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Mixing strings
different string different clarity of sound
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Mark
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August 9, 2016 - 12:22 am
Member Since: September 30, 2014
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Since starting to learn the Violin many statements (many which I have doubted, and have had to ear crow because it was true), I have read and been told by people about how the Violin sound changed with different bows, different sounding points, bow pressures types of strings (steel, gut, synthetic), mixing strings to balance the violin, tail piece, playing with tension etc. a whole list of items that can effect the sound and tone of the violin that are sometimes subtle and sometimes very noticeable.

I had a AH HA moment with my G string. I had lost track of time and had been playing on this set of string for 8 months and they were starting to sound dead and when playing in 5th position and above the G string it was muddy, not clear and focused like 1st - 4th position so I got a different set of strings to try that were suppose to be a bit brighter than the last set, just to see how they sounded. The E, A, & D string sound great all the way up the neck of my Violin, the G string like the last set was great up to 4th position then 5th and above muddy not focused. So I began reading and tried a harp tail piece, It helped but still muddy, bought a very good bridge blank, fitted, carved and tap tuned it. again a bit better but still muddy.

By chance a friend was wanting to sell his 1924 John Juzek Violin and I had taken it home to play and see if I liked it, it was a pretty instrument and I was thinking about buying it. He had Helicoil strings on it so I swapped G strings and was amazed at the sound, dark, strong and clear all the way up the G string. 

I played both stings for other people to see if they could hear a difference at a distance and all agreed the Helicoil was the better sounding string clear & focused compared to the other G string. Then I had my violin teacher try it, he to was amazed at the clarity of the string all the way up the neck.

While different strings may not resolve ever sound issue ( balance, Focus, clarity, tone, etc.) with a Violin. It might not hurt to experiment some and see.

 

Mark 

Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.

Albert Sammons

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bluesviolin
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August 10, 2016 - 5:34 am
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I've mixed sets most of the time. I've mentioned this before, but my German has PI G, Evah Gold D, Violino A, Prelude E. I tried several different G, D, A, E's and this is the best combo for evenness and a sweet focused sound for this fiddle.

I hardly ever use the E that comes with the set. The only 'almost' complete sets I've ever used were Vision Titanium Solo with Jargar Forte E. I used these on a fiddle I don't have anymore for about 3 years, and liked them very much.

On my China fiddle I have an almost complete set of Violino's with prelude E, but I have a standby set if I want more brilliance, power and projection, which is regular Vision Solo G, Dominant D & G, with prelude E. In this case the Vision Solo G (not titanium) makes the big difference, because it focuses the whole set.

I like the Prelude E's, because they are not shrill, they are a fairly thick gauge with good volume and have a clear singing voice.

imo, strings are the single most effective way of changing the sound, unless the bridge and/or post is really bad.

I've accumulated a LOT of different strings over the years which have allowed me to experiment with combo sets. 

"Striving to attain Mediocrity"

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