KOLSTEIN ROSIN

A History of Kolstein Rosins

Upon analyzing the rosin situation of the modern day violinist, violist, cellist and bassist, it became apparent to Samuel Kolstein, founder of Kolstein Music, Inc and Samuel Kolstein & Son, Ltd. Violinmakers, that the need for consistent rosin specifically formulated for each instrument was greatly needed.  Prior to the development of Kolstein’s Formulation Supreme Rosin, rosin was generically made for all instruments with players being forced to use rosins which were not formulated with the individual instrument’s requirements. For that matter, the violin, viola, and cello players were using identical kegs of rosin. Kolstein spent many arduous hours in the early 1960’s studying chemical analysis books, speaking with head chemical engineers form the leading chemical supply companies and conducting countless hours of experimentation with sample components to create what has evolved into the present level of Kolstein rosins. 

Barrie Kolstein recalls his younger days as a bass student of the famed Bassist Orin O’Brien leaving to catch a train into New York to take his weekly lesson and having Sam cooling sample rosins in the freezer to get them solid enough for Barrie to bring to Orin to try and give to colleagues in the New York Philharmonic.  These days of perhaps somewhat less than refined enriched rosin making resulted in some amazing feedback from some of the finest violinists, violists, cellists and bassists and supplied a very important direction in the development of the current Kolstein rosins that are so highly regarded on an international basis. Kolstein’s Formulation Supreme Rosin was engineered based on the invaluable feedback the Kolstein’s received, so that each string player has the option of having their own specifically formulated rosin, and in the case of the cellist, both a normal and slightly tackier medium grade. For the bassist, there is an option of Hard, All-Weather or Soft Grade to accommodate personal preferences. Through much tedious research and experimentation, as a result Kolstein Music has produced the Kolstein Rosins specifically formulated for each instrument and each individual player’s needs. 

Bass Rosin

Kolstein’s Formulation Supreme Bass Rosin is crafted from the finest ingredients, ensuring superior quality through meticulous product control adhering strictly to our developed formula. Each batch undergoes a minimum curing period for a predetermined duration.

Our bass rosin stands out for its rich, dark texture, achieved through hand pouring and packaging in a specially designed roll-down silicon container. This unique packaging not only preserves the freshness of the rosin but also prevents any melting, offering bassists an innovative solution.

The deluxe line of our rosin features protective silicon packaging within an attractive gold foil container, balancing aesthetics with functionality for professional needs while considering easy storage.

Available in several grades (Hard, All Weather, and Soft), our Formulation Supreme Bass Rosin caters to musicians' personal preferences and adapts to various geographic and climatic conditions.

Like all Kolstein Formulation Supreme Rosins, our bass rosins boast indefinite shelf life, remaining free from drying out and crystallizing. After initial use, the rosin exhibits a continual wetting action, facilitating effortless powdering on strings and instruments.

Cello Rosin

Upon examining the rosin landscape for modern cellists, it became evident that there was a high demand for a consistently excellent cello rosin. Until the advent of Kolstein’s Formulation Supreme Cello Rosin, cellists were compelled to use rosins that weren’t tailored to their specific needs. In fact, violin, viola, and cello players alike were using the same rosins.

Kolstein’s Formulation Supreme Cello Rosin has addressed this issue by providing cellists with a single rosin that meets all their requirements, eliminating the need to experiment with multiple types. Through extensive research and experimentation, a rosin specifically formulated for the cello has been developed.

In the production of our cello rosin, stringent quality control measures are in place, including precise measurement of the finest ingredients according to a developed formula, pouring into alloy-lined wooden molds to ensure consistent hardening and prevent thermal cracking, and subjecting it to a required minimum curing period.

As with all Kolstein rosins, the cello rosin boasts an indefinite shelf life, thanks to a continual wetting action that prevents crystallization and enables easy application to the bow, with minimal powdering on strings and instruments during play.

Violin Rosin

Consistent violin rosin has long posed a challenge for discerning string players. Recognizing this need, Kolstein's Formulation Supreme Violin Rosin delivers a solution with its strong, even adherence, enduring performance, minimal powdering, superior packaging, and unmatched smooth tonal qualities.

Extensive research has meticulously crafted this violin rosin through precise product control, including exact measurement of the finest ingredients according to a developed formula, pouring into alloy-lined wooden molds for uniform hardening and thermal crack prevention, and subjecting it to a required minimum curing period.

The deluxe packaging enhances both protection and aesthetics, featuring a lint-proof chamois-like material backing and an attractive gold foil container spacious enough for the rosin and cloth, yet compact for easy placement in any violin case.

