Bass Rosin
$28.00A powerful, noble-sounding rosin for all situations. Sticky enough for orchestral use without grit or noise. Produces a deep, focused tone with a pleasant dark note.
Hardness
Handmade in Groningen · est. 2024
The rosin that speaks for itself.
Handmade rosin for violin, viola, cello, gamba and double bass. Developed with players from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Now shipping from the United States.
- From $22.50
- Free US shipping over $75
- Ships from Chicago
- Professional grade
Developed with orchestral musicians at the highest level.
- Handcrafted
Every cake made in small batches in Groningen.
- Nothing wasted
A kraft box and a paper cup. 100% recyclable.
- Honest price
Top-tier rosin without paying for the packaging.
Shop
A rosin for every instrument.
One formula each for violin, viola and cello/gamba. Three hardnesses for double bass — pick by climate and playing style, or read the guide.
Violin Rosin
$22.50Gives the bow optimal grip and contact with the string (gut or steel). Allows for clarity, nobleness, and control. Produces a clear, round, resonant tone with depth, focus, and projection.
Viola Rosin
$22.50Developed specifically for violists. Features a firm grip, clear attack, rich and resonant focused tone, and crisp articulation with minimal background noise. Ideal for gut and steel strings.
Cello / Gamba Rosin
$22.50Developed with cellist Jacopo Ristori and inspired by a historical recipe. Provides a full, clear, resonant sound with excellent articulation and projection. Suitable for cello (gut or steel) and bass viol.
Handcrafted in Groningen, Netherlands · Ships from Chicago, U.S.A. · US addresses only
Our story
No frills. Pure quality.
Rosin is a tool, not a luxury good. Like a bow or a string, it has to be excellent and reasonably priced.
050 Rosin was born in Groningen from a simple observation: professional musicians deserve top-quality rosin without paying a premium for fancy wraps, convoluted packaging and romanticised backstories.
Founded by a professional classical and early-music bassist, every cake is handcrafted with a focus on what actually matters: tone, grip, consistency and reliability. The formulas were developed with some of the finest players in Europe, including members of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
050
The area code for Groningen, a city with a deep musical tradition. It's the whole brand name. We let the rosin speak, not the box.
The science
How rosin makes sound.
Rosin is the interface between bow and string. Without it, the bow slides and nothing speaks. Here's the physics behind every note.
STEP 01
Stick
Rosin-coated bow hair grips the string through adhesion and pulls it sideways.
STEP 02
Slip
When tension beats friction, the string snaps back. That release is the vibration.
STEP 03
Repeat
Hundreds of times per second. The rhythm of stick and slip is the sustained tone.
A rosin's hardness, melting point and stickiness set the tone, the bow response and how much dust you get. That's why one formula can't serve every instrument, climate and playing style. Ours are calibrated per instrument, with three hardnesses for double bass to cover the full range of professional needs.
The 050 difference
Professional quality, honest price.
How 050 compares with other rosins players reach for. Full guide →
| Brand | Price range | Handmade | Packaging | Developed with pros |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 050 Rosin | $22.50 – $28.00 | Yes | 100% recyclable | Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra |
| Leatherwood Bespoke | $45 – $74 | Yes | Partly recyclable | Yes |
| Cecilia | $37 | Yes | Plastic | Yes |
| D'Addario Kaplan | $15 – $20 | No | Plastic | Yes |
| Pirastro | $15 – $45 | No | Plastic | Yes |
| Bernardel | $10 – $15 | No | Cloth | No |
What players say
Trusted on stage.
Having tried tens of products, with its tone, grip, level of dust and residue, I can honestly say that this is the best rosin ever made.
I used Kolstein Soft before, but think soft 050 rosin stays active longer on the bow. Good grip but not too dark.
We've rosined up some bows and tried the formulations here at the shop, and we found that these rosins are both very smooth and easy to use.
FAQ
Questions players ask.
Which bass rosin should I choose: Soft, Hard or Super Sticky?
Soft is the all-rounder and the one most players start with: enough grip for orchestral work without grit or noise, a deep, focused tone with a dark note. Hard suits chamber and solo playing and warm rooms or summer seasons; it keeps power and fullness and adds shimmer and clarity. Super Sticky is the orchestral rosin, developed with players from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra: big, dark, focused tone with punch and projection.
Does 050 Rosin work on gut strings?
Yes. The violin, viola and cello/gamba formulas are made for gut or steel strings. The cello/gamba rosin is also suited to bass viol and other viols.
How is it different from Pops, Kolstein or Carlsson?
Those are fine rosins, and many 050 players came from them. The difference is the philosophy: 050 is handmade in small batches, sold in a recyclable paper cup and kraft box rather than a tin or plastic case, and priced at $22.50 to $28 because you are paying for the rosin, not the packaging. One TalkBass player who switched from Kolstein Soft found 050 Soft stays active longer on the bow with good grip but not too dark.
How much rosin should I use?
Less than you think. A few slow strokes over the full length of the hair is plenty for a well-broken-in bow. If you see dust on the instrument or hear scratch in the attack, you are using too much. Hard formulas need slightly more passes than soft ones.
Why does rosin matter at all?
Without rosin the bow hair slides over the string and no sound is made. Rosin lets the hair grip the string, pull it sideways and release it hundreds of times a second: the stick-slip cycle that is the sustained tone. The formula's hardness, melting point and stickiness set the tone, the bow response and the amount of dust.
Where do you ship?
United States addresses only, from stock held in the US. Standard shipping is $5 (3–5 business days), Express is $15 (1–2 business days), and orders of $75 or more ship free.
Where is 050 Rosin made?
Every cake is handmade in small batches in Groningen, the Netherlands. 050 is the city's telephone area code, which is where the name comes from.
What is the packaging?
A paper cup inside a stamped kraft box. Both are recyclable. There is no plastic, no cloth and no tin; the money goes into the rosin, not the wrapping.
How do I pay?
Checkout is handled by Stripe. Cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Cash App Pay, Affirm and Klarna are accepted. Your card details never touch our server.
Questions?
Not sure which one?
Tell us your instrument, strings and where you play, and we'll point you at the right cake.
Replies within a day or two.