Kolstein Rosin

[King Chris]

I recently switched to the kolstein rosin. I was playing carlsons, after a long stint with pops(i started on it and didn't want to switch), but was told to try kolstein by Chris Brown. I got the soft, not knowing any better.
At first I loved the sound, though my bow still had a plethura of carlsons on it. I eventually got a rehair and since then, can't make up my mind on it. It doesn't seem to work into the hair and now is starting to feel weird. I think it may be because I am so used to having rosins with lots of powder. I loved the attack at first though now it seems like it doesn't have enough and I'm wondering if I've over rosined and for some reason with ks soft, the rosin doesn't stick more but becomes much less effective?
Also, after the long intro, I'm wondering if I get the all weather, will it keep a consistent sound and just get a little more powdery, which I think is what I'm looking for, or will the sound change? is the all weather just a way of saying medium or is the composition really that different?
just wondering if someone out there has a little more experience with the rosin because I love the sound, though I'm becoming very disillusioned with it because of the soft being hard to get on the bow and then not retaining the stickiness.
Chris-

[jallenbass]

I love Kolstein soft. It allows me to relax my hand and let the bow do the work.

[bribass]

Don't you guys find that KS soft gunks up the hair?

I used to use it awhile back and after some months it ruined the hair. Became clumped together, dirty and unusable. Had to get a rehair and then went back to Carlsson.

Just my experience w/ it.

BG

[E.O.M.]

I've been using Kolstein soft for years without a problem. It only takes one or two swipes for a full length concert. You say it's hard to get onto the hair? That makes me curious because I feel my Kolstein soft gets onto the hair before I even take it out of the container. It's never ruined my hair either.

Previously I've used Pops and Carlson's. Pops was scratchy and unresponsive, and Carlson's was too powdery and not sticky enough for orchestral repertoire.

I think one time I accidentally got the All-Weather instead of the Soft, but I couldn't really tell the difference. It could be worth a try for you though.

[dchan]

Originally Posted by bribass

Don't you guys find that KS soft gunks up the hair?

I used to use it awhile back and after some months it ruined the hair. Became clumped together, dirty and unusable. Had to get a rehair and then went back to Carlsson.

Just my experience w/ it.

BG

I think that would probably happen if you swipe it too many times or use too much force to swipe it. IME, a couple of nice and easy swipes are enough for me to get through a 3-hour rehearsal. Also, it really helps to refrigerate it; it melts like crazy during summers.

[King Chris]

yeah, when I first used it after my rehair, I got the new hair all gunked up, but I'm certain I was trying to get about ten pounds of it on the bow (maybe a little over excited). It got huge chuncks on there but I just took a comb to it for a few hours and spread it around pretty well. I haven't put any on for a day or so and it's starting to feel better, though I think I am going to try out the all weather. Won't know how that's gonna go for a week or two, I cracked my awesome new bass and now the tops off and glue is shooting everywhere. I guess when they turn 150, they just aren't as sturdy as the plywoods I've always played on.