Manhasset FourScore Folder (Model 1650) Product Review: A Must-Have Accessory

Manhasset FourScore Folder (Model 1650) Closed

Introduction: Over the past 75+ years, Manhasset has become synonymous with big, sturdy, black music stands that last a lifetime.  The one I used as a child currently graces my teaching studio.  Day after day, it supports the weight of several thick music books without a hitch.

Manhasset Fourscore Stand

Standard-width music stands are perfect for displaying two and up to three pages of music at once.  But viewing four pages generally requires an extended-width stand.  In the past, when I have needed to display four pages at once, I have used Manhasset's Fourscore Stand (pictured right), which features a solid one-piece desk. The FourScore stand is a very handy stand -- especially if it does not need to be moved or transported frequently.  However, I have always wanted a light and transportable four-page option that I could use for gigs and performances.

Enter the subject of this review, the Manhasset Model 1650 FourScore Folder, the perfect portable four-page solution for the working musician.

Manhasset FourScore Inside View

Features:  The FourScore Folder extends the width of any music stand to 34 inches, which is wide enough for four pages of music to be viewed at once with no overlap.  It unfolds in two directions -- vertically, to provide width, and horizontally at the bottom, to provide a lip.  For storage or transport, it folds neatly to 1/3 of its full width.  An elastic security band wraps around the back of the music stand, which secures the folder in place.

As shown in the picture at left, the Fourscore also has three clear vinyl panels on the inside that can be used to keep single pages secure indoors or out, along with a sturdy, wide lip that runs the length of the folder.  The outside features a small vinyl pocket for identification.

FourScore Folder Piled High

Fit and Finish: Constructed from heat-sealed class 100 vinyl with 80 pt. chipboard core, the FourScore Folder feels sturdy, secure, and well-made.  It has a professional feel and look, inside and out.  To assess the folder's strength and durability, we loaded the full width of the folder with heavy music books along with a full ream of copy paper on one side, to test for tipping or balance problems due to uneven weight distribution. Initially, the folder withstood the load without any tipping or shifting.  But how would it fare after supporting such a heavy load for five days straight?  For the FourScore Folder, it was no problem at all.  Five days later, everything was still in place.

Ease of Use:  Setting up this folder is as simple as opening the trifold and moving the elastic strip from the inside to the outside so that it can fit over the desk of the stand.  There is no other assembly required, and is very easy to use -- setup takes just a few seconds.  Removing the folder from the stand and closing it back up is equally simple and quick (as long as you remember to unfold the lip).

Pricing:  The FourScore Folder is available online and priced at around $10-$15 from several major retailers including Amazon.com, The Woodwind and Brasswind, and J.W. Pepper.

Conclusion:  The Manhasset FourScore Folder (Model 1650) is, simply put, a must-have accessory for the working musician who needs a portable extended-width stand.  From allowing two players to read off the same stand, to setting up four pages of music without any page-turns for a gig or performance, to keeping loose sheets of music secure, this folder is an elegant and functional portable solution and we give it our Simply Violin Stamp of Approval. 

Review: Snark SN-2 Chromatic Clip-On Tuner

These little device aren't miniature robots -- they won't pack your lunch or clean your house. However, the Snark SN-2 Chromatic Clip-On Tuner may help you learn to play with improved intonation on the violin, and at a very attractive price. Available in blue and red, it clips to the scroll, and, using a fresh, readable interface, lets you know if you are sharp or flat by use of a dial that looks a little like a speedometer. By the way, if you are a violinist, buy the red one (SN-2), not the blue one (SN-1) -- more on that later.

Features: This little tuner has a convenient swivel mount that allows you to clip it to your scroll and adjust the angle. It has pitch calibration, and a very bright digital readout that can be seen even in bright sunlight. It also comes with a (silent) metronome, with a tap tempo entry function. Snark Red has an extended frequency range and a mic/vib switch that allows it to be used either as a clip-on unit or as a free-standing tuner. Snark Blue, on the other hand, is equipped for vibration tuning only and, with its more limited frequency range, is intended for guitar and bass. Therefore, violinists should purchase the slightly more expensive red unit (SN-2). The Snark runs on small lithium button battery.

