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Double Bass Arco technique

R

rodlloyd

Oct 12, 2008
21
1
Longview, Washington
#1
I have been leaning DB for a couple of years. I am trying to improve my Arco technique but find I quickly get a rosin build-up on the strings [after 5 minutes playing] which affects the sound. My strings are "Prelude" J610 and I am using "Pop's Bass Rosin".

Any suggestions?

Rod
 
#2
Depends how much it is... either don't use so much, or get used to it. Hard to say if you're using too much rosin without picking up your bow and trying it.

The bow should still feel dry to the touch, there should just be a slight powderyness to it. It shouldn't stick if you rest it on the string for a moment and then very gently draw it. And you should be able to make a cake of Pops last for at least a year, no matter how much you play.
 
#3
play the bow out until it feels like it has no rosin at all. Then use just a few swipes now and then. In the meantime, clean the strings with a little rubbing alcohol until they don't cake up. Experiment with using as little rosin as possible. I think I get the best sound from the least rosin. I bow for a few hours every day and I can't even remember when I bought this cake of rosin that is still not even half used up...
 
#4
On the other hand, you might experiment with rosin a bit. It's a cheap experiment, and you might find something you like better. Brand new fresh pops, has no dusty buildup, but sometimes the old stuff is all you can find.

Pops doesn't play well with others, so it's probably best to have a re-hair, then try some other kinds. I use Kolstein now and am never going back.:hyper:
 
#5
Make sure you rosin your bow correctly. It should be drawn across the side of the rosin cake with equal pressure, like a surfer rides a wave, smooth with no staggering. You want to spread the rosin equally.
When I used to use Pop's rosin (I use kolstein's all weather), it accumulated on strings because I Rosalyn Le Bow like 8 or 10 times in frustration that it doesn't grab. Pop's is still good rosin and has a very nice wet tone, but try to rosin 2/3 times before you play, maybe once or twice more, but not too much. Good luck.
 
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#7
wipe your strings off with a rag. rosin accumulation is not your friend. if you choose to use rubbing alcohol, please let it dry for a long time before attempting to play again. and yes, try different rosins, perhaps seasonally. if you see clouds of rosin coming off of your bow, you have used too much. if you have to press to get a sound, you are using too little. warm your bow up before applying rosin. heat bonds the rosin to the hair. and, as all of these discussions inevitably mention.... do you have a teacher?:p
 
#19
LM Bass said:
Pops doesn't play well with others...
Click to expand...

I've actually had good results with a swipe or two of Pops and then Oak medium. In fact, when I bought my new bow, the Oak wouldn't stick to it at all until I'd played the bow dry and applied some Pops for a few sessions. Then the Oak went back to being its wonderful lovely Oak-ey self.

Of course, I live in a very dry climate so it's entirely possible that I've just played the stuff off. I've heard that in warmer, more humid places, Pops can be like roofing tar.
 

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