rosin queries

[Johonn]

Hello all,
I have a question regarding rosin... I use Pop's bass rosin, and have trouble getting the strings to respond when playing fast passages in my music. Should I look for a rosin that is better suited for playing rapidly? Or do i just need to clean my bow and reapply rosin?

[Chasarms]

Pops is prone to building up on the strings. All rosins do it, but Pops moreso than many others. If it gets too heavy, rosin becomes counterproductive.

I have found that a lint-free rag will knock the buildup down easily enough with just a bit of elbow grease.

It helps me anyway.

[Matt Ides]

Make sure to always clean the strings after you are done playing.

With Pops I find I need very little of it...so go easy when applying it.

With that I have never had major build up on my strings.

[toman]

I've always found Pops to be too 'goopy'; it gets all gritty and leaves a nasty residue that's hard to get off. I'd reccomend trying something else, like Carlson or Nymans.

[Johonn]

Ok, if i do change rosins, should i clean off my bow, or just start in using the new rosin?

[toman]

Ideally when switching rosins you should get a rehair for your bow, but I know that's easier said than done. Although, old dead hair may be part of you problem in the first place. Aside from that, I've had decent luck cleaning bow hair and strings with denatured alcohol; just be sure not to get any on your stick or your bass.

[Pete G]

Pop's is a grippy rosin -- that's why people like it. I haven't found anything I like better, and I've tried nearly everything else on the market.

Here are several tricks I've picked up to get past the stickiness "challenges":

1. A new cake of Pop's is MUCH better than an old cake. I get it directly from the company, and I don't use it when it's more than a couple of months old.

2. Apply it correctly. Pops (and any sticky rosin) needs to be melted into the hair. You accomplish that by a very fast downbow stroke across the rosin. Don't grind it on slowly. If you're pulling tree stumps, follow that up with a fast upbow stroke. I find I never need more than two swipes.

3. Don't use too much. See 2 above.

4. Clean the strings after every playing session, and during the break on a long rehearsal or concert. Copper scouring pads like Chore-Boy work best for me on my metal strings. (I imagine something softer would be needed for gut.) A rag will do in a pinch for short-term cleaning, but it takes something abrasive to really get the string cleaned off. Don't use steel wool or scourers -- they'll abrade the string.

5. Clean the bowhair periodically. What works best for me is to vacuum the hair using the furniture attachment for the vacuum. This cleans off a lot of the old, dead rosin gunk.

[nikkis67]

for me nymans does the trick...