Double Bass Flat Rosin

[John Chambliss]

Well, this could be fun and interesting if @Don Kasper approved. At first I though I was flashing back to things I carried as a young man in case I got lucky! However, I've often carried rosin in my pants pocket and made quite a mess of it. Never did think about making it flat either. For your consideration - at least the song is somewhat enjoyable. FlatRosin

 

[Don Kasper]

if @Don Kasper approved.

I DO NOT approve!
A cake of rosin must have a (near) 9degree "edge" so that the friction of the hair can be concentrated and generate enough downforce to "pull" the rosin onto the hair. See "striations" in the edge of the cake below...Rosin has been applied!
(I always swipe in both directions to apply a consistent layer of rosin - tip to frog/frog to tip.)
I'm afraid a "flat" cake might not enable a sufficient application of product.
IMFO, of course.
Thanks, John C.

 

[Ryan in PDX]

Don, the pancake of rosin would present an even smaller edge onto which one could concentrate the force of the bow. Maybe we're not talking about the same thing.

I like the form factor of the (e.g. Wiedoeft) silicone container, personally, but maybe I'll give the flat thing a try with a spare cake.

 

[Don Kasper]

Don, the pancake of rosin would present an even smaller edge onto which one could concentrate the force of the bow. Maybe we're not talking about the same thing.

I like the form factor of the (e.g. Wiedoeft) silicone container, personally, but maybe I'll give the flat thing a try with a spare cake.

That smaller edge might not be strong enough to withstand the downforce...leading to cracking and/or bending.
Just my $0.03, since I was mentioned in the OP's post.
Let us know what you experience.
Thanks for your interest.

 

[Ryan in PDX]

That smaller edge might not be strong enough to withstand the downforce...leading to cracking and/or bending.
Just my $0.03, since I was mentioned in the OP's post.
Let us know what you experience.
Thanks for your interest.

I suppose I catch your drift. Maybe I'm not using as much downforce as you are. If I do a rosin experiment, you'll be the first the know...

 

[fdeck]

This transcription should help clarify things:

 

[T_Bone_TL]

(Almost) Nobody else likes mine, but it comes flat and works fine for me. The wood holder supports the edge, not that I have any particular affinity for using the edge, specifically, except to get things started right after a re-pour when the surface is all shiny-slippery. Mostly just run it flat and it rosins up fine.

I have had to repour it twice for shattering when dropped. Been using the same cake since 2017 or so; being a hard rosin to begin with, it does not noticeably harden or dry out any more. Nor will it melt in your pocket. Having learned on this, and finding that it works perfectly well after the learning curve, I fail to see the appeal of Pops, et al. Evidently if you learn on that you'll hate this, though, based on past commentary. I might consider Jade, which plenty of folks complain about being too hard, but I'm not really looking for rosin as the answer to any issues I have, so I haven't bothered.

 

[LouisF]

Am I missing something? The reason I dislike using rosins like Bernadel, Melos or Yumba (even though the rosin itself might be fine) is the pancake design in cork, cloth or "shoe polish"-type tins. It makes it almost impossible to swipe (esp. mid concert):

Bass Rosin

Melos Rosin Bass Light grips the strings softer than the rest of Melos' bass products, offering silky and warm sound qualities, without any unexpected noises or dust, in all kinds of bowing techniques. This cake is designed to efficiently deliver high and medium wave frequencies and is specially...

www.stringersmusic.com

Yumba Abeja Double Bass Rosin | love fiddler shop

Yumba Professional Handmade Bee Double Bass Rosin from Argentina! This line was created for professional orchestra musicians and soloists. The formulas are mixed with excellent natural origin ingredients to attain extraordinary grip and sustain. This exquisite recipe contains genuine beeswawhich...

www.lovefiddlershop.com

Gustave Bernardel Cello or Double Bass Rosin

uptonbass.com

 

[Lee Moses]

Am I missing something? The reason I dislike using rosins like Bernadel, Melos or Yumba (even though the rosin itself might be fine) is the pancake design in cork, cloth or "shoe polish"-type tins. It makes it almost impossible to swipe (esp. mid concert):

