How Rosin is Made:
http://www.stringsmagazine.com/issues/Strings115/yourinstrument.html
http://www.stringsmagazine.com/issues/strings98/rosin.html
http://www.theviolinsite.com/violin_bows/rosin.html

1. What is the difference between violin/viola rosin and cello or bass rosin?

Violin rosins tend to be much smoother and less gritty than cello or bass rosin.  More "traction" is needed to grip the bigger, heavier strings of the bigger instruments.


2. Is it true that lighter-colored rosin is better for use in low-humidity climates (i.e. St. Louis in the winter?)

Lighter rosins would probably work very well all year round in any climate; darker rosins are not ideal in hot, humid climates.

3. If you used one kind of rosin on your bow for awhile, can you just switch to another kind of rosin without rehairing your bow?

Yes, but don't necessarily expect a huge difference in sound quality.  There will still be the residue of the previous rosin so you won't get as dramatic a difference in sound quality as you would if you were applying the new rosin on fresh hair.

4. Do you need to scratch the surface of a new cake of rosin?

It is helpful to lightly scratch it but not essential.

5. Does rosin really get brittle after a year- even if you keep it wrapped up and stored in your case?

It gets brittle overtime if it gets dried out, but not necessarily after a year and not necessarily in all climates.

6. Is it true that you should only stroke rosin on the bowhairs DOWN-bow (as in the same direction as the microscopic barbs on the hair)?

We rosin both up and down bows.  I haven't heard an argument based on the microscopic barbs, though if the barbs only went in one direction, does that mean you only get adhesion in one direction? up OR down, but not both??

7. How do you clean bowhair- with denatured alcohol/ Softscrub on a toothbrush/ ivory soap/ something else?

We do not advocate "cleaning" bowhair.  The best thing is to simply rehair it.  Even if you were to clean it, the hair will stretch and eventually the mechanics of the frog sitting in the stick won't allow you to tighten the hair anymore.  NOTE: if you're changing rosins and aren't getting a bow rehair for awhile, then you could "wear out" the old rosin by playing the bow until it won't play anymore (becomes slick); then wipe off the hair with an UNTREATED cotton cloth; then apply new rosin.

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