Thanks @DennisS So you buy individual strings? Is that an expensive way to do it? I never did that. Hmm. I have the Dominants that came on my violin. So the G and D are taken care of. Obligatos are on it already, so the Warchal E is all that would be needed. That still leaves the Obligato A on my instrument and I am not sure if the Obligatos are just too difficult for me to play right now, if some strings play easier. Is that what is being referred to as “respond”? If that is the case, I would prefer to remove the Obligatos before I wear them out until I get more experienced. 

Tonight I remembered I still had the Fiddlerman strings that I removed from my Mendini. They just did not sound right on that and I put the Tonicas back onto it. The Tonicas are pretty good on that, brighter than my Obligatos that are on my good Rudoulf Doetsch. Not really what I want on my Rudoulf.

I put those Fiddlerman strings onto my Rudoulf Doetsch. I like them on it, so far. They are a pleasant mellow warm sound on my Doetsch. They are not nearly as loud as the Obligatos, which in my case, is great! I only played them a little while.

I will see tomorrow if there is any difference in playability on my part. I am hoping they will be easier to play. As much as I liked the Obligato, they seemed hard to play on and are very loud. So far, with the little time I used Fiddlershop brand, they were quieter and seemed easier to bow. We will see. 

I am hoping these will do the trick because they are very reasonably priced. 

The only issue is the G string is too fat to fit easily into my tailpiece. The D string just fit without issue. When I had that issue tonight, I remembered that I had that issue on my Mendini. I squeezed it below the ball with a pair of smooth nosed pliers and kind of pushed it into the slot. 

That is going to be an issue. I don’t want to break my tailpiece or damage my violin. It is also fuzzy at the all end of the G. Pretty sure that was my doing when I forced it into the tailpiece of the Mendini.

So far, I would reorder the Fiddlerman, with a question with my order about the G string ball end issue. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I was also wondering if all steel strings are bright and loud. Spirocore strings definitely are, but do suit one of my instruments.

I was also wondering if different string brands, even of the same material makeup, are harder to play than others, explanation is in my original post. 

I did not realize the vertical placement on the Shar Chart represented anything. I thoughtbit was just left and right. I was wondering about that, though.

Why are some strings said to be good for beginner students, others are recommended for intermediare, others for advanced and others for professionals? If it is for price only, what gives the people rating them the right to state how much a person to should spend? That is why I am wondering about playability. I read that a lot.

That is why I am wondering about playability as well as tone. I tried searching for an answer last night and found nothing to explain it.

Off to get breakfast.

GregW, I am not sure I should post that link where I read a few comments about the windings. If you are notmhabing that issue, I wouldn’t worry about it. Maybe the reviewers got bad apples, it happens.

Also, I don’t want to change the subject of my thread. I really want to know if some strings are easier to play on than others. What does student grade, intermediate grade, advanced grade, etc mean? Does my issue with the issue with diminished playing quality since installing the Obligatos have to do with strings being made for how advanced you are? Love the sound when I get it right.

Are the strings that state they are great for students, great for students because they are inexpensive? Are they low quality? Do they have hollow sounds (like some of the inexpensive student violins? What is it? Playability? Price? Does that make the sound quality less? As an adult student, that makes a differnce to me. Can’t stand hollow sounding instruments or strings. Is it different for younger students? So many questions. LOL

@Irv Thanks for the tip. I had that issue with other arrings, too. I was thinking of maybe removng the G string and threading the peg box end up through the tailpiece like you said. I think it will sit better than the way it is now. This would be the third stringing of that string though. Not sure if that would cause excessive wear?

I thought it was my Mendini that had issues with Fiddlerman. I forgot about my Revelle 500Qx before my Doetsch, it was the Revelle that I tried the Fiddlerman on first with. It had a completely different sound than my Doetsch has. The Fiddlerman strings, so far, are beautiful. I don’t hear any of the “scratching” I heard when using the Obligatos. 

Since, for me, the Fiddlerman strings bow easier and sound clearer, no scratching sound, on my Doestsch, using the same instrument, bow and rosin as I used with the Obligato strings, I guess there is a playability difference using different strings. These Fiddlerman strings on my Doetsch, for my bowing, are so much easier. The sound is much more to my liking. This is good to know. I guess I answered my own questions with this string swap, and all of the input from everyone. Thank you very much.

@Irv You mean that if I want to fit the Fiddlerman G string onto my tailpiece the way you stated, I have to take it on a 1 1/2 hour trip to a luthier? I can’t just change the strings myself if I use thiose because of the G string thickness being used with my tailpiece? I hope that is not the case. Maybe Fiddlerman will chime in here and help me understand this better. I can’t be going to the luthier everytime I need to change strings if I vhamge to that brand, and the more I play them on my violin, the more I absolutely love them. HEY @Fiddlerman   FIDDLERMAN! OVER HERE, YO!  Could you please read the above 1st paragraph and the post from Irv that I am replying to, if you need more clarity as to what this conversation is about. It is regarding the “G” string being too fat at the bottom to fit my tailpiece on my Doetsch. I had stated that I squeezed it with smooth (no gripper ridges) nosed pliers. It was still too fat. So, I pushed it into place with the pliers nose. I know that is not the best thing to do, I was extremely careful and slow about it, but what else could I do? Irv said to feed the peg box end of the string up through the tailpiece. Makes sense. But then he said he recommends having the luthier do it. I can’t be driving 1 1/2 hours to the luthier to get my strings changed because the G string is too fat. Any recommendations? I am falling in love with the Fiddlerman strings on my Doetsch. Didn’t like them on the Revelle, but have been using them for 1 1/2 days on my Doetsch and love them. Going to the luthier to change strings will be a deal breaker. I don’t want to give up using these. Much better for me than the Obligatos. Will try those again when I get better. I think they are giving me bowing issues. Thanks for any input and suggestions, Fiddlerman. If feeding the peg box end requires me to go to a luthier for string changes, can you recommend an alternative? Thanks.

OK, Irv, My Mendini is the MV 300. I like it. Different sound, not as deep, but the sound is good. It is the one with the satin finish, not shiny. It looks pretty neat. I read a review on the place I bought it from. A lady was complaining because it was not shiny. It looks exactly as described. I said, “What? You have got to be kidding me.” Anyway, it was my test violin to see if I could play and hold it. And also if I really wanted to. I still play it and it is in the photo of the wall mount my husband made me. I posted a photo of it. It is is still. Will remove it at some time.