HistoryFrom the 10th to 12th century, people used resin obtained from fir and pine trees for painting and to make their wooden boats waterproof. It was also around that time that people from the eastern parts of the Mediterranean region started to look for new and better ways how to play their stringed instruments. Initially, they would use sticks made from dried sheep gut which had a rather rough surface to strike the strings. Later on, people discovered the benefits of using horsehair for bowing their strings. With a layer of rosin applied onto the bow hair this proved to be the perfect invention. Only bow hair coated with rosin would grab the strings enough for them to be caused to vibrate. |
ExtractionNatural resin was and still is obtained from pine trees during fall and turpentine oil is the product which is gained through its distillation. Pieces of natural resin are heated up in a boiler in order to evaporate water from it while at the same time impure components within the now liquefied resin slowly sink towards the bottom of the boiler. As a last step, the pure liquid resin is skimmed off and then cooled down. |
You can recognize the origin of the resin by its color. French and North American pure resin has a light yellow color while German pure resin is rather brown. Pure natural resin is transparent, can be easily pulverized and dissolves in alcohol and essential oils. |
musicians are using for their bow hair. Each manufacturer has his very own specific procedure to make rosin which he protects as a strict secret. As a consequence, all rosins today differ in quality and impact the bowing technique and the sound color of an instrument immensely. For the musician it is thus important to carefully choose a rosin which helps him to have the most ideal grip of the bow while playing the strings. |
High quality rosin allows for perfect bowing without scratchy sounds, especially if only a thin layer of rosin is applied. The general rule is:
Another important aspect for choosing the right rosin is the core material of the string that are being used:
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Moreover, experienced players prefer softer rosin when playing in a studio and harder rosin in a concert hall. Hard rosin works best in tropical climates while soft rosin is good for cold climates.
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Each cake of rosin is glued onto a soft cloth which then is attached to a hard plastic grip. This prevents the fingers of the musician to get exposed to rosin dust and also makes it easier to apply the rosin. |
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Note:
This chart shows the contrasting grades of our rosins.
For more detailed information about the most appropriate rosin to use with your favorite PIRASTRO strings, please refer to the individual string’s specification.
Evah Pirazzi GoldSpecifically developed to match perfectly with the seductive and inspiring sound of our Evah Prazzi Gold sets, the Evah Pirazzi Gold rosin brings forth the full sound spectrum, powerful projection, and excellent bow response of these strings. Evah Pirazzi Gold rosin increases the ease of bow response in the softer dynamic range and maximizes the instrument‘s ability to react to bow pulses during fast and virtuoso playing. The rosin‘s powerful contact with the strings allows the player to draw out the sound evenly and enable clear articulation without harshness. A smooth, supple, and satisfying playing experience is also provided as soon as the rosin is applied. The Evah Pirazzi Gold rosin distinguishes itself by creating only a minor formation of dust with no residue forming on the bow hair or the strings point of contact. We advise that you apply this rosin sparingly to achieve optimal results. You may find that you need to use much less than other types of rosin. > Rosin chart> About rosin |
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Oliv / Evah PirazziDark olive color. Relatively soft, low dust forming, big sound, good grip with low noise. Well suited for gut strings and Evah Pirazzi strings. > Rosin chart> About rosin |
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EudoxaYellow-orange. Full and round sound. Especially suited for "Eudoxa" and "Chorda". > Rosin chart> About rosin |
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Obligato / ViolinoForest honey colors. Mellow, rounded sound. Well suited for synthetic strings with low and medium tension. > Rosin chart> About rosin |
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TonicaMetallic orange. Medium hardness and grip. Developed for our Tonica strings. > Rosin chart> About rosin |
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GoldOrange. Especially well suited for Gold gut strings. > Rosin chart> About rosin |
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SchwarzBlack. A dark, hard rosin suited for steel strings. > Rosin chart> About rosin |
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GoldflexGold colors. A slightly harder rosin mixed with golden metal powder; for general use. > Rosin chart> About rosin |
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CelloBrilliant cherry red. A slightly harder rosin for cello. > About rosin |
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CellistoBrilliant cherry red. A soft quality rosin for cello. > About rosin |
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Bass mittelOpaque yellow. A soft rosin with good grip. > About rosin |
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PiranitoOrange. An attractively priced, simple and good rosin for beginners. Comes in a durable square plastic box and is attached to a fabric cover to protect the fingers, hard. > About rosin |