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Have any of you had any experience with the Kaplan Non-Whistling E string?
Is it as advertised, non-whistling?
Thanks.
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I feel that they are not quite as strong as I would have them be. They seem to be missing something. My favorite two E strings are first Westminster and then Lenzner.
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Bummer. I just ordered them. I am probably not as hard on the strings though. I have developed a whistle and it is very annoying. 
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You may like them. I have heard many people say that they like them.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
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Fiddlerman said
You may like them. I have heard many people say that they like them.
Fiddlerman.. Do those people tend to fall into any style of playing? Classical/bluegrass/irish/old time...was wondering if its a go to for a certain style.
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@ABitRusty Fiddlerman has a video with a comparison of the Fiddlerman strings to Dominants. Many times the videos with strings I have sound nothing like those strings sound on my violin. I think most use a brighter violin, and maybe the sound is toyed with, and my bowing is doing it. My Rudoulf Doesch is warm or mellow. On my violin, those Fiddlerman strings sound pretty close to what I get on my violin. Don’t know if that means anything, but thought I would mention it for you. So, maybe that video will give you an accurate or pretty accurate sample of the sound of those strings.
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cid said
Have any of you had any experience with the Kaplan Non-Whistling E string?Is it as advertised, non-whistling?
Thanks.
Hi @Mouse - I use the Kaplan E - and honestly - I have NEVER had it whistle back at me. I do find it a somewhat difficult match with other strings - it can (to my ear) be - well - I'm trying to find a word - it's not "shrill" - let me keep at this - it maybe "lacks the presence and depth" of other E's - oh - reading back - maybe that's what Pierre meant when he wrote "I feel that they are not quite as strong as I would have them be" - not necessarily referring to their physical strength ???? I don't know if that's what he meant or not - but - yes- to me it "lacks presence and depth" / "is not as strong" .... 
But, as I say, it never whistles !!!
By the way, having mentioned the whistling problem, I have gone back to a standard E on one of my instruments (all Amo strings), and yes, occasionally, I'll get the whistle, but it occurs very infrequently - clearly what is now an improved bowing "attack/approach" to the E string has more or less resolved the problem, but habit keeps me using the Kaplan wound E on the other instruments now that I'm used to (but not 100% happy with, as mentioned) the sound...
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - 
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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@BillyG You said, “maybe that's what Pierre meant when he wrote "I feel that they are not quite as strong as I would have them be" - not necessarily referring to their physical strength ???? ”
I suspect you were right. When @Fiddlerman said that, I was thinking the string’s ability to break easily. I am not a strong player, in either use of “strong”. Did you see the video I finally posted in the Critique section, Lullaby? I don’t play with a lot of strength, as you and Fiddlerman are most likely referring to when saying a string is strong. I don’t know if I had a whistling E in that song recording. Sure, the one time I get the courage to post a video, an issue that might have been able to have been helped, if it had appeared, does not appear. If you listen to it, please listen for any whistling, as well as the phrasing I was asking about, My bowing was off when I did it, so maybe there is a whistle, and maybe the bowing will give a sign as to why.
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BillyG said
it's not "shrill" - let me keep at this - it maybe "lacks the presence and depth" of other E's - oh - reading back - maybe that's what Pierre meant...
That's why my fiddle teacher likes them, she hates the sound of the E string, and uses the Kaplan because it's more mellow. She did come from a background in viola, so I think that is why she hates the E string?
I don't mind the Kaplan, I think I stick to it mostly because I like the feel of it. When I've tried other E strings I feel like they are going to slice through my fingers, haha, this one is more gentle on my fingers (which is a weird reason to like an E string, but I have yet to get any calluses on my fingers, I don't know why, so sliding up the e during shifting exercises can hurt, haha).
GregW said
Fiddlerman.. Do those people tend to fall into any style of playing? Classical/bluegrass/irish/old time...was wondering if its a go to for a certain style.
My fiddle teacher is mainly a bluegrass fiddler, but does the rounds playing Irish tunes for St. Patrick's day gigs., too.
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@damfino “I don't mind the Kaplan, I think I stick to it mostly because I like the feel of it. When I've tried other E strings I feel like they are going to slice through my fingers, haha, this one is more gentle on my fingers (which is a weird reason to like an E string, but I have yet to get any calluses on my fingers, I don't know why, so sliding up the e during shifting exercises can hurt, haha).”
Maybe try doing a cello for a while. You will most likely get callouses. 
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@damfino - yeah LOL
I don't mind the Kaplan, I think I stick to it mostly because I like the feel of it. When I've tried other E strings I feel like they are going to slice through my fingers, haha, this one is more gentle on my fingers (which is a weird reason to like an E string, but I have yet to get any calluses on my fingers, I don't know why, so sliding up the e during shifting exercises can hurt, haha).
I understand that totally ! 
