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What is the difference between light and dark rosins?? I have always used dark rosins, but i don't really know the difference...
King
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I heard one report that dark rosin might contain a trace of tar which contributes to the "gooey" factor.
I have gotten the impression that dark rosin is indeed "grabbier" but I find the lighter versions to be more manageable with weather, etc.
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
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Light rosin is harder and dark rosin is softer. Usually dark rosin will be stickier than light. If you feel like your sound and bowing is too harsh you may want to get a light rosin. If you feel that your strings are not vibrating fast and strong enough you may want a dark rosin. I've always preferred dark rosin though this recently tested "Magic Rosin" was pretty good, right Oliver?
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
King
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I am finding the Magic Rosin to still be OK but, I think it transfers more rosin to the strings more quickly during this hot weather/humidity. But I also try my usual rosins and find them a bit "wimpy". I like good feedback from a bow and I don't like to fight for the notes.
Bottom line is that I'm using the Magic Rosin light and probably wouldn't change at this point. Looking for excuse to try the dark.
When you come to a fork in the road, take it.
Honorary advisor
Regulars
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I like the light Magic Rosin, too. Bought a cake of the dark but haven't tried it yet. It's damp here all year round and the other rosins that I've tried did not work nearly as well as the Magic Rosin.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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I am using the rosin that came with my $100 VSO. I find it is very hard and for lack of a better word...dry. It deposits itself quickly on the strings and winds up all over the body of the violin and fingerboard. Also the bottom of the bow. Would a dark rosin be less likely to do this? Or do this to a lesser degree?
Dave
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I believe this is the case David. I'm don't like to recommend my rosin because it costs over $30 and I believe it to be too expensive. I don't think it is worth the extra money but on the other hand a rosin like this can last me almost forever.
What I am using today is Andrea Rosin. They have different kinds and I like the viola rosin. Can say however that the magic rosin is comparable though.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Talking about rosin, I have questions. The Chinese string intrument that I used to play needs rosin on the bow as well and I recently purchased one just to try to pick it up again. It's a cheap one and not a quality one but it's one I could find where I live. Any way, the instrument came with a cake of rosin that smell just the same as the one I used when I was young -- pine tree fragance. When we rented a violin for my daughter, we bought a small rosin cake for her as well, that rosin does not smell. Could anyone tell me if I could use it on a violin bow and if the two rosins made of same ingredients? I was told by the lady at the violin store that the rosin for violin was extract from some kind of trees and she told me to check with my daughter's teacher to see if we could use the Chinese rosin on a violin bow and I probably will do soon.
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You can use any rosin you want without worrying about it. You can alternate between the two as well. You may get more dust from one or the other but it will wear off eventually and need more rosin.
As far as the smell is concerned, it may be that the cake of rosin you recently got with the rental is older thus the smell has dissipated a bit. If you sand off the surface of that rosin it might be more effective and you may get a little smell out of it as well. I suppose that different trees have different smell too. Rosins have basically the same ingredients however they come from different trees and perhaps have different additives. I don't know much about the additives though.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Regulars
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Thanks, Fiddlerman.
I do like the pine fragance:)
Honorary tenured advisor
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Another question about rosin ... how is it affected by weather? Of course the humidity will affect it, but is there a recommendation for each climate?
At the moment here it's cold and the humidity is around 45%, but for around 9 hot months of the year we're fighting a losing battle with mould because it rains non stop and the humidity never ever falls below 95%. That's a huge difference, and I believe that if my skin feels dry and itchy then what's happening to my rosin, bow hairs, and strings?
I'm using Magic Rosin, I got it from their promotion. I also have a Paganini, which is a little darker, and a cheap one that came with my VSO. But I feel the drop in humidity has affected the sound, and I get more 'whisperings' when I play.
Maybe I need a change of strings too?
If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right.
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It depends on who you talk to - some say that dark rosin works best in the damp, others swear by light. You have to use what works for you, possibly changing as the weather changes. I have been using the Magic Rosin for several months (same strings) and have been happy with it. The climate here is quite damp year round with humidity rarely falling below 60%.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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I never gave the color much though when it comes to humidity. I believe this is a problem regardless of the type of rosin you use. I recently played a wedding on the beach where it was like playing on a newly re-haired bow especially on the G. I had to struggle like mad to get the string to vibrate at all.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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