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I said I wasn't going to buy any more rosin.
In very rough order of preference (it varies all the time) I've got: -
Royal Oak Classic, Guillaume, Hill dark, Hidersine dark, Hidersine amber, others, I fear (I don't like looking in that drawer!).
But I couldn't resist the temptation to order some Larsen Red (because I think Larsen make Royal Oak), sigh .
I can resist the temptation to buy Leatherwood .
And whichever it is you can only buy by invitation, they'll have to find me first.
Andrew
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Regulars
I will be interested to hear how that works out for you. I've tried the light stuff, the dark stuff and the really dark stuff. Hope I didn't add too much detail there.
I'm set on rosin for about 300 or 400 years. I still want to try other rosins, and strings, and violins, and chin rests and................................ We're in trouble aren't we?
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starise said
I will be interested to hear how that works out for you. I've tried the light stuff, the dark stuff and the really dark stuff. Hope I didn't add too much detail there.I'm set on rosin for about 300 or 400 years. I still want to try other rosins, and strings, and violins, and chin rests and................................ We're in trouble aren't we?
A violist in my orchestra has found himself an auction site that sells chin-rests and shoulder-rests by the dozen or the score! He has a collection now of 30 or more of each!
Andrew
Had to research this - apparently the red colour is from Dragon Blood.
But worry not, it will not burst into flame under the friction of rapid bowing.
Apparently "dragon blood" is a red coloured resinous extract from various trees and plants, and seems to be used as a colourant in varnishes, in ancient medicaments, etc..
Well there you go, that's my own "new fact for the day" which is always a cool thing!
Wikipedia says : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.....%27s_blood
I'm not going to - but I'd almost purchase a cake just for the fun of having it....
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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BillyG said
Had to research this - apparently the red colour is from Dragon Blood.But worry not, it will not burst into flame under the friction of rapid bowing.
Apparently "dragon blood" is a red coloured resinous extract from various trees and plants, and seems to be used as a colourant in varnishes, in ancient medicaments, etc..
Well there you go, that's my own "new fact for the day" which is always a cool thing!
Wikipedia says : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.....%27s_blood
I'm not going to - but I'd almost purchase a cake just for the fun of having it....
Interesting. I have a private Classics blog (it's basically an electronic card index) where I have a few pages where I've gathered information on pigments for future rationalisation. There are no direct references that I know of to Dragon's Blood. The one Wiki ref that interests me is Casson's Periplus, 1989. It went out of print a year before I discovered its existence in about 2000. Then it was about £50 for a secondhand copy, and I didn't bother. Now they start at about £150, and I wish I'd bothered. I've got an electronic copy of the Greek text somewhere, so it's high time I read it to see what it says!
Initial research shows it's mentioned in Arrian's Indica and Pliny the Elder, in both of which it's known as Indian Cinnabar (from the Island of Socotra). Where the expression Dragon's Blood comes from is anyone's guess, lol (I haven't been able to find Casson's commentary pages online)!
My initial feedback on Larsen Red rosin is, don't bother - it seems to be an ordinary amber rosin with some red dye in it and not a lot of grip or finesse. I bought it, a) because I got the impression it was softer, and b) because I got the impression Larsen make Royal Oak, and I love Royal Oak.
Andrew
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Gordon Shumway said
My initial feedback on Larsen Red rosin is, don't bother - it seems to be an ordinary amber rosin with some red dye in it and not a lot of grip or finesse. I bought it, a) because I got the impression it was softer, and b) because I got the impression Larsen make Royal Oak, and I love Royal Oak.
In fact I've decided today that I definitely, for the time-being, prefer Royal Oak Classic to Guillaume. So I ordered some Royal Oak Profi-line, since it was all my supplier had, as a spare, or, if different, for comparison.
Andrew
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Gordon Shumway said
Gordon Shumway said
My initial feedback on Larsen Red rosin is, don't bother ...
...I definitely...prefer Royal Oak Classic to Guillaume. So I ordered some Royal Oak Profi-line, since it was all my supplier had, as a spare, or, if different, for comparison.
AAAAAARGH! It arrived today, and it's identical in appearance to Larsen Red!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Andrew
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Well now we know......the rest of the story lol.
I have skipped around a bit on rosin. Started out on a bunch of the less expensive no name stuff. Used Pirastro for awhile, went to Kaplan. It's the stuff that comes in what looks like a ring case. After that I bought Jade and like it ok. Most recently I bought Andrea rosin. I find myself going between Andrea and Jade. I tend to grab whatever is closest. I like Andrea slightly better than Jade.For the record I am still talking about rosin here
I bought the Andrea rosin solely based on the comments of a 30 year fiddler. Sometimes that works for me and sometimes it doesn't. I once tried strings suggested by a veteran fiddler and wasn't impressed. In the case of the Andrea rosin. I'm glad I bought it and would buy it again. This cake will probably last me for at least 10 more years.
Is the Royal Oak a more sticky rosin say compared to something like Jade?
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starise said
Is the Royal Oak a more sticky rosin say compared to something like Jade?
Sorry, I don't know the answer. I'm afraid I didn't even keep my Jade rosin. That may have been silly of me. Royal Oak Classic is darker amber than some, but not as dark as Guillaume.
I'm just responding to say that I emailed Larsen asking for a full set of rosin product descriptions, but they haven't got back to me yet.
Andrew
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Gordon Shumway said
I'm just responding to say that I emailed Larsen asking for a full set of rosin product descriptions, but they haven't got back to me yet.
They have now got back to me. They don't have much information on their rosins, but they say that Royal Oak Profi-line is in fact softer and stickier than Larsen Red, although identical in appearance, so I'll probably be happy with it (I haven't even bothered trying it yet).
Andrew
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Thanks Gordon. It is helpful to get the experiences of others. I might like to try the Royal Oak.
I remember seeing pine sap in the rough where I grew up. Really bad if you leaned against a tree that was excreting it. I remember it being almost clear when it came out of the tree. In the unprocessed form it was more like a thick syrup.
This is only a guess. It seems to me the rosin companies need to make the stuff less sticky. A warmer temp makes it more sticky and runny. I'm wondering if I popped some in the microwave for a few seconds what would happen? Might make it apply better....or it could explode in the microwave.
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starise said
I'm wondering if I popped some in the microwave for a few seconds what would happen? Might make it apply better....or it could explode in the microwave.
Treat it like butter - microwave it for 10 seconds and see what happens. I expect a crackling noise will precede any explosion, lol!
However, upon reflection, I would NOT recommend it - you may end up with 50 times the amount you need on your bow, then you'll be asking how to clean your bow!
I'm trying the Profi-line now, and it's very nice. But you know what will happen - in a month's time I'll try the Larsen red and I'll love it, lol!
Andrew
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Gordon, I had a cake of Hidersine laying around. Made in England so you've probably heard of it. Has a reddish tint. I popped it in the microwave for 20 seconds. It was a little warm to the touch. No explosions. I can't say it really made much difference other than bringing it up above room temperature. I might try 30 seconds. Would be very very leary of anything much above that for fear I would have a puddle of goo
The verdict is out on any effect to my bow. Seems as if it might have gone on a little better. No lack of grip.
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