What is Rosin?

Rosin - also know as colophony from its origin in Colophon, an ancient Ionic city (South-Western costal area of present day Turkey originally founded by Greek settlers.) - is a solid form of resin obtained from various species of pine tree. Raw resin is collected from designated trees and then steam distilled in large copper stills at temperatures of up to 160 degrees Celsius. The distillation separates oil of turpentine from the non-distillable colophony residue, which is then purified. The colophony comes to the market in lump, clot or powder form and varies in colour from yellow to black according to the age of the tree from where the pitch is drawn and the amount of heat applied in its distillation.

How do they turn the raw colophony into instrument rosin?

To make instrument rosin the raw colophony is melted together with other natural products such as larch turpentine oil, Venetian turpentine, scraped resin, Carnauba wax, mastic and beeswax. The list is incomplete however it should suffice to say that exactly which ingredients are added to the melting process, their ratios and the temperatures reached during the melting - namely "the recipie" - are a closely guarded secret of each rosin prodcer because they determine the finished quality and hardness of the rosin. In general dark-coloured rosin is a little harder than light coloured rosin.

What else is rosin used for?

In addition to stringed musical instrument usage - rosin is used extensively in the manufacture of soaps, printing inks, varnishes, adhesives, sealing-wax, flux for soldering metals, as a pharmaceutical ingredient and for a large variety of other minor purposes. In a friction-increasing capacity ballet dancers, baseball pitchers, ten-pin bowlers and bull riders may rub powdered rosin into their shoes, hand or glove to prevent slipping, add grip or for better ball control.

Why do we need to put rosin on our bow hair?

When viewed under a microscope the outer surface of horsehair is quite rough - as though covered in segments that look rather like tiny barbed hooks. To produce a sound from your instrument you first need to make the string vibrate by drawing your bow across the string. Hair without rosin will simply slide over the strings as though covered in soap - so in order to increase friction and make the hair grip or "bite" the string - a regular application of rosin is required.

Why do some players like soft rosin and some like hard or powder rosin?

It all boils down to personal preference but in general in colder countries or playing situations you'll go for a softer rosin to give you that extra adhesive-friction where-as for those of you who play in hotter climates or regularly in hot sticky theatre-pits or concert halls you'll probably opt to use a harder rosin or possibly even a powder rosin. Students tend to follow their teachers choice or recommendation. Some players - once they've found a brand that they like - will stick to it for their entire career while other players may use different grades between summer and winter and something entirely different again for solo playing.

Why have you only got a few makes here?

We're starting off with the most popular brands and shall add more makes as and when we can. Should you want a brand or certain grade that isn't listed just drop use an e-mail or call by telephone and we'll order one in for you.