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String Debate

What string is best (I know that statement is subjective)

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micjule

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July 22, 2012 - 11:37 pm

Member Since: July 11, 2012

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Calling all Pro's (that is anyone with more experience than me)

I have been playing for about a month and have wandered off into yet another Mine Field...

I have an old german violin that when i purchased it I knew it would need work done.

so i brought it to the local luthier and when i got it back it sounds different...

one thing he did was change the strings to Dominants. I don't know what was on them before, however the violin had a deep dark raspy sound and now it is "Bright" that is his word not mine. i say it sounds squeaky.

Apparently i can get the deep dark raspy sound again if i can get the "RIGHT" strings....

WOW that was a mouth full.

I looked online and with a general search found 1114 different listings for 4/4 violin strings...

So here we go

I know strings will sound different on different instruments

I know there are gut, synthenic and steel core...(and probably more)

I know there are MANY different variations of the three types of core strings.

past that... looking for input

You need to learn from the past, imagine a future, and LIVE for today... Failure is only a guarantee, when you never try

cdennyb

King for a Day, Peasant for many

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July 23, 2012 - 1:34 am

Member Since: February 13, 2012

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I speak from having a similar situation.

I too restored a 90 yr old German production violin. When I started to play it and started to get it setup I had some steel core strings on it and it sounded bright and tinny sounding like a cheap chinese violin.

Now that I have worked on the bridge extensively and changed to a synthetic core (Zyex) string, it has a deeper, mellow tone more in line with the classical slow music I choose to learn to play.

I would guess (a really wild guess) that it originally may have had a gut core string on it if it was deep and dark before and now that the Dominants are on there it's bright. I have Doms on my K500 and they are certainly bright sounding as well. I have a set of preludes that I put on the German fiddle and they were a disaster... it sounded worse than a cheap chinese fiddle! If you can believe that.

So... just my 2c worth in respect to your dilema. hats_off

"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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July 23, 2012 - 10:13 am

The German violins are known for having as you call it a dark sound. You have to understand that much of the change might have come from adjusting the sound post to the luthier's liking. I suggest, before buying new strings, bringing the violin back to you luthier and telling him what sound you want out of your violin. A slight move of the soundpost can soften the highs. Ther is no, this is where the soundpost has to be. There is only a starting point.

If you are really set on trying different strings, I find the Pro-Arte work nice on German violins and the price is very affordable. If you go with the Zyex as cdennyb has said he uses, go with the aluminium D.

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July 23, 2012 - 1:26 pm

Found this and thought it might help

http://www.violinsoundpost.com.....setter.htm

you can purchase it on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SET-VI.....6rk%3D5%26

micjule

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July 23, 2012 - 9:11 pm

Member Since: July 11, 2012

Forum Posts: 15

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thanks for the input

I brought the violin to my instructor and she said the violin is perfect in tone and pitch as is. Apparently i have an orchestra quality violin it is just my ear that is not trained to hear it. She played a couple of her favorite pieces, and it sounded beautiful.... I guess now I need to train my ear along with my fingers, bow and reading notes...

Who ever said this was fun.... Just saying....

Ok so thanks for the input but i will leave this one as it is....

You need to learn from the past, imagine a future, and LIVE for today... Failure is only a guarantee, when you never try

myguitarnow

Laguna Beach

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July 24, 2012 - 9:31 pm

Member Since: June 16, 2011

Forum Posts: 1094

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Well ya said you have only been playing a month. That's not enough time to judge the type of strings for your violin. Look at how well FM made cheep steel strings sound on a $100 dollar black metallic Cecilio sound. There's probably many things you need to work on before you start judging strings. Dominants are probably one of the best strings for any violin. If you have only been playing a month you need to work on your bowing techniques along with many things before you worry about what type of strings. Work with those Dominants, they're great strings.

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