Bass Rosin

Melos Rosin Bass Light grips the strings softer than the rest of Melos' bass products, offering silky and warm sound qualities, without any unexpected noises or dust, in all kinds of bowing techniques. This cake is designed to efficiently deliver high and medium wave frequencies and is specially...

www.stringersmusic.com

Yumba Abeja Double Bass Rosin | love fiddler shop

Yumba Professional Handmade Bee Double Bass Rosin from Argentina! This line was created for professional orchestra musicians and soloists. The formulas are mixed with excellent natural origin ingredients to attain extraordinary grip and sustain. This exquisite recipe contains genuine beeswawhich...

www.lovefiddlershop.com

Gustave Bernardel Cello or Double Bass Rosin

uptonbass.com

A couple of things. First, the main point isn't the flatness. The main point is to limit the rosin's exposure to air.

Also, as instructed by the video, it would leave the side exposed so you would be swiping at the edge of the (pan)cake, but you would have access from top to bottom. There wouldn't be packaging to get in the way as with the comparisons you posted.

 

[LouisF]

Sorry. I just scrolled back to find the video, which I had missed, and -- sorry, again --- but having seen it now, life is just too damned short to spend cutting baggies for bass rosin.

 

[Don Hergert]

I use Pops, it works sufficiently for me...

I take the new rosin cake out of silicone container, then also out of the waxed paper, then I cut a baggy just below the zipper so that I have a nice plain zipper-less plastic bag.

Then I put the rosin cake in the bottom-center of the plastic bag as is, and then twist the leftover part of the plastic bag tight so the rosin is air tight inside the plastic bag.

Then I put the rosin in the twist-sealed plastic bag inside the Pops silicone container and snap the top closed.

The closed top keeps the plastic bag sealed and air tight.

When I want to use it, I pull the bag out of the Pops silicone container, unwrap the rosin cake, and apply it to the bow. When done with the bow for that session, I re-wrap the rosin cake, twist-seal the bag, and put it al back into the Pops silicone container with the top snapped shut again.

While I'm not a big arco player in public, I do practice arco routinely, and this same cake of Pops has stayed fresh since I started playing DB (including arco) in early 2018.

I have a couple of new Pops cakes similarly sealed, stored and waiting in the wings. Haven't needed them yet.

 

[Don Kasper]

So, you're telling me that in addition to "Flat Earthers", there are "Flat Rosiners"?
Who knew?
It takes all kinds, I reckon'.

 

[John Chambliss]

(Almost) Nobody else likes mine, but it comes flat and works fine for me. The wood holder supports the edge, not that I have any particular affinity for using the edge, specifically, except to get things started right after a re-pour when the surface is all shiny-slippery. Mostly just run it flat and it rosins up fine.

I have had to repour it twice for shattering when dropped. Been using the same cake since 2017 or so; being a hard rosin to begin with, it does not noticeably harden or dry out any more. Nor will it melt in your pocket. Having learned on this, and finding that it works perfectly well after the learning curve, I fail to see the appeal of Pops, et al. Evidently if you learn on that you'll hate this, though, based on past commentary. I might consider Jade, which plenty of folks complain about being too hard, but I'm not really looking for rosin as the answer to any issues I have, so I haven't bothered.

I use Sherman's from time to time. I like the wooden holder which makes it easy to apply straight in line.

 

[LouisF]

The Hill's (which I really liked for about a minute) also has the wood case:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HillDarkPrBs--we-hill-and-sons-premium-double-bass-rosin

 

[Ryan in PDX]

The Hill's (which I really liked for about a minute) also has the wood case:
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HillDarkPrBs--we-hill-and-sons-premium-double-bass-rosin

Needs more layers of packaging.

 

[LouisF]

Even with All that packaging (which I guess is supposed to look like a small bottle of vintage Scotch??) the Hill's dried out faster than any rosin I've ever tried.

 

[damonsmith]

Stephen Tramontozzi is a great player who has been at the SF Symphony for decades.

 

[LouisF]

Damon, I know that about Stephen. I'm still not cutting up baggies this morning.