Question for Brohan Oak Rosin (+ Gut) users

[ablumley]

Since switching over to gut, I've been using Pirastro Oliv rosin (a friend and longtime gut user's recommendation). However, I'm interested in experimenting and was thinking of trying some of the Brohan Oak Rosin for kicks. My question is if the hard grade of Brohan Oak is similar to a cello-type rosin or is it closer to something like Carlsson's?

Thanks,

Aaron

[anonymous12251111]

Aaron, I'm in Toronto as well and I find that Oak Soft grade works extremely well for the weather. In fact, it's the best sounding rosin I've ever used and it was designed for for players who used Gut strings. I'd go with a Soft and Medium, hard but not be the best choice since Winter is coming up. I find it quite close in tone to Kolstein Soft but the grip is MUCH better.

[Jeff Moote]

Also from the area, I'll weigh in.

I have a cake of both Hard and Medium. Medium is usually just right, though occasionally I'll wish I had a bit more grip so Soft would be good to have. Even in summer here, I think you'd only need Hard if you're playing solo material, etc. I would say it's harder than Carlsson, but very much a bass rosin and not like cello rosins.

[ablumley]

Calvin, Jeff,

Thanks for the responses. Good to hear that others playing in this climate like this rosin. I just purchased the medium and hard (Harder rosin is for me, but with the imminent cold the medium looks like a good idea). I just noticed that there's an endorsement by Alan Molitz of the COC on the Gregorian String page. He goes the medium/hard route. Let you know what I think in a few weeks.

[ablumley]

An update: so far I'm really liking the Brohan Oak rosin (hard) for the gut strings. More grip and it gets the open strings moving more quickly than the Oliv rosin did. Smoother sounding too. It's dry Winter here and I'll be interested to see how this rosin changes in the warmer seasons. Works equally well for butchering Bach Cello Suites and Anthony Braxton's Ghost Trance Music....