Double Bass who uses Pops rosin?

[fryBASS]

Just a note from my friend who is a Pops quality control tester - replace it once a year. It gets glazed and (relatively, for Pops) powdery. Once i found this out, when my cake of Pops "died" - after about 14 months of use - it felt like all of a sudden I needed a rehair. Got a new cake and was back in business. It's also recommended to keep the container snapped closed when not in use.

I've had the same Pops cake for almost 5 or 6 years now (I can't really remember exactly, but it's somewhere around there) and recently my bow's been not holding on to the stuff, and I've been thinking it's time for a rehair. I'll try getting new rosin and see if it does the trick (hopefully, as it is much cheaper this way )

 

[Murgo]

Re. the rosin becoming "powdery" with time: Could it be that the rosin when fresh is in amorphous state ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorphous_solid ) and with time crystallizes and becomes "powdery"?

If so, re-melting (as in the microwave trick) and a sufficiently rapid cooling (maybe even just letting it cool down in room temperature?) would "rejuvenate" it. At least the amorphous sulfur (which is a translucent brown and rubbery substance , very different from crystalline sulfur which is yellow, opaque and brittle/powdery) we made in the chemistry class at school did crystallize in a few days back into the crystalline form, so maybe the same happens over a longer time when a cake of rosin "goes old"?

Of course it might also be that the rosin contains some kind of solvent to keep it soft which evaporates over time, but storing in an airtight container should prevent that. However airtight storage would not prevent crystallization which on the other hand might be slowed down by storing in cold temeperatures like a fridge, even feezer?

 

[KingB]

I'm with Big B. I used Pops for years. It was fine and really tacky. I have used many other rosins though. For the last couple of years, however, I have switched to Kolstein. I find it generally superior to Pops--quick to apply, grabby, and it helps me generate good tone with my bows.

The main thing with _any_ cake of rosin is to use FRESH PRODUCT. After a few months, Pops, Kolstein, etc., become dry, brittle, and much reduced in their ability to give your bow a good coating of rosin.

If you don't want to stand out by producing howls and false harmonic squeeks--sure to generate a scowl from your conductor--purchase a fresh cake of rosin every three months. (Six at the OUTSIDE!)

 

[steverosati]

I Do.

 

[Rick Auvil]

Pops in the winter; Carlsson in the summer; use varies autumn and spring. I just use a few swipes of Pops.

 

[Simandl Fan]

I rejuvinate my Pops by leaving it on the dashboard of my car with the windows up on a hot day (in the red container, of course). This is especially good for school (I teach in a middle school)

 

[Ben Mitchell]

Me.

 

[engedi1]

After using Carlson and Nymans for a few years, I am now back to Pops. I ordered a cake from therosinstore.com and was really amazed at the different FRESH pops makes. I have never had a pops cake that this gooey for one thing. But it applies well, gets a good tone here in Tennessee in the summer, and is leaving NO powder on my bass and hardly any residue on the strings. Sometimes I wish for a smoother tone, but for now I am happy...
I am itching to try the Oak stuff next...

 

[George700DL]

After using Carlson and Nymans for a few years, I am now back to Pops. I ordered a cake from therosinstore.com and was really amazed at the different FRESH pops makes. I have never had a pops cake that this gooey for one thing. But it applies well, gets a good tone here in Tennessee in the summer, and is leaving NO powder on my bass and hardly any residue on the strings. Sometimes I wish for a smoother tone, but for now I am happy...
I am itching to try the Oak stuff next...

You mean from http://bassrosin.com/ ?

I just got mine also from there, and it looks, feels, and acts as my previous cake, which I bought in a violin repair shop. They must have had some fresh cakes in the store, because I don't see a huge difference. But the prices are the same, including shipping, so I'll probably always order it directly from TX.

George

 

[engedi1]

That's the one. Thanks! I definitely noticed a difference, but that is because I hadn't used Pops for years, and I didn't remember my Pops from years ago being this gooey or working as well, or being as clear of an Amber color. I probably used the same pops for YEARS when I was in college. Now I know better...

 

[Contranash]

Fresh cake of pops with every rehair (every 6 months). Sticky. Icky. Delicious. Does exactly what I need it to do.

 

[mtb777]

I do!

 

[DavidBassPlayer]

I did use Nyman Sweedish until someone convinced me to try his Pops. Now I use Pops all the time.

 

[HunterBrodt]

I use it.

 

[Jim Dombrowski]

Since many people talk about buying fresh cakes of Pops on a regular basis, perhaps they could be convinced to sell it in smaller quantities.

 

[solutionbassist]

I use it and love it. My school doesn't like it because it melts on our lockers though.