Double Bass Eastman Bass Rosin

[PBandJazzBass]

I recently purchased some of the Eastman rosin and just wanted to post some thoughts since there doesn’t seem to be much discussion about it online. I’ll make the usual disclaimers that I’m primarily a jazz pizzicato player, YMMV, this is just my opinion, personal preferences are subjective, etc.

Worth mentioning is it’s being made for Eastman by Leatherwood. That being said, I haven’t tried Leatherwood before so I cannot make a direct comparison to their other rosins. However, I have tried most of the other usual suspects. Pops, Carlsons, Nymans, Weidoeft, Kolstein (both soft and all weather) Hidersine, Petz, etc.

Now, after all the build up, my thoughts on the stuff. Everything about it (consistency, appearance, grip, tone, etc) to me, is like Pops. If you rosined one bow with Eastman then another with Pops and I played each not knowing which was which, I don’t think I could tell a difference. Could a good arco player? Wouldn’t surprise me.

Basically, if you like Pops this might be worth a try. Not sure if there would necessarily be any advantages. Maybe the silicone container will help it stay fresh longer? I’ll post more thoughts if I have any.

I do find it interesting that one particular website advertises the Eastman as “student rosin.” I’ve never thought of rosin in terms of “student” or “professional.”

 

[PBandJazzBass]

Quick update. Been really enjoying this stuff. Tone and grip are nice. I still think the comparison to Pops is pretty accurate. But there doesn’t seem to be as much dust produced and the consistency is a little different. Less runny than Pops. I guess it’s somewhere between Pops and Weidoeft in that respect.

I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re curious. If you like Pops, Kolstein and/or Weidoeft then you’ll probably like the Eastman rosin.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

I usually prefer keeping a cake of rosin in my apartment and keeping one in my lesson room/studio so I recently ordered a new cake of Weidoeft.

Compared to the Eastman, it has a little more “sizzle” to the tone and isn’t as smooth. Definitely more grippy and usually one swipe is enough whereas I might do 2 or 3 of the Eastman. The Weidoeft also seems to produce more dust as I notice quite a bit on the top and bridge of my bass when I’m done practicing. For these reasons, I may actually prefer the Eastman and will leave the Weidoeft in my studio.