How To Apply Rosin

[SteveFreides]

I don't know if there's a right answer, but here's my experience - comments and advice solicited.

For whatever reason, I've always applied my rosin in one direction - I put the rosin near the frog and drag the bow along it. I never did it in the other direction until I started recently, and I like doing it in _both_ directions much better. With applying it in one direction, I never seemed to get enough rosin on the bow, and now I spend less time applying but it feels like it works _better_ and it works for _longer_.

Any science and/or stories on this appreciated. My bow is a carbon Finale, rosin is Kolstein all-weather.

Thanks in advance.

-S-

[SteveFreides]

You know, I'm feeling pretty unloved here.

A month after my first posting, nothing's changed - applying rosin in both directions and it works _way_ better.

-S-

[chapito]

I was taught to “pull" the rosin on with down bow strokes.
I think there must be is a reasoning for down strokes, possibly:
1 alleviate tension/stress on the tip and or wedge, or
2 direction of bowhair follicles??

I would guess with a Carbon bow you don’t have to worry about stressing the stick.

Maybe a bowmaker /re-hairer out there can shed some light?

[Michael Eisenman]

Why would applying rosin in both directions stress the stick or hair any more than bowing in both directions?

[Les Fret]

Originally Posted by SteveFreides

I like doing it in _both_ directions much better.

I always read about the 'only one direction down stroke thing' here. Also not sure why that is. My teacher uses both directions too. I use one direction but at the end of the tip and frog I rub in both directions because there is usually less grip there. It is kind of a compromise between one and two directions.

[Sdtrf]

Idk what the right way is but I bow in both directions and so does almost everyone in my orchestra, Except my friend she told me I should only bow in one direction (frog to tip) b/c it ruins the bow hair. But like micheal said how would it ruin it anymore than Boeing in both directions??????

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by SteveFreides

You know, I'm feeling pretty unloved here.

A month after my first posting, nothing's changed - applying rosin in both directions and it works _way_ better.

-S-

I see you're now asking how to remove excess rosin. Connection ...?

[SteveFreides]

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

I see you're now asking how to remove excess rosin. Connection ...?

You bet!

-S-

[ACB0015]

After watching a video about bowing, I'm now applying the rosin both directions holding the bow still and moving the rosin up and down it. Works way better for me than bowing the rosin.

[jonn_]

For those interested, I will refer to the post I left on the other thread about excess rosin on bow hair. http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f2/too...=#post13215597
I don't always take my own advice in wiping every single time, but when I do, I feel I am being a better steward of my instrument and bow.
As to rosining direction, I don't really think it matters. The bow plays the string in both directions, so it seems that will do as much to rub the rosin into the hair as dragging it across the cake. I rosin with downbow strokes because I feel like I can judge the amount I am putting on better... or I just got used to doing it that way.
Hope this helps.

[MikeCanada]

I have heard rosin referred to as Liquid Technique by a couple fairly well respected teachers, and it wasn’t in a good way. Using too much rosin might seem like it gives you a huge sound, but using less, while improving your technique so you are more relaxed, and using more weight tends to have a lot better results.

When you do need to use rosin, applying from frog to tip instead of a back and forth, sawing away at the cake of rosin ‘method’ means that you are likely going to use less, or be more mindful of each stroke you apply.

As for it being dangerous for the bow, from a bow maker’s perspective, think about how you put rosin on your bow. Do you hold the bow with a relaxed bow hold, and applying the same amount of pressure that you would use when bowing at a mf dynamic? Or, more likely, do you grasp the bow basically in a fist, the rosin in the other fist, and apply rosin like you are using a dull butter knife to cut through a leather boot?

Your bow is made to withstand regular playing conditions, and if it is stressed beyond that, there are many points of failure intentionally built into it, so it can save itself.
With a proper rehair, the plug in the tip is held in with just pressure. The only glue or adhesive used in the whole process is used to hold the spreader wedge in, (the little piece of wood in the ferrule that pushes the hair into an even band from side to side) and even then, it’s just a tiny little dot of glue. The point is, the plug SHOULD fail if it is under too much stress, so the stick doesn’t snap in half. When you apply rosin with the cutting a leather boot method, starting at the frog is safer, because it is stronger. The weakest point on a bow is where the head of the bow meets the stick. There is already a lot of stress on this area, and if you apply rosin with the heavy hand mentioned several times above starting at the tip, you could be playing a dangerous game.

So, in short, you bow is intended to be used as a bow. If you do that, then everything will be fine. If you apply rosin in both directions, and are gentle and mindful about it, it will be fine. If instead, you are a fan of the death grip, saw a cinderblock in half method, then frog to tip will be a lot safer.

[jonn_]

Originally Posted by MikeCanada

I have heard rosin referred to as Liquid Technique by a couple fairly well respected teachers, and it wasn’t in a good way. Using too much rosin might seem like it gives you a huge sound, but using less, while improving your technique so you are more relaxed, and using more weight tends to have a lot better results.

When you do need to use rosin, applying from frog to tip instead of a back and forth, sawing away at the cake of rosin ‘method’ means that you are likely going to use less, or be more mindful of each stroke you apply.

As for it being dangerous for the bow, from a bow maker’s perspective, think about how you put rosin on your bow. Do you hold the bow with a relaxed bow hold, and applying the same amount of pressure that you would use when bowing at a mf dynamic? Or, more likely, do you grasp the bow basically in a fist, the rosin in the other fist, and apply rosin like you are using a dull butter knife to cut through a leather boot?

Your bow is made to withstand regular playing conditions, and if it is stressed beyond that, there are many points of failure intentionally built into it, so it can save itself.
With a proper rehair, the plug in the tip is held in with just pressure. The only glue or adhesive used in the whole process is used to hold the spreader wedge in, (the little piece of wood in the ferrule that pushes the hair into an even band from side to side) and even then, it’s just a tiny little dot of glue. The point is, the plug SHOULD fail if it is under too much stress, so the stick doesn’t snap in half. When you apply rosin with the cutting a leather boot method, starting at the frog is safer, because it is stronger. The weakest point on a bow is where the head of the bow meets the stick. There is already a lot of stress on this area, and if you apply rosin with the heavy hand mentioned several times above starting at the tip, you could be playing a dangerous game.

So, in short, you bow is intended to be used as a bow. If you do that, then everything will be fine. If you apply rosin in both directions, and are gentle and mindful about it, it will be fine. If instead, you are a fan of the death grip, saw a cinderblock in half method, then frog to tip will be a lot safer.

I agree with everything in this post. I am not sure why anyone would rosin with more pressure than they bow.

[pmad_bass]

I recently saw a vid on YouTube (from a link in the TB posts) whereby the bassist rosined his bow by holding the bow stationary and dragging the rosin over it...I think in both directions. I have previously always dragged bow over rosin and in only one direction (i.e. down strokes). I've been switching it up here and there but think I like dragging the rosin over the bow as opposed to bow over the rosin.