Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.
Currently working on getting badges to show up horizontally. Should hopefully figure that out within a week. Thanks for your patience.

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Need advice on a new E string
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (1 votes) 
Avatar
Ferret
Byron Bay Australia
May 15, 2014 - 2:48 am
Member Since: April 22, 2012
Forum Posts: 1575
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline




I have bought a set of Larsen Virtuoso strings and like them very much.

They, to a great degree, have eliminated a problem that my Raggetti and I have always had with the A string. (Particularly with the D on it)

But now I am attempting to learn a tune that uses a lot of E string. It's not that the Larsens have a 'bad' E but still being a novice on the violin I'm looking for the most 'forgiving' E that I can find.

Can anyone recommend an E string that may make things a little easier

Any input appreciated

Seen it all. Done it all. Can't remember most of dunno ..... What was I saying???? facepalm

Avatar
Barry
May 15, 2014 - 8:17 am
Member Since: June 30, 2011
Forum Posts: 2690
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline











play the viola...eliminates that pesky E..lol. but then the A sounds funny. I went through so many E's its not funny. I have enough used E's that I can say that in the end it mostly comes down to technique. I think, and Im no expert which is why I rarely offer critic, that a good sounding E is achieved by realizing its different from your other strings. Of course its higher, but its also not wound . The winding on your A-D-G strings have the added effect of damping. The E lacking this can sound shrill. I suggest treating the E differently (its what I do) and experiment with different bow pressures as well as bow angle. I tilt my bow on the E at times

There is no shame in playing twinkle, youre playing Mozart

Avatar
Uzi
Georgia

Honorary tenured advisor
May 15, 2014 - 10:07 am
Member Since: January 19, 2014
Forum Posts: 973
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

@Barry That's exactly what my grandson did. I asked him why he chose the viola instead of the violin and he said that he can't stand the sound of a violin E string.

@Ferret There are a lot of people who favor the D'Addario Kaplan non-whispering/non-whistling E string. I have one, but haven't put it on yet to test it out. Another highly regarded E string is the Pirastro Gold. I just received a new set of Obligatos in the mail and that set included a Pirastro Gold E so I'll be testing that out pretty soon as well. There's also the Jargar Dolce, which many people like.

Here's a video about the string:
http://youtu.be/g6hP2896cnc

And for a more down home version:
http://youtu.be/lfYEkSV6iSk

Here's a comparison of some E strings:

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
May 15, 2014 - 3:00 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16537









I hesitate to give a suggestion because I know what a fantastic set of strings you are now playing on.
I believe you'll have to do a bit of experimenting to find the perfect partner.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
TerryT
Coleshill, Warwickshire
May 15, 2014 - 4:41 pm
Member Since: December 15, 2011
Forum Posts: 1731
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline



On the 3rd video. I.liked the d'daddario string.
Is.it just me or were all his last notes slightly flat?

I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....

Avatar
Guest
May 15, 2014 - 5:04 pm

I haven't tried a lot of E strings, but my favourite one is from the Zyex set.

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
May 16, 2014 - 7:28 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16537









TerryT said

On the 3rd video. I.liked the d'daddario string.
Is.it just me or were all his last notes slightly flat?

I don't like to criticize since he didn't post his video under "critique corner" but in a sense you are right Terry, but not entirely. His last note is a harmonic which is pretty close to the pitch of his open E string. Most of his other notes are high so by the time he hits the harmonic, it seems flat when in fact he is off on the previous notes. The thing is that he is not consistent either.

I suppose it would have been good for him to use those strings for a while as well and give us his personal verdict on which strings worked best for him and why....
How many people actually make that kind of purchase and take the time to change the E string that many times just to find out which string will work???

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
TerryT
Coleshill, Warwickshire
May 16, 2014 - 9:20 am
Member Since: December 15, 2011
Forum Posts: 1731
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline



Ah-ha. Thanks FM.
A "harmonic"in the sense that the finger touches the string without applying so much that a stopped note is played?

Ok. I just took time out to watch your Harmonic tutorial
Learn to play harmonics on the violin.m4v:

I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 82
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today Shell, GlassTownCur
Upcoming PaTooDoNaLD, Almandin, fryserisnon8, Picklefish, Tammy, Schaick, Violinista Italiano, Ogre, djroger, marcnaz, Cleverpun, VirginViolinist, Cearbhael, The Modesto Kid, eugenephilip572
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 8852
ABitRusty: 4304
Mad_Wed: 2849
Gordon Shumway: 2746
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
stringy: 2383
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2274
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31781
Moderators: 0
Admins: 8
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 84
Topics: 10869
Posts: 138076
Newest Members:
jeni2024, Goldenbow, joanie, hunmari01, lydia.vertu SP, Thavence SP, tcaron21, Ustiana SP, DennisRathbone SP, Dan
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16537, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3746, JoakimSimplePress: 0, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 6100