Accuracy: The unit was very accurate in both clip-on (vibration) mode and when used with its internal mic. For me, response time is actually more important in modern tuners than accuracy, as, given enough time to assess a note, most tuners on the market are reasonably accurate. This tuner's response time was extremely quick, allowing me to play through passages at a reasonable tempo rather than having to wait seconds for the tuner to register a change in pitch.

Fit and Finish: Made of sturdy plastic and extremely light, this unit survived a couple of test drops onto a hard surface without a scratch. In addition, its contact points with the violin are secure yet gentle, and I did not worry that the finish would be scratched.

Usability: Because the Snark uses an LED display (rather than LCD, like most other tuners) it has an extremely bright, unusually readable display. This is a very nice feature, terrific for outdoors, bright lights, and tired eyes. Another great function is the "hold," where the tuner dial stays stable once it detects a stable pitch. The switches are large and easy to use. It's transpose feature is nice, but is geared toward guitar players playing with a capo (which changes the guitar's tuning). It is clear to me that the makers of the unit had the "working musician" in mind when they designed this unit.

Summary: At amazon, this little tuner is only about $10, which is an outstanding price for a tuner of this quality. A handful of unique features (swivel mount, LED display, very quick response time, and great "hold" make it an attractive buy. Its modern, colorful look that reminded me a bit of Wall-ee the robot, is attractive to young students, who tend to lose patience with other tuners. I wish the metronome wasn't silent -- but rumor has it that the company is soon to release a new model with an audible metronome. However, it often takes a rather large metronome with a big speaker to be audible to a violinist, whose ear is positioned directly over the instrument. Thus, I usually recommend that students purchase a separate metronome rather than expecting their tuner to serve both purposes.

A Review of Magic Rosin: The Wow Factor

Rosin is one of those must-have items for violin. And there are quite a few brands on the market, all with different playing characteristics. I was recently given samples of a brand new variety called Magic Rosin (love the name!), which comes in two varieties. Magic Rosin 1 is designed for violin, and magic rosin 2, which is stickier, is geared toward the lower stringed instruments. Magic Rosin retails for $6.00 per cake.

Two of my upcoming new books feature fiddle tunes, and, with my current (and pricey) rosin, darker Chinese violin, and a bow that could benefit from a rehair soon, I wasn't getting very good grip and was experiencing sliding. I'd tried several rosins, including cello rosin, to try improve sound and grip, but to no avail.

So, finally, I reached for my new sample of Magic Rosin 2, hoping that it would live up to its name! What struck me first was the beautiful art label and durable, compact plastic case. I applied a few strokes and sat down to read through the arrangements. And then came the "wow" -- which is frankly not a word I would usually associate with any rosin. But this rosin was a game changer. My bow came alive in my hands, and it traveled easily across the strings with minimal dust and maximal, rich sound. And it was a clean, clear sound, without grit or bow noise in my ear. The double stops felt easier than usual to play. Most impressively, I no longer felt I needed a rehair. I was impressed: the Magic Rosin really made a difference. It lived up to its moniker: a special rosin at a special price.

Next, I decided to try Magic Rosin 1 on a recently rehaired French bow matched with a sweet, old Italian violin -- perhaps the ideal classical setup, to see how this rosin would perform for the professional classical musician. Again, I was impressed with the clean, clear sound achieved with such little effort. Increased volume was another benefit that I enjoyed.

I must say that the price is another great feature of this rosin. So many of the "fancy" rosins on the market can be quite expensive. For instance, Liebenzeller rosin (back now under a new name, Larica) costs over $30, as does Andrea Rosin. In fact, it is pretty difficult to spend under $10 for a professional grade brand. Yet, the $6.00 cake of Magic Rosin outperformed all the rosins I have tried in recent memory. For one who likes to try out products and has used many of the top selling brands of rosin (Andrea, Bernadel, several Pirastro offerings, Liebenzeller/Larica, Hill, Jade, Melos, and others), I feel that Magic Rosin is a wonderful find, and one I can recommend to students and professionals alike. In particular, I think that Magic Rosin 2 will be appreciated by fiddlers (and those with bow hair at the end of its life), and that Magic Rosin 1 would be a great choice for the classical violinist.