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Is it possible to fall in love with an inanimate object? Well, 4 of them to be precise, coz I love my new Zyex strings from FM and D'Addario.
So much do that I learned the 'Lilting Banshee' this afternoon and ( though I do say so myself) it sounded real good!
And then I Youtube'd a few people playing it full speed! 
(but I still love my new strings!)
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
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ROTFLMAO, I hear your pain man....
I really noticed a difference with my Zyex strings as opposed to the Chinese steel strings I had...
They vibrate more huh? I can feel the difference at the back of the violin. I also noticed that when I played with the shoulder rest on, some notes were muffled but one day I practiced with it off because I had a sweat shirt on and didn't need the damn thing. WOW, it really perked up (the violin that is) and I noticed the volume increase and the clarity increase too.
I got mine from FM in something like 3 days. I was shocked how quick they arrived.
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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cdennyb said
ROTFLMAO, I hear your pain man....
I really noticed a difference with my Zyex strings as opposed to the Chinese steel strings I had...
They vibrate more huh? I can feel the difference at the back of the violin. I also noticed that when I played with the shoulder rest on, some notes were muffled but one day I practiced with it off because I had a sweat shirt on and didn't need the damn thing. WOW, it really perked up (the violin that is) and I noticed the volume increase and the clarity increase too.
I got mine from FM in something like 3 days. I was shocked how quick they arrived.
I'm too much of a newbie to understand the mechanics of why and how, I just know they do!
mine arrived in the UK in about a week, including my music stand hanger. Spot on!!
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
Honorary advisor
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Huh. Currently I'm using Dominant strings. When it's time to replace them do you think I should give Zyzex a try?
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I don't know if you should or shouldn't to be honest, those are already great strings.
FM might be able to lend more light on the decision but to tell the truth I was going to get those same strings then at the last minute changed my mind because I wanted the sound to be brighter on this old wood box.
Maybe next time I change, I'll try Dominant ones.
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
Honorary advisor
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The Dominants are good strings. I don't know how they compare to others in terms of sound, though, since they are the only ones my fiddle has had since being rebuilt.
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Dominants are great strings but I switched to Zyex and prefer them for my violin many times more to be honest.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Honorary advisor
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May I ask why you prefer Zyzex, FM? And how did the sound of your violin change compared to when you had Dominants?
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The sound is similar but I don't have to wait as long for them to break in. Also, the A string on the dominants doesn't suit my violin. Too weak and almost gives a wolf type sound. I don't even like the Dominant E string. Would always buy a Pirastro Gold E string before.
Now I can use all four strings that come with the Zyex and it seems to give a sweeter and more powerful sound at the same time. Action time seems to be quicker as well.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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I recently bought an old fiddle because it had such a mellow sound on the D and G strings compared to my current fiddle which has no name inside. The new one is old and beat up, a local luthier has glued a crack in the back. I found a string chart that shows there are Dominant strings on it. Now, about 3 months later, it seems the 2 lower strings give almost an echo, is that what you mean a "wolf" sound? I'm tempted to get a set of the Zyex. I had to replace the Dominant E today (had a set of DAddario Preludes, used that) because it was unwinding at the bridge. Anyway, I kind of worry that if I put on the Zyex set I'll lose the mellow sound, which I originally assumed was the violin itself. I don't play nearly as much as you do, FM, and I'm not sure what I'm doing. I didn't realize the strings need to be changed as often as you talked about in your string-changing video (which was very helpful.) Any thoughts?
Fiddlrgrrl
I would say change the strings to zyex and find out just how beautiful your violin does sound. Try them on your other violin as well and be shocked at the difference.
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I bought Zyex from FM changing from Pro-Arte and am completely sold on the Zyex.
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Those will continue to stretch and settle for about 2-3 days, mine did. and now they are rock solid in holding the tune. I love 'em.
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
Honorary advisor
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I love mine, too - MUCH better than Dominants on my SFF. I had a problem with the A, too, sounding wolfish and ugly, but the Zyex strings solved that issue and I couldn't be happier!
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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What difference might I notice between the aluminum D and the silver D?
Fiddlrgrrl
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I'm certainly no expert and trying to say in words what you hear with your ear is a challenge at best, but here goes.
I talked with a fellow player who changed from the alum D to silver D set of Zyex strings and they said the aluminum was a more subtle or subdued sound as compared to the silver. I would suspect the silver is a harder material compared to aluminum and therefor the tension being relatively equal to achieve the tune, would cause a difference in material stresses as it's played and thus sounded 'deader' if that makes any sense.
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
I just bought a set of "Zyex" strings from FM, but not sure which fiddle to put them on when they arrive to my home.
I just had a new set of strings put on my "A" violin, which is about 125 yrs old, along with having a new bridge fit and the fingerboard reshaped and a new sound post installed. The Luthier who performed the work installed "Helicore" strings. I took the old set of strings and put them on my "B" violin which I bought several years ago for $90.00 via. the internet. "B" violiin had the cheap steel strings on it. Now the "B" violin has a mellower sound than the "A" violin. I think the new strinigs were like, $37.00 US dollars, at least that's what he charged me.
When I play "A" violin, I get a squeeking sound periodically, I pick up "B" violin and no squeeks. The Luthier told me "it's not the strings, it's the player", I wasn't born on April fools day.
I guess I'll install the "Zyex" strings from "FM" on "A" violin and see what happens with the sound. If I like the sound, i'll buy another set of "Zyex" (from FM) and install them on "B" violin.
Does this make any sence, to put the really good strings on a CHEAP fiddle. Any suggestions ?
Honorary advisor
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Fiddlestix said
When I play "A" violin, I get a squeeking sound periodically, I pick up "B" violin and no squeeks. The Luthier told me "it's not the strings, it's the player", I wasn't born on April fools day.
Does this make any sence, to put the really good strings on a CHEAP fiddle. Any suggestions ?
I was born on April Fool's Day, and I can answer your question about the Helicores on a cheap fiddle 
- I put Helicore Medium strings on my Cheap Chinese Fiddle and it made a world of difference! Before, the A string (and I tried several different brands of strings) sounded like ass if it was noted - the Helicores gave it a lovely voice and I was pleased as punch.
Now, not every fiddle likes the Helicores - the SFF prefers the Zyex medium strings. You may have to play around a bit to figure out which fiddle likes which strings, but the bottom line is that if it sounds better, you made the right decision. Those cheapy fiddles can sound really sweet with a decent set of strings on them, and some really nice fiddles prefer less expensive strings. Play around until you find the right combination.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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I'd put the Zyex on the old one and setup the cheap violin to have that Helicores.
But that's just me...
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
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