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String replacement thoughts
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DanielB
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August 16, 2012 - 2:00 pm
Member Since: May 4, 2012
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The strings on my electric are about due for change.  I don't know much about violin strings, but from having used the "silk and steel" type strings on acoustic guitars fro some years, I know the signs.  The silver plating has worn off from a good section of the windings of the heavier strings to show the bare copper, which is making them a bit more brash in tone than they once were.  The plain steel strings are "deader" than they used to be, meaning they have lost some of the bright harmonic overtones and sound sorta.. plain (and not as loud as they once were).  They could hang on for months or even years before anything actually breaks, but they just aren't going to sound their best anymore.  So yeah, it is about time to get a new set of strings so that will probbly be my next violin related expense within the next week or two.

The problem is that I rather liked those strings, but they are a brand that from what I can tell almost nobody else uses.  They were seriously inexpensive, but they held tune well and played well, and I liked the sound.  They still don't sound terrible or anything, they are just "past their prime", I think.  What I am seeing as a problem is that I am undecided whether to stick with the brand I felt worked well for me, or try another brand or type.

The only other violin I've played on for even a minute or two where I know the string brand was strung with d'Addario Preludes.  I really didn't like it.  The sound had much more sting than I liked and they felt very stiff comparatively.  Might have been the action or the instrument as well, since it was a different electric than mine.  It also wasn't my usual bow.  While it may not be a 100% fair comparison due to those factors, I'm still thinking I probably wouldn't like those on my electric.

My current inclination is to stick with what I have already used, since they seemed to work well and I like the sound and feel of them.  They sounded pretty well balanced on volume and they have a rather warm sound on the wound strings with the high strings sounding nice and clear but not too harsh.  But they are a very inexpensive string and I end up wondering if I should maybe try some of the others.  The local shop owner has a set of Corelli Crystals he says he thinks I would like, so that is the other main option I have been considering.

The strings I have been using are Rotosound "student/economy" strings, which are a silver plated silk and steel type.  I have also been using their "professional" strings on my acoustic violin, which are similar but with chrome plating.  I like the silver ones better.  Ok, except maybe the A string out of the "pro" set, which feels a bit nicer, is a wound string, and at least on the acoustic is very "sing-y" (for lack of a better adjective). I have considered that buying a Rotosound "pro" set just for the A string and swapping it into a "student" set might be just about perfect by my admittedly noob standards.  That would be an experiment, but not an expensive one, and if I didn't like it, I would still have the "pro" set for my acoustic.  I know most people here won't know Rotosound violin strings, and I am a noob to violin string but I can say they sound and play much better than either the factory issue set of no-names that came with the electric or Cecilios (which some of you may have actually played on).  That statement might be a nominee for "Understatement of the week".  LOL

So the main options I am considering are:

1.) Stick with the silver Rotos (seems sensible, considering they are less than 10$ a set and I like them)

2.) Get both Roto silvers and chromes and make up a composite set to see if it is better. 

3.) Try the Corelli Crystals

4.) Try some other brand

I know that not many people here play electric and almost certainly haven't tried the strings I am currently using, so "unqualified opinions" are more than welcome.  Cost is a consideration (isn't it always in today's economy?), but I pay up to 60$ to re-string some other instruments in the household, so I would at least consider going that high if there is reason to believe it could be an improvement worth the expense.

So, any thoughts?

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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Fiddlestix
Michigan, USA

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August 16, 2012 - 3:36 pm
Member Since: January 21, 2012
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DanielB said
1.) Stick with the silver Rotos (seems sensible, considering they are less than 10$ a set and I like them)

2.) Get both Roto silvers and chromes and make up a composite set to see if it is better. 

3.) Try the Corelli Crystals

4.) Try some other brand

I know that not many people here play electric and almost certainly haven't tried the strings I am currently using, so "unqualified opinions" are more than welcome.  Cost is a consideration (isn't it always in today's economy?), but I pay up to 60$ to re-string some other instruments in the household, so I would at least consider going that high if there is reason to believe it could be an improvement worth the expense.

So, any thoughts?

 

I contacted a place in CA. that sell's nothing but instrument string's to find out which brand of string they sell the most of.

The rep. told me Belfino or D'Addario #NS310 which is made specifically for EV's.  Fiddlershop carrie's them.

Check them out.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
August 18, 2012 - 9:36 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Try some other strings.

Zyex is my first suggestion. If you want a less strong and less expensive string try Pro-Arte. You can't go wrong with these strings. Zyex are my favorite for now and I've tried a huge variety of strings.

We sell the Corelli but I am pretty sure you will notice a huge difference with my suggestions. Preludes are economy steel strings and I understand why you are not fond of them.

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

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Oliver
NC

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August 18, 2012 - 10:18 am
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Opinion ...... Corelli Crystals are really weak.  Feel and sound like the "light" version strings of other manufacturers.  Not a "bad" sound but seems like something is missing.  Very quick against the bow.  Thin ?

I would not know what kind of violin would benefit here.

When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

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