An exceptional feature of Kolstein’s Formulation Supreme Violin Rosin is its indefinite shelf life, ensuring it never dries out or crystallizes like most other rosins. After initial use, the rosin exhibits continual wetting action, facilitating easy bow application and minimizing powdering on strings and the instrument during play.Custom blending tailored to ultra-professional musicians' requirements is fundamental to a superior rosin.

Kolstein’s Formulation Supreme Violin Rosin offers a choice between a medium grade for viola or a normal grade for violin, providing violin and viola players with unparalleled quality and choice in a richly blended, textured rosin.

Viola Rosin

The consistent availability of high-quality viola rosin has long been a challenge for discerning string players. Kolstein's Formulation Supreme Viola Rosin addresses this challenge by offering a rosin that boasts strong and even adherence, long-lasting performance, minimal powdering, superior packaging, and smooth tonal qualities.

Extensive research has led to the creation of this viola rosin, which is meticulously produced through precise product control. This process includes measuring the finest ingredients according to a developed formula, pouring the mixture into alloy-lined wooden molds to ensure uniform hardening and prevent thermal cracking, and subjecting it to a minimum curing period for a predetermined duration.

The packaging of Kolstein's Formulation Supreme Viola Rosin is designed to provide both protection and aesthetic appeal. It features a lint-proof chamois-like material backing and is housed in an attractive gold foil container large enough to accommodate the rosin and cloth, yet compact enough to fit easily into any viola case.

An essential feature of this rosin is its indefinite shelf life; it will never dry out or crystallize like most other rosins. Moreover, after initial use, the rosin exhibits continual wetting action, facilitating easy application to the bow and minimizing powdering on strings and the instrument during play.

Kolstein's Formulation Supreme Viola Rosin offers custom blending options to meet the specific requirements of ultra-professional musicians. It provides a choice between a medium grade for viola and a normal grade for violin, ensuring that viola players have access to top-quality rosin tailored to their preferences. With its richly blended texture, this rosin provides the ultimate in quality and choice for viola players.

Testimonials

Timothy Cobb

“A cake of your rosin is almost always present on my stand (and my colleague’s stands at the Met). With a four-thousand seat house to play to, we...

Shlomo Mintz

“I have been more than pleased with all aspects of the Kolstein Violin rosin. It offers extremely low powdering, even adherence to the bow hair and a wonderful...

Tina Guo

“I love my Kolstein Cello Rosin! I use it on both my fine bows with my classical cello, and on all four of my carbon fiber bows with my electric cello, with...

Byung Kook Kwak

“Kolstein viola rosin is my first and only choice. The sound and clarity that it gives is outstanding. I have relied upon it my entire career.”

Thomas Martin

“Dear Barrie, Just a note to thank you so much for the rosin. I can see that you really put your heart and soul into perfecting it and I think it is great. I find it leads...

Tuomas Ylinen

“I´m using Kolstein rosin with great pleasure. It works very well with all kinds of different repertoire. I´m using it while playing in an orchestra and also when...

Frank Proto

“I’ve used the Kolstein Bass rosin for many years. I love the consistency that it gives me in bringing out the best my bows have to offer. An added bonus is that...

Peter Lloyd

“Through 35 years and thousands of orchestral, solo and chamber music performances, I have always turned to Kolstein rosin as the most dependable and classy...

Rufus Reid

“I have had a most rewarding experience with the Samuel Kolstein Ultra Bass Rosin – Soft grade. From the the first application to my bow, I was...

David Blackmon

“I find the Kolstein violin rosin to be the best rosin I have used in my 35+ years of being a professional fiddler/violinist. It is very unique in that it pulls...

Dmitry Yablonsky

“I was so pleased to recently receive the Kolstein Cello Rosin, from my colleague Shlomo Mintz. As a long term user of a competitive cello rosin, it was not easy to...

François Rabbath

“Bravo…..J’utilise votre colophane et je suis très satisfait.” (“Bravo…I use your rosin and am very satisfied”)

James VanDemark

“Kolstein Ultra Bass Rosin has consistently been my rosin of choice. A powerful and clean sound, consistency, and ease of application are assured...

Pierre-Marie Lepage

“Bonjour M. Kolstein, Votre colophane pour alto est remarquable. Bien à vous. Pierre-Marie Lepage”(Hello Mr. Kolstein, Your viola rosin is remarkable. Yours.

Tom Bresnick

“Bravo…..J’utilise votre colophane et je suis très satisfait.” (“Bravo…I use your rosin and am very satisfied”)

Mirel Iancovici

“After having tried for decades almost every kind of rosin, from famous to less known ones, I came back to an old ‘love’, Kolstein rosin. Directness and yet...

Yuan Xiong Lu

“Kolstein Rosin provides exceptional depth of tone and responsiveness under the bow. I have always used it and recommend it highly to any bassist!”