Good Rosin?

Carlsson and Nyman's are my favorites. What characteristics are you looking for?

 

Can you describe what it is about the sound and feel that you don't like with the Carlson's? Also, what kind of strings do you have, and what is the quality and age of the bow hair?

 

Rosin on the strings is really not a problem. I usually leave it there. Your string setup is just like mine so I would stay with Carlsson.

 

Jailbass:
You're responding to Calvin as if he were Rob?

 

Sorry about that...

 

If you want some other opinions about it there is a current thread on Gaston Brohan's oak rosin recently available from Gregorian Strings.
My experience? I've used Pops mostly, then Carlsson. I like the oak rosin better than either. The medium or soft is more like the Carlsson in texture, but it doesn't seem to powder up near as much on the strings and the tone is very like Carlsson in the middle but nicer (somehow less fuzzy?) in the highs and more grab on the low strings. It grabs like Pops, but not nearly as edgy a tone. I use Helicore Orchestras currently with white horsehair on a brazilwood german bow.

 

I agree completely with Silversorcerer- sounds like he & I use the exact same setup, & have tried the same rosins. I thought the Pops was horrid, & the Carlsson's OK, but Gaston's oak rosin (medium) is awesome. I'll touch it up occasionally with some Kolsteins medium cello rosin, especially if I'm doing solo work. The cello rosin is less grabby, but gives a smoother sound. No staying power, though.

 

I agree with Calvin.

I got some Kolstein All Weather stuff which is Medium consistency I guess. I suppose I need the AW for the oh-so-unpredictable South Dakota weather. It really grabs better than my Pop's with less rosiny sound. It rocks.

 

Me too but I love Carlssons and have been using it for 10+ years and have never played anything that I liked better, but I am no rosin guru.

 

All of the above is good advice, those are all good rosins.

I must however say that many incredible professional players use Pop's, so it might still be what you're looking for.

I have heard of many people hating Pop's and many just loving it. IMHO it depends more on how you play and what you expect to sound like than on your setup.

I would keep all of these in mind:

Carlsson's
Nyman's (also swedish, a bit softer than Carlsson's if I remember well)
Pop's
Gaston Brohan's oak rosin
Kolstein (soft, and all weather)

I would stay away from the more powdery and harder rosins like Petz, Tomastik, Pirastro etc...

 

Just converted from a lifetime of Pops' (native Houstonian, me - home of Pops) to Nyman's - woo hoo! The chain is off and I don't know which way to run first. It feels actually strange not to be scrubbing off the rosin dust every 20 minutes. What will I do with the time?

 

I find the Clarity Winter Bass Rosin to work extraordinarily well with my obligatos...
I picked some up at a music store by chance--was heading off to an orchestra gig rosin-less, and that was all they had. I ended up ditching Pops permanently, and now I'm hooked on this Clarity stuff.
If you're not opposed to synthetic rosin, this one is worth a shot IMHO.

 

I personally like Kolstein's new formula or Nyman's Swedish. You get just the right amount of grip. Be sure not to over apply as the rosin on the bow will heat up as you play. Hope this is helpful.

 

I am a pop's purist haha

 

I use Bernadel rosin (for violin, viola and cello). With a heavier bow it works excellent.

 

I´m actually playing with bernadel cello for solo and Pop´s for orchestra.

 

I'm very pleased with the new Oak rosin. I was alternating Pops and Kolstein soft. Then bought Oak medium at ISB this summer, works great, not too sticky or powdery, right amount of grab and tone from the bow. But it got a little too weird this winter and ordered the soft upon the seller's advice. Back to where it works great again, maybe a little darker sounding, I'll take it gladly.

iah

 

i think i want some oak. maybe i'll get my father to buy me some in NY this weekend. i've been going strong with Kolstein's and Petz.

Im open to new stuff though.

 

haha bobby, it's tim...

the principal bassist of your section!