fine (though it depends a bit on your strings), but apply it sparingly. Someone suggested five swipes -- far too much, in my opinion. I'd suggest no more than two. Habitual over-rosining with Pop's will put a horrid glaze of gunk on the bow, making it unusable without some time consuming or expensive remedial steps.

My teacher recommends the following: Run the bow across the cake of Pop's, but do it quickly -- what you're trying to accomplish is to actually melt some of the rosin into the bow hair.

If you have conventional, thin metal strings (Helicore, Flexocor, Permanents, Bel Cantos, and the like), Pop's should work just fine. But if you've got somewhat thicker, synthetic core strings (Velvet Compass, Evah Pirazzi), and perhaps also gut strings (with which I have no recent experience) you may find that a less sticky rosin, like Oak (Medium or Hard) or Carlson's) works better.

Good luck, and let us know how it works!

KSB - Ken Smith · #18 09-23-2007, 09:20 AM

I have had some problems with Pops over the years. Sometimes too sticky, sometimes the Rosin is expired (dated under the cake), sometimes it makes a mess of my Bass and bow with sticky powder.

I find that either the new Oak or Kolstein's works with just about any Bass, string or Bow year round. I know a few top pros prefer the pops. I just like my choices better.

I don't swipe it fast though. I go steady but not slow. If the rosin is soft, I go with less pressure when applying it.

Also, wipe the rosin off your strings before you start to play and after you are done playing. The Bass will sound smoother this way.

damonsmith · #19 09-23-2007, 09:49 AM

I use Pops, for the Bay Area weather it is great, sometimes I wish I had something else on tour, though.
Not argue with Ken, but I suggest starting with Pops (it is only $5), since it is pretty much the standard rosin. Then you can check it against the others.

MingusAmongUs · #20 09-23-2007, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DocBop

My rookie POV

I was using the Pop's and it worked good sometimes a little too good and got real sticky, but summer was blazing and the Pop's was real soft.

You're not kidding. I was out there a few weeks ago. The rental car had a thermometer. At one point, while driving through Malibu Canyon, it hit 117F. I was hoping for some nice cool, dry CA weather. Boy, did we ever not get it. It was even humid for S. Cali. In the 50-60% range, according to my guitar maker friend's hydrometer.

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General follow-up rosin question (for anyone): is it a bad idea to use different rosins together; by that I mean, say I try one for a week, don't like it. Can I swipe the same hairs, already encrusted, through another rosin without a problem?