Nyman's V Pop's

Bas-ddwblwr · #1 12-14-2006, 05:00 PM

Hallo there,
I'm currently using Nyman's rosin, and it's pretty good, but sometimes I'd like to make more noise. How does pop's rosin compare, is it louder, or just stickier?
Thanks, Bas-ddwblwr (Wales)

Jeff Moote · #2 12-14-2006, 05:42 PM

I know it's not much of an answer to your question, but have you tried Kolstein? I've recently started using their soft rosin, and coming from Carlssons, there's definitely lots more grip and more sound being produced.

I have always found Pops a little "raw" feeling and sounding, I guess. I don't know just how to put it into words.

dchan · #3 12-15-2006, 12:27 AM

I agree that the Kolstein soft rosin can get a lot of sound. I remember that I once applied maybe a bit too much, and my bass projected like a pipe organ. Never happened to me before.

Of course, I had been using Nymans before this. While really smooth, it is not a very loud sounding rosin. Nor is it sticky enough for the winter alone. But it stays smooth and pleasant sounding for years.

As for Pops, it is a very good rosin if fresh. Of course, that is a very big if. After it dries out within a year or so, it becomes hard as a rock and, frankly, rather lousy.

I remember that my Pops ran out on my bow when I was playing with my orchestra in Brazil a few years ago. Perhaps this was due to the humidity or the lousy hair on my old fiberglass bow. But since then, I haven't really used it except in combination with Nymans.

In conclusion, if you want more grip, try the Kolstein soft.

Anon2962 · #4 12-15-2006, 03:22 AM

Bas-ddwblwr,

I find that with heavy playing Nymans seems to 'disappear' - after 10 mins i feel like i need more rosin.

Pops gives similar stickiness, but i think a touch more sticky, and seems to last longer. however, if you use too much (more than 3 swipes for me) it goes crazy-sticky! Also I had a problem with pops clogging up the bow: there were litle hard 'snots' of rosin smegma on the bow hair. This could have been from rosining

After the snot experience i changed to carlsons and really liked it - something in between nymans and pops. But after a while i missed the stickiness of pops so i went back.

As for pops being louder, i really don't know. stickier for sure.

sibass89 · #5 12-15-2006, 11:10 AM

I don't like Nymans. I find that it's very waxy for lack of a better word. It just coats the hair with something but it doesn't work. I like pops much better.

Two thing I have learned with Pops. Always have a small moustache comb on hand. Once a week (while my bow hair is loose of course) I comb it out with this moustache comb, making sure I stop at any tough spots and never force it through the hair. This takes out those spots thats Conor was talking about and actually revives your hair slightly.

Also, the application of Pops is important. Pops has to be warm or else it doesn't apply, it just breaks and that's where those spots come from. I use the part of the hair right at the frog and run it on top on the cake 2 or 3 times until you see the rosin warm up and get white marks, then I run it all the way through the bow twice. This usually works best for me.

I feel Pops has more bite to the sound. Rosin will not give you a better sound, but bad rosin will stop you from being able to create sound. So once you find a good rosin, it's up to you to produce the sound.

toman · #6 12-17-2006, 01:21 PM

From Nyman's, one step toward the sticky side is Carlson. I use both, depending on the temperature, although Carlson is fine all year 'round, it gets a little soft for me when it's 90+ out. Also, I like Nymans a bit better for solo work, because Carlson can be a bit "gritty", especially if you get too much on. For orchestra though, it's great because I can really dig in. To me Pops has always seemed like a joke. I used it for a couple years when i first started playing, simply because my teacher told me to, but I wouldn't go back to it.

Bas-ddwblwr · #7 12-20-2006, 02:14 PM

So carlson and kolstein are powerful too? Reason I'm asking is that in my County Youth orchestra, most weeks it's just me on the double bass, "competing" against 10 cellos and a decent-sized upper string section, nevermind the brass, so something with more volume, and more "thuggish" would be great.

Debs · #8 12-24-2006, 03:18 AM

Remember 10 cellos would = 4 that are playing!!!

Seriously don't worry, I had the same kind of problems at youth orchestra (Including the county wind orchestra) and I have to admit that I used Nymans the whole time... It is such a good all round reliable rosin. (Most of the pro players I know use it.) Don't get me wrong the other rosins are good and I am also a fan of pops but I find that Nymans is such a reliable rosin no matter what the weather is like... Also remember you may be making more sound then you think as the sound will carry more towards the conductor.

vitoliuzzi · #9 01-07-2007, 03:51 AM

OffTopic

Just to say that Nymans and Carlson are the SAME colophonium. When I studied with my "mentore" MAESTRO Thomas Martin he told me all the history. They are made in the same factory in Sweden but for commercial reasons they have got two different names. And Tom Martin, if you would know him, is a a power of science in matters regarding to all aspects of a double bass. A living encyclopedia !

Warmly

Vito Liuzzi