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Double Bass odd rosin brands

Dr Rod

Dr Rod

Aug 19, 2005
914
18
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#1
Hello Friends
I have keep discovering these odd brands of rosin, do you people have experience with them? and perhaps some of you could comment a little beyond "yep, it's pretty sticky"

Melos Rosin for Bass
Jade Opera bass rosin
Millant-Deroux bass rosin
Royal Oak pro bass rosin
Clarity Summer bass rosin
Clarity Winter bass rosin
Andrea Alex bass rosin
Sure Grip bass rosin
Alaska bass rosin
Eugene Croft bass rosin

Cheers
 
#2
I tried the clarity summer while I was living mexico, because I told my dad to bring back as much hard rosin as he could, when he made a trip to the US and back. It was a really nondescript rosin it wasnt all that powdery, it wasnt all the grippy, it just sort of was plain jane rosin.and its a weird opaque white which weirded me out a little bit. I didn't like it all that much cuz I'm preferential to Kolstein soft and now this Sherman's hard cello-looking stuff, which both really grab the strings. It is hypo-allergenic though for those if you get the spring sniffles.
 
#3
Eli_Upright12 said:
I tried the clarity summer while I was living mexico, because I told my dad to bring back as much hard rosin as he could, when he made a trip to the US and back. It was a really nondescript rosin it wasnt all that powdery, it wasnt all the grippy, it just sort of was plain jane rosin.and its a weird opaque white which weirded me out a little bit. I didn't like it all that much cuz I'm preferential to Kolstein soft and now this Sherman's hard cello-looking stuff, which both really grab the strings. It is hypo-allergenic though for those if you get the spring sniffles.
Click to expand...


thanks Eli, how about Sherman's ?
 
#4
Dr Rod said:
thanks Eli, how about Sherman's ?
Click to expand...

Its great in my opinion, for solo work I've never played better, I only apply it about once a week too. Its like those really smooth solo rosins, like jade for instance, but it has more grab for orchestral stuff. It does give a bit more rosin build up than I would like but with a rag handy its no problem. David Murray, Professor at Butler, introduced me to the stuff. I should note that I play close to the bridge with slow bow, so the rosin might just be right for my style.
 
#5
Eli_Upright12 said:
Its great in my opinion, for solo work I've never played better, I only apply it about once a week too. Its like those really smooth solo rosins, like jade for instance, but it has more grab for orchestral stuff. It does give a bit more rosin build up than I would like but with a rag handy its no problem. David Murray, Professor at Butler, introduced me to the stuff. I should note that I play close to the bridge with slow bow, so the rosin might just be right for my style.
Click to expand...

very interesting

Have you used Kolstein hard ? would it compare?
 
#6
I've used Kolstein all-weather, which I didn't like I love the Soft, its grabby and leaves absolutely no dust, but a little bit of gunk in the bow hairs. The all weather was kind of two plain for me not powdery or sticky enough,it didnt grab and wasnt all that smooth tone-wise.
 
#7
I just have to say, because I don't get to, that Sherman's is truly cool rosin. I have never played a solo recital in my life, just my living room... and in orchestras. But, for instance, I have played timpani concertos by Kraft and Glass with Sherman's on my bow with near-limitless amounts of grab. Maybe it was just me, but I've never had anything like it. I, by the way, play close or far from the bridge, and with a slow or medium, or fast bow, or medium-fast... so it doesn't matter to me. I'm versatile, like Arnold Schwartzenegger in Commando...

I use Jade sometimes, too, it's like a medium grip but the sound is something else. To me it's bright tonally but does not have a lot actual highs - an intense ground bass feel. Very solid but peculiar. Not what I usually grab from my case. Smooth, clean, and hard at first, then you lean into it and see there's a groove in the cake where your bow went.

...and...

I've seen some of those names you list, and wonder, too.
 
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#8
Downright_Low said:
I just have to say, because I don't get to, that Sherman's is truly cool rosin. I have never played a solo recital in my life, just my living room... and in orchestras. But, for instance, I have played timpani concertos by Kraft and Glass with Sherman's on my bow with near-limitless amounts of grab. Maybe it was just me, but I've never had anything like it. I, by the way, play close or far from the bridge, and with a slow or medium, or fast bow, or medium-fast... so it doesn't matter to me. I'm versatile, like Arnold Schwartzenegger in Commando...

I use Jade sometimes, too, it's like a medium grip but the sound is something else. To me it's bright tonally but does not have a lot actual highs - an intense ground bass feel. Very solid but peculiar. Not what I usually grab from my case. Smooth, clean, and hard at first, then you lean into it and see there's a groove in the cake where your bow went.

...and...

I've seen some of those names you list, and wonder, too.
Click to expand...

I think I ought to get myself a cake of that Sherman's. Thanks for your comments.
 
#14
+1 on Jade -- with all the peculiarities mentioned above -- more for Mozart, solos, and etudes than say Brahms or Tschaikowsky.

-1 for Kolstein All weather -- just didn't do anything for me.

+ for the new Petz Premium -- a little gooey, but clear tone and good bite -- go easy with the stuff (and don't leave it in the car like I did!)

I'm currently using some old cakes of Lebenzeller Gold & Silver, which are terrific, warm, have a good, dark old world pull. I think somebody is remaking these but I have no idea if the new formula is the same as the old stuff.

Best,

Louis
 
#16
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#19
I have and tried:
Pops
Royal Oak soft
Andrea Alex
Jade L'Opera
Melos dark and light
Pirastro soft
Nyman's
Carlsson

I am currently struggling between Jade, Andrea and Pirastro. I kinda like Andrea, but find that on my black haired bow with playing Velvet Compas strings it tends to offer insufficient grip. It definitely fits white hair better and solo playing. Jade is definitely more mercurial and lacks some overtone definition but is also not your run of the mill orchestral rosin - I can't say I dislike it, but can't seem to find a place where it fits right.

I do think this discussion should include string selection to pair with rosin and I do have a question:
Anyone playing Velvet Compas 180's on their bass? If so, what rosin works for you?

... actually I think ill start a thread with that q..
:rolleyes:
 
#20
I liked the Jade for solo work but not orchestral. It had a nice smooth sound but lacked grip and but for orchestral stuff.

I don't like Sherman's - it feels like a rebrand of their upper string rosin (which is the cheapest rosin anyway).

Pops, Oak, Nyman, Carlsson, - all good stuff. For me, it's less about the brand and more about FRESHNESS. Fresh rosin is awesome.
 

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