Why Me

[tomchap]

Manfred,

"Always"?  Never heard of it.

Where do you come from, or where have I been living? I may have missed out on something that might have been worth missing.

Cheers

Tom.

[zondrae]

Manfred,

Well not being a fiddler, I haven't heard the term either. No offence ment mate, just don't like that word regardless from which animal it may come.

Kym,  Don't know the name of the site that Wayne found. I'll check with him. Get back to you shortly. It's great fun.... We are just using an old saw that someone else used to play but have ordered a "Musical" one online. Apparently, the proper ones are longer and therefore give a wider octave range. Also we have a violin/viola bow and the Bass bow will be better too. I was only too happy to get a 'real' one as my old man is one of those for whom it is impossible to think of a gift for. Now I want a Ukulele.

[zondrae]

OK Kym,

try, www.musical-saw.com/tutorial.htm  it's very interesting.

[manfredvijars]

... this product has been around for many years, as I recall in my youth the expression, "Sticks to the road like gorilla snot!" (when describing the cornering abilities of some cars)  ... I thought it was quite a common term that everyone was familiar with.

Gorilla Snot Musicians Gripping Resin
Non-gooey. Naturally refined tree rosin.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--GRSGOSNOT



Gorilla Snot is a gripping aid. It has been developed by and for professionals who demand flexibility, functionality, and efficiency in the tools of their trade. A non-gooey, naturally refined tree rosin, Gorilla Snot reacts with your body's natural chemistry and heat output to retain a steady grip on picks drumsticks, bows, and any other hard to grip instruments.

While playing, Gorilla Snot maintains an even consistency, but when you've finished, just separate your fingers for 20 or 30 seconds, and it dissolves completely! The gripping reaction is only effective when you activate it. It cannot stain instruments or clothing because it is entirely permeable to open air and dissipates completely.

How Do I Use Snot?
Apply Gorilla Snot sparingly to your fingers or work a small amount into your pick, bow, or drumstick! Gorilla Snot dries in a few seconds, forming a soft tacky surface that is moisture resistant, long lasting, and won't stain clothing or instruments. After you've finished using it, separate your fingers from the instrument, and hold them apart (hand open). After half a minute, the Gorilla Snot will be almost completely non-existent!

Note: If you use too much, the Snot may take a little longer to dissipate, and you should wipe your hands with a mildly soapy cloth and dry thoroughly... (rule of thumb: excess is a mess!)

[tomchap]

Aha, so it's a gripping resin - like weight lifters use to hold the bar.  It probably isn't the stuff for violin bows. But I've already found out that it's never too late to learn.

Cheers

Tom

[the mad mare]

rEsin, rOsin - same but different - one's powdery, one's hard, but have the same effect really

[Babe]

Must say I like Manfreds stuff - I'm forever sending my guitar pick off into the void in the middle of a song. I took to smearing blu-tack on them for a little grip, but the residue is hideous! I think I'll track some of the G.S. down.

For the general education of the group, this is rosin

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosin:

Rosin, formerly called colophony or Greek pitch (Pix græca), is a solid form of resin obtained from pines and some other plants, mostly conifers, produced by heating fresh liquid resin to vaporize the volatile liquid terpene components. It is semi-transparent and varies in color from yellow to black. At room temperature rosin is brittle, but it melts at stove-top temperatures. It chiefly consists of different resin acids, especially abietic acid.

Rosin is also known as colophony or colophonia resina from its origin in Colophon, an ancient Ionic city.


Babe

[Irene]

Hmmmm, don't know about any of that stuff!!! 
That gorilla snot sounds like a strange sort of substance!!! 

Zondrae,
Haven't had a chance to post much lately - been a bit busy!!
Thanks for re-posting your poem. No, I hadn't read it before, but thoroughly enjoyed it!!
Very true sentiments!!  They seem to be pretty well universal for mums, don't they?

Catchya
Irene

[manfredvijars]

Hey Tom ... actually lots of Classical violinists use it as well as 'fiddle' players, here in Brissie it's commonly called - (Zondrae - look away) pelicans piss ....

[tomchap]

Thanks Manfred,
I live in a different world of clarinets, saxes, and trombones. My daughter plays fiddle, but I never got that involved.

Cheers

Tom.

[r. magnay]

Go the drummers!!..............Sounds like good stuff would have been good stuff to have back in the old Bushi Band days, trouble is the beer probably would have washed it off anyway!