Synthetic Fiddle Rosin

Subject: Synthetic Fiddle Rosin
From: bill\sables
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 06:30 AM

Last night at the JUG Mike Cahill brought his fiddle, he explained that he was allergic to rosin used on the bow and showed me a synthic rosin from somewhere in the USA called "Cleartone". It was transparent and it seems it does not cause him any problems. But the amazing thing about it is the smoothness of the bow and the speed it seems to generate while playing. Nobody would call me a fiddler but I can knock a tune out and this rosin made it sound like I could play Fr.O'Flynn at a good speed.
Bill

Subject: RE: Synthetic Fiddle Rosin
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 06:43 AM

I wonder if it would work for me Bill. I find the fiddle very frustrating - the left hand knows what it is doing but I can't bow to save my life. I don't suppose I will try though as for some reason, bowing seems to give me horrible pains in the chest and my fiddle (and mandolin come to think about it) are still on loan to people in Wales - I can't see myself going back to reclaim them.

Jon

Subject: RE: Synthetic Fiddle Rosin
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 02:00 PM

I'd be very interested in hearing about this too. I tried to do a web search, with no luck.

Subject: RE: Synthetic Fiddle Rosin
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 02:19 PM

It's not synthetic, but Motrya rosin is supposed to be hypoallerginic........ click. No luck for the Cleartone stuff yet.

I learned on Maestronet's bb that a stickier rosin, applied sparingly, is easier for the allergic folks to handle.

Subject: RE: Synthetic Fiddle Rosin
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 02:34 PM

I found something called DuPont Synthetic Rosin for double basses, but I can't find a dealer for it......

Subject: RE: Synthetic Fiddle Rosin
From: bill\sables
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 03:10 PM

I will ask Mike Cahill to post a thread for more info.
Bill

Subject: RE: Synthetic Fiddle Rosin
From: GUEST,mike cahill
Date: 08 Mar 01 - 06:00 PM

I'm the person Bill is talking about. What happened with me is, I started playing the fiddle in November last year and by Christmas I had a "heat lump" type rash in-between my fingers, and I was definitely having problems going upstairs to my 3rd. floor office at work(no lift). I then picked up a chest infection that I couldn't shake off. Eventually I went to my doctors and when I explained the symptoms, she said that I'd developed Asthma, caused by an allergy to the rosin. I tried to cut down on the amount of rosin I was using but it was still having problems and having to use an inhaler. I was at the point of giving up the fiddle, and put a request for suggestions on the bowed strings newsgroup. Someone sent me the E-mail address of the inventor and he sent me a sample. It's early days but my lungs seem a lot better, and I no longer need the inhaler.

The material is completely clear, and gives a very slick silky feeling to the bow in use, experienced fiddlers that have tried my bow say that it helps them to play faster, and they don't have a problem with it reducing the volume, I do, It must be my poor technique. The manufacturer tells me that he can produce different versions of the product with different properties(just like the different grades of rosin)to give a louder, harsher tone. It isn't affected by humidity, and doesn't deteriorate on the bow so you don't have to repeatedly apply every time you play, just as it wears off. I've E-mailed the guy to ask if it's OK to print his e-mail address, and will print it here if he says yes. He says that it is based on an adhesive that is used in medical products, and is Hypoallergenic. He doesn't want it to be thought of as just a product for people with an allergy but thinks that it is a superior product to rosin. Again the other fiddlers who've tried it liked it. It doesn't seem to affect me like rosin, I can run upstairs at work and I am now practising regularly again and about to inflict myself on the long suffering customers in the jug.

Subject: RE: Synthetic Fiddle Rosin
From: bill\sables
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 05:45 PM

Mike, I would like to buy some of this resin, Will you bring his email address to the Jug next Wednesday please.
Bill

Subject: RE: Synthetic Fiddle Rosin
From: GUEST,Mike Cahill
Date: 09 Mar 01 - 06:43 PM

For more info on cleartone contact :-

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Synthetic Fiddle Rosin
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Mar 01 - 08:57 PM

I e mailed, and recieved this response, and permission to post it here:

ClearTone isn't yet commercially available. I'm in the process of negotiating a license with an established string/rosin company right now and hope that ClearTone will be available later this summer.

I gave out quite a few samples during the early development of ClearTone in order to get feedback from people, but because of the expense and hassle, I haven't been sending any samples for the last few months.

However, I will send a sample to anyone who suffers from a rosin allergy. If that includes you, just let me know and I'll send you some.

Thanks for your interest.
- Tom