fernandraynaud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1865
Registered: 7-25-2009
Location: San Francisco, California
Member Is Offline
Mood: m'Oudy
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A little discovery: new timbres for a dollar and a half
I had always thought that risha and feather and fingernail and horsehair were related, involving proteins with similar properties, and wondered if
rosin could be used to extract new tones.
I just went out and got some rosin (and a bow) to experiment with. Let me just say that the tiny block of rosin opens up a whole new world of timbres
with both Delrin (acetal) and Cow Horn rishas. In particular those plain nylon strings which are normally as lacking in harmonic content as a dance
party with accountants can be driven into bright and crunchy timbres that are altogether new. And I love good value for money -- $1.49 ?
The best way to try it is to bevel the risha edges "like a knife" using say P400 sandpaper. Leave a little "grit" to the material. Try playing on the
top 3 courses using the "knife edges" of the risha. Then sort of "saw" with the risha in a deep groove you've scratched in a block of violin rosin,
and go back to try what you just played again. It's quite interesting. The edges of the risha are now loaded up with rosin, and a new type of friction
is available. It's as if the risha were a tiny bow. The "crunch" really brings out some pizzazzzz. It's as if the nylon strings acquired a metal
winding! It also sounds a bit like that Iraqi "floating bridge" sharpness. Or a Cumbus!
It's very easy to flip between the ends of the risha to have a wider variety of tone availables, keeping one end in rosin and the other clear, and
also shaped differently on the two faces. Since playing near the bridge emphasizes upper tones, it's logical to play with rosin nearer the bridge, and
keep rosin off the strings near the soundhole for a mellower timbre.
It's also very easy to "reload" with rosin, one could attach a little block to the bridge. Is it worth it? It depends on whether you find plain nylon
dull or not. It's certainly a new voice to try out that won't break the bank.
Here's a very short example snappin' mah rosin risha.
Attachment: RosinRisha1.mp3 (92kB)
This file has been downloaded 134 times
Bellafina Wood Block Rosin, Amber $1.49
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fernandraynaud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1865
Registered: 7-25-2009
Location: San Francisco, California
Member Is Offline
Mood: m'Oudy
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... and if I just put rosin on nylon strings I can get new tones even playing with the fingers, like on a spanish guitar 
That's a lot of mileage for a little cake of rosin.
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Aymara
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1162
Registered: 10-14-2009
Location: Germany / Ruhr Region
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Thanks ... interesting report!
Greetings from Germany
Chris
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Luttgutt
Oud Junkie
Posts: 578
Registered: 1-10-2009
Location: Norway
Member Is Offline
Mood: Curious
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I am defenitly trying.. nothing to lose I guess 
The wood might be dead, but the oud is alive.
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fernandraynaud
Oud Junkie
Posts: 1865
Registered: 7-25-2009
Location: San Francisco, California
Member Is Offline
Mood: m'Oudy
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I'm finding it can be pushed with a lot of rosin to get very metallic or Turkish timbres, but also lightly just to even out the transition between the
wound and plain strings. I think this solves most of my quarrel with plain nylon strings.
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