I think my own issue is "trying to find a balance" with other strings - I've fitted the Kaplan E on my 3/4 ( which is Prelude steels other than the E ) - and it just sounds pretty much perfect - basically "the way the overall instrument should sound for an old-time-fiddle sort of genre" - but - against the Amo strings on the MJZ and the Fiddlerman ( and Dominants ) on the Concert - it just feels out of place in brightness (or something I can't quite describe) - something isn't there (for my ear) - but - as I say - happy to live with it - it's no biggy !
Ha! I say that (happy to live with it) - but oddly - I often drop some tunes by a 5th simply to avoid the E, which although it doesn't whistle - just (to me) seems not to match the overall tonal quality ( be that good or bad - all I want is consistency ) across the lower 3 strings - so THERE'S a thing, interesting - never really thought about it that way before - it was just that the"lower register sounded better" (although, with old, and aging ears here, there could be other contributing factors to my sound-perception LOLOL )
Perhaps I should spend more time playing Yabé ( the 3/4 Prelude steel strung + Kaplan E e-bay fiddle ) to really get that feel of consistency I like, and then more closely analyse how I can either (a) get a good match with some synthetics, or (b) ditch the Kaplan E for a while as I try other E's.... I do have a Lenzer-E spare, I should maybe fit it... I got it 2nd hand - so it's "used" - but I definitively know its provenance - not much more than 100 hours playing time, and it's sitting there.... Too many things to do - need to FOCUS and just DO it...
I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh -
Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)
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Greetings string geeks.
Does anyone have a clue how the famous Kaplan E compares to Warchal's Amber E...
... this one that can double as a birth control method if you don't like it on your violin?
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@bocaholly 
What the begeebies is that string? I don’t get it. They are not supposed to be spiraled like that, are they? What brand is it and why is it spiraled?
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They do, indeed, come like that, @Mouse ... right in the innocent looking little envelope:
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@bocaholly
After you install them, take a photo and show us what they look like on the violin and tell us about them.
Maybe for people who want a little spring to their bowing. No wait, that is supposed to be spring in your step. Maybe they are shoestrings!
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LOL back attcha, @Mouse.
About 2 minutes in to this video done by a guy in Australia, you see the Warchal Amber E being strung up and stretched. Much better that any pic I could take. The string retains a tiny-weeny bit of waviness to the touch as well as to the eye. It slices my fingers less than a non-spiral E string of the same brand, which is just an added plus. The main point is it's more mellow... a similar intention as the wound Kaplan Amo E string you're interested in, Cid, but arrived at through different means.
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That is so weird. Where did you get it? Let me know how you like after a while of using it. I should be getting my Kaplan Tuesday. Won’t put it on yet though. I switched to my original Passione E because I love the sound of it. Not changing it until it wears out.
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I'm on my second Warchal Amber E so, yeah, I like it quite well. The great thing about E-strings is that they're relatively inexpensive. For $8 or $9, you can give it a try.
Hope to hear about your Kaplan Amo, when you do put it on, Cid. Maybe I should practice what I preach and try it out for cheap thrills
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@bocaholly Did you get it on the Fiddlershop site? I don’t recall seeing it. Oh, I don’t think I ever looked at the Warchal Strings.
I got bored this evening. I changed out my Fiddlerman Strings (still like them) and put the original Dominants with the Passione E String back on. I am bowing differently now and wanted to see or hear what they sounded like again. I actually like them better now. They are clearer than I remember. They are just a tad brighter than the Fiddlerman, but a little brighter. I probably would not even have noticed if I hadn’t played Rudoulf with the Fliddlerman strings before changing them out.
I am also trying to get out of being so nervous about changing the strings. If I wait until they really have to be changed, only, I will never just consider it a thing to do and be able to do it in a timely, non-nervous manner. The opportunity to change them will have too much time between each time. Won’t be comfortable doing it. Popping the bridge makes me nervous because I have to put it back in the correct place. So far, only has happened once with Rudoulf. The first time I changed them.
The change went really well this evening. Finally, something went right today! Didn’t get too far with my machine knitting. Kind of new to it and had an issue with the pattern instructions. Had to ask on the forum for it. Got the answer, so will continue tomorrow.
Then I was going to fix spaghetti squash with sautéd shrimp, broccoli, and halve grape tomatoes and alfredo sauce. Well, baked the squash to al dente and separated it to the spaghetti strings ahead of time and put it into the fridge. I went into the kitchen later to actually start doing it up. Forgot to get the shrimp out of the freezer ealier, forgot to find an alfredo sauce recipe. I never made it but know it has fresh parmesan cheese and heavy cream; I have both. It was late, we went to McDonalds down the street about 8 miles. We will have the spaghetti squash with shrimp tomorrow.
At least my violin string change went off without a hitch.
I am going to search for that Warchal Amber E. Will let you know about the Kaplan Non-Whistling E. I know my instructor likes it.
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