Andrea Rosin

December 19, 2011 at 12:43 AM · I use Andrea Solo for the viola and it is terrific! Very robust, it makes my viola sound a lot more powerful. I certainly prefer it to Hill and the other nameless rosins I have tried. One question, do you know how the A Piacere is in comparison to the solo version? Is it more robust, mellow, or brighter? I have heard it has a finer grain but am unable to work out what that means.

December 19, 2011 at 09:07 AM · I was recently in touch with a reputed company who have just carried out a large review of rosins for violin (they prefer to remain anonymous). They used a batch of the same CF bow for blind testing with a number of players. Interestingly, they found that the scoring for grip and bite, hair noise etc was pretty consistent between players. For soloistic playing, the Andrea Solo came top.

In addition, it's the rosin chosen by my local luthier from all her stock for her personal playing - she recommends it warmly, despite the price.

So I've just given it a try.

I cleaned my bow hair thoroughly, till it was pretty much as new. Just four gentle swipes of the Andrea and the bow was playing beautifully - no need for sandpapering the surface of the rosin cake or priming the bow with rosin powder.

I wouldn't have thought a rosin could make so much difference! I've previously used the Kaplan, the Melos Dark and the Liebenzeller. For me - no comparison. The Andrea gives a sense of security and ease of articulation I haven't experienced with the others. It simply makes the instrument easier to play, and seems to improve the tone somewhat as well.

I'm finding I don't need to re-rosin the bow nearly as often, and that it only takes a couple of swipes to recharge. So although it's eye-wateringly costly, it does seem to be economical in use.

Clearly, your mileage may vary. But the combination of the test mentioned above with my luther's experience suggests that it's well worth a try. I'm ambivalent about recommending a product that seems so pricey. But it's available in a small cake that's a bit more affordable, and it does look as though this will last me for years.

December 19, 2011 at 01:34 PM · How much is it? For the small lump?

December 19, 2011 at 02:29 PM · Has anyone compared "Andrea" to its earlier incarnation of "Tartini" rosin? I actually started a whole blog re rosin. Will get back to it soon.

December 19, 2011 at 03:19 PM · I started using TARTINI rosins when they were first marketed in the USA. I actually almost imported a pack of 5 TARTINI from Korea earlier, when they were first advertised - for $12/cake. I later also purchased ANDREA rosins when they were first marketed. I find the two brands to be essentially the same, although the ANDREA viola rosins do not have a TARTINI equivalent. Also, I have never switched rosins by using my cello rosins on my violin bows, for example.

I like the way they "speak" and I especially like the way they last on the bow hair. I can play for 2 hours and at the end I'm still confident that my sound has maintained throughout - even if I buried in an orchestra or chamber ensemble.

I've tried (and still have) most other rosins there are, but when I rosin my cello and violin bows tomorrow morning to head out for a performance - I'll be using the appropriate ANDREA rosins on both.

Also - consider the "symphony" grade of TARTINI/ANDREA rosins - very good with a bit different grip on the strings. Slightly mellower sound.

Consider the 1/2-size cakes that cost 1/3 less than the big ones. They are plenty big enough and easy to keep in your jacket pocket or cello-bib pocket during performance.

Another rosin brand that I have found quite close in good qualities, at a fraction of the cost (1/2 the price of the smaller ANDREAs), is from "Paul Stevens Violins." Look it up on line; he sells both violin and cello grades.

Andy

December 19, 2011 at 03:23 PM · Andrea Solo is $30.50 on Amazon.

If this stuff makes your violin sound that much better, what's $30? How much better do you sound after one lesson, and what's that cost? If it only takes four swipes to rosin your bow with this stuff, you can probably pass it down to your grandchildren, like a Japanese mortgage.

December 19, 2011 at 04:39 PM · Thanks for the info.

One day when my rosin runs out I might consider it (I've had the rosin for years so it might be a long time).

I think it's the player that makes the difference, and not the rosin.

December 19, 2011 at 05:06 PM · Still find the best rosin is Bakers.

December 19, 2011 at 05:13 PM · Ray - have you compared the Andrea?

December 19, 2011 at 05:51 PM · I recently went back to a free sample I had of the Andrea Rosin A.Piacere, and all I can say is WOW! Like many people already said, it really does seem to make the job of playing a lot easier! Once my small cake is low, I will be scraping together my pennies and getting a real cake!

December 19, 2011 at 07:08 PM · OK, I'm sold I just ordered one - with the shipping costs one may as well get the large one...

BTW its sold in us/canada exclusively by:

http://www.quinnviolins.com/

December 19, 2011 at 08:07 PM · I really like Kolophorin, so much, that I only use it when I'm about to record....can't find it anymore....anyone know where to get it these days ????

December 20, 2011 at 03:36 AM · I belive that may be an anaesthetic. Probably put the audience to sleep.

Cheers,

Buri

December 20, 2011 at 01:38 PM · LOL Buri.

Technically, I think Kolophorin would be an anaesthetic for pains in the a$$...

December 30, 2011 at 07:37 PM · I just got my cake - actually I just finished my christmas fruit cake (no mean jokes please, if you don't like it please first be sure you tried the real thing) - I mean of course my Andrea violin rosin.

Its very dark but not the slightest bit sticky when you run your finger over the glossy surface. I played my violin with the usual Bernadrel and then switched to teh Andrea. Wow! Do you notice a difference. The grip is terrific without being sticky or sounding gravelly. I found playing fast runs immensely easier - the bow became very precise indeed. Also volume increased.

Flip sides? For me (and this is my bow/violin/limited skills combination disclaimer of course) it made it harder to play piano; and there was a tendency to stick a bit too much so that while detache runs were much easier, legato was, I think, a bit harder.

Will I keep using it? Defitely a 'tool' that I will return to to keep trying it and see if I grow into it - that has not happened to me with a rosin yet, but, as noted elsewhere I've experimented with a lot of strings and each seems to favor a different rosin type. These are larsen's BTW.

There's something else to add but I want to start a new topic on that....