I would clean the rosin off fairly regularly.  It's been awhile, but I used a fairly soft/sticky rosin that built up quickly.  I don't know if cleaning it is really necessary or does any good, but I figure it can't hurt.  I would also clean it off the top of the instrument with Fiddle Bright (if I recall correctly) every so often..
 
As for the German bow thing, the ring and middle fingers shouldn't actually pass through the frog.  It hinders mobility and isn't necessary, though most people hold it that way.  
 
Playing French with a German bow is no big deal with a little practice, but not optimal because the bow wants to rotate.
 
John

Neil Swainson.  John Carter.  Michel Donato.  (the departed) Slam Stewart.
 
and many others, no doubt.
 
Rick

I wish Alembic create a big bass.

My Series 1.5 is awfully large.  

how about some avant garde? henry grimes, alan silva, barry guy, mark dresser.
mark dresser makes some insane sounds with his bow.
he also uses a pickup that amplifies overtones and other sounds that are usually missed that's  mounted over the nut of his bass... i was kind of wondering if anyone knew anything about it. i have no idea what it is, i found a page one time that explained it, but i'm not a tech guy so it didn't make much sense to me. any clues?
oh, and alembic makes the classico. does that count?

hendixclarke - never heard of the Classico?
 
[edit] oops - darkstar01 beat me to it.
 
(Message edited by adriaan on September 15, 2008)

Austin, any news on yours?
 
Back on topic - Miroslav Vitous.
 
Graeme

Fran?ois Rabbath's Reitba