Best Rosin Test

Warchal strings made the most elaborate research test on rosin publicly known. Called the "Warchl Big Rosin Test", here is an excerpt of their findings:

"About the testing method:

We put 40 different types of violin rosin through a comprehensive testing process. We used 40 carbon violin bows... rehaired with the same hair. The test was anonymous as each bow was marked only with a number. Only one type of rosin was applied on each bow. All testers were asked to clean the strings with every bow change to avoid mixing and contamination.

Because the characters of the rosins were quite different, we decided to split the results into two categories which are:

A) Maximum sound projection
B) Maximum scratch resistance 

The winners are:

A) Andrea Solo – Cremona in America
B) Vienna's Best – Petz Kolophonium

Both rosins provide an unmatched sound/noise ratio. They provide the best level of performance. Despite the rosin manufacturer's recommendations, they can be mixed in order to achieve the desired sound and response.

Andrea Solo: This rosin allows you to achieve a really great tone with almost no effort. It has the highest dynamic range and it is ideal for solo playing, especially in large halls. Highly recommended for applying to new hair after rehairing.

Vienna's Best: The most “forgiving” rosin. It allows you to create a really Viennese sound. Ideal for recordings, and bright instruments. It can be applied after changing strings in order to avoid the initial brightness of the strings during the break-in time.

Andrea A Piacere: Additionally, we have also decided to offer you a product which can be described as the most universal. It provides less dynamic range than the Andrea Solo, however the tone is warmer close to the ears. It is ideal for players who want to use just one rosin for every occasion. Especially suitable for playing in smaller halls or studios.

About mixing the rosins:

These rosins can be mixed. We recommend using Andrea Solo first after every rehair. Vienna's Best can be applied whenever you need to soften your sound and response. 

For example, if you are playing Mozart in the first half of your recital and Prokofiev in the second, you can sparingly use Vienna's Best before the concert and Andrea Solo after the interval.

By alternating Andrea Solo and Vienna's Best you can adjust your bow grip and tone character for every occasion. If you prefer using just one rosin, we recommend that you choose Andrea A Piacere."

Rosin Test Results Chart

From article: https://www.warchal.com/the_big_rosin_test.html. 

Photo Credit: Virgile Simon Bertrand