Upright Double Bass Rosin (PBR)
Pops rosin was created by Len "Pops" Manno, who played double bass with the Houston Symphony for 41 years. It is made in Houston, Texas where the rosin is hand-mixed in small batches for high quality control and clear purity, and finally packaged in an eco-safe, airtight container and sold by weight -- 1.13 oz. per cake. For over 40 years, it has been distributed to bass players worldwide!
This small family business keeps all precision factory equipment up-to-date to enable the original "recipe" to be adhered to exactly so that quality control is not compromised in any way. This assures that the rosin maintains the original characteristics that makes it such a desired rosin among bass players.
The rosin is very popular worldwide because it has unique qualities that enable the bow to really "grab" the string and make a very pleasing sound. So many of the players -- particularly symphony, ensemble, and solo artists -- use Pops' for this reason. Of course, the exact ingredients and the "recipe" are Top Secret.
Players report that it takes only a small amount of Pops' rosin on the bow -- only two or three swipes for every few hours of playing. Too much spoils the effect! The label reminds players to "Use Sparingly." Therefore, rarely does a player use the whole cake before replacing it with a fresh cake.
In fact, most professional players feel that the rosin is at its peak when it is newly made -- not very old. Although the rosin is always "good," once it begins to dry, harden, and become powdery, many of the players want a new cake. Environmental conditions can greatly impact the rosin. So, some professionals highly recommend that the cake be replaced every couple of months with a fresh one. But finding a fresh cake can be difficult!! Players know the difference between "fresh" and "older" rosin!
PLEASE NOTE: The rosin is necessarily "soft" to produce the qualities that give the bow such a good "grab." The label reminds players to keep it upright and in the red container, tightly closed. This is important for two reasons: (1) Air and umidity can dry out the cake, but the airtight red container is sufficient to protect from exposure to these elements IF properly closed and (2) When the container is stored on its side, it will "run" -- changing the shape of the rosin, especially in hot weather. However, the shape doesn't affect the quality; it just isn't as pretty and is a little harder to handle! Some have nicknamed such spontaneously sculptured cakes "Pops'sicles."
Over the years players have addressed these issues. Some report that they always make sure the container lid is completely closed properly which may require extra effort. Others keep the rosin at room temperature by storing it in an insulated bag with a cold source of some sort, like those "blue ice" packs. A few say for easier handling, they like to remove the cake from the paper cup and keep it only in the red container. Bottom line is they all love their Pops'!
REMEMBER: Three things in particular affect the freshness of the rosin -- temperature, humidity, and air. According to the manufacturer, despite claims by some retailers of methods and/or devices to maintain freshness, nothing has been developed yet that can address all three elements. Therefore, the time-tested advise remains the same: keep Pops' in the airtight red container, close properly, and store upright at room temperature! And use sparingly -- only a few swipes of the bow is needed.
