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Too funny... But in time, string changing will become easier. Pull the peg all the way out and look at the string hole then understand where it is at when you slide it back in to put your string through.
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Did that too, it worked for the two bottom ones E and G. The upper ones I had to get my light.
Dave
The blind spot!
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I'm blind, too, which is one reason why I left the pegbox unfinished on the blonde fiddle - dark pegs in a light pegbox sure makes it easier to get the string through the hole! The next time I change strings I think I'll drill the hole in the G peg just a little bit larger, too - that string never wants to fit in the tiny hole.
Mary in Springfield, Oregon http://www.thefiddleandbanjopr.....dpress.com
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That's interesting Barry. With guitar I have always just started from low to high. My first attempt didn't go so well on the fiddle but I got the job done. I had seen Fiddlerman's video on changing strings and saw how he does what I do on guitar, what I call the over and under technique. So I struggled a bit on the fiddle. So high to low then on the fiddle... My new Dominant strings and a Mach One shoulder rest arrived today but I crashed on my mountain bike this morning and hurt my left hand. I won't be able to play at all for a couple few days. That Mach One shoulder rest fits me perfect. Tonight I'm going to just drink some beer and watch TV with my fiiddle on my shoulder.
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Okay, I think I need some new strings (I'm almost positive I have some pretty cheap ones right now), but I am completely clueless
as to what to look at let alone buy! I've read through this and other posts and sites, but no dice. I'm lost. Can any one suggest what to get. Mind you, I have a cheapy ebay student violin. So I'm not looking to spend a whole lot, but at the same time, I want it to sound good. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.
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Oh, and I have 4 fine tuners and I believe they are the ball end ones... if that makes a difference.
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Dominant and Helicore seem to be the hit from members here. They are expensive. If you can't afford those I would suggest D'Addario Prelude.
Also, if you have a cheep Ebay violin I would suggest to bring your fiddle into a violin shop asap to check out your sound post.
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CatMcCall said:
I'm blind, too, which is one reason why I left the pegbox unfinished on the blonde fiddle - dark pegs in a light pegbox sure makes it easier to get the string through the hole! The next time I change strings I think I'll drill the hole in the G peg just a little bit larger, too - that string never wants to fit in the tiny hole.
Maybe make a built in light in the peg box! You could start a trend!
Just thinking out loud!
Dave
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myguitarnow said:
Dominant and Helicore seem to be the hit from members here. They are expensive. If you can't afford those I would suggest D'Addario Prelude. That's just what I've heard.
Thanks, I'll have to take a look. Hopefully I'll find something. I've had this violin for the better part of the year, and I haven't really done much with the strings (aside from a quick tuning here and there). Thanks again.
MGN, hope your left hand get well soon! I guessed i would have to wait on your report later:) I'm still waiting for my strings to arrive.
I'm planning on putting them on myself so thanks for all the tips everybody! I will watch the fiddlerman's changing string video, too, to make sure I do it right.
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It really sucks. My wrist is now swollen. All my new strings that came today are sitting right in front of me. When I wiped out on my mountain bike this morning I should of just tucked and rolled instead of putting my hand out to take the fall.
When I worked for a hospital we were trained how to avoid getting serious injuries from falling, two of the techniques i remembered were rolling and slapping the ground. However, when you fall, it happened so fast, who would have the time to recall the falling techniques and perform it? unless you practice it frequently. Did you try to put some ice on it? After 24 hours you could alternate between heat and ice compression. the ice should have reduce swallon and pain. i hope you did not break or jammed any thing. I once fell during iceskating, after physical therapy and several years later, i still felt the jam on my wrist. If the pain and swell continues, i would suggest you to go see a doctor.
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Thank's for that pky. I've been racing dirt bikes for a hobby since I was like 7 years old and have broke many bones doing that and finally gave up. A few years ago I bought a new mountain bike because I live in the Laguna Canyons and there's many fun trails. I've learned how to tuck and roll but yep it just happens too quick. After flipping over and seeing a big rock I put my hand out. I really don't want to go on and on about this but I had a paid recording session to do tomorrow and I really could of used the money and had to cancel. The studio found a replacement.
I know I didn't break anything but my pinky, ring finger and wrist bent way too far back.
Ha, my strings arrived today! Like the fiddlerman said, some balls are black, the pirastro's ball is as black as charcoal. I haven't had the gut to try put them on yet. However, i ordered a cvn 500 1/4 size for my daughter and it arrived this afternoon as well, when i tuned it, the D string had a tingling sound to it, I thought the string was not put it right so I undo it a little to fix the ball; it all came off after acouple trials. 
It took me at least 5 minutes to put it back in and i think the tingling sound is gone after that. It's tough, but I probably will try to put my new strings on, and I will get better each time, the worse case scenario would be I would have to take it to a luthier to put them in.
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You can do it. Enjoy your new strings!
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Barry is exactly right. Also doing it yourself is important Pky. The more you do it the better and quicker you will become at it. I can change all my strings completely in less than 5 minutes unless I need to fix something like a fine tuner. Make sure that your fine tuners are not making noises Some of them need to be tightened at the bottom where it is attached to the tailpiece and it is easiest to do it before you put on the string. I only have two fine tuners and that is only because I use a steel A string. Most pro's only have one for the E string.
Good luck with that PKY.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
I DID IT!!!!
Before I started, I watched the fiddlerman's video on changing strings about six times just to make sure i got the details:P, like which way should the pegs turn.
the whole process probably took me about 40 minutes including tuning. It took me at least three times longer to change the A strings then the other strings. The problem was I could not get the end of the string through the hole! I turned the peg this way and that I just couldn't get it through! Not just because the peg is up high and close to the top of the peg box, it's because the hole on the peg was not drilled through (the problem with cheap violins i guessed)! When i noticed that there seemed to have no hole on the other end of the hole, I decided to pull the whole peg out and I was right -- there was no hole. I used a pimple needle to poke it through, then after a couple trials, the string went through. I used a twister to pull the string through more to get the length I wanted. the rest of them came a lot easier than the A string! The strings on the pegs look messy and the pegs aren't on the position like the fiddlerman's, but I did it! Proud of myself!
I did it, whether or not it's perfect:) I was going to do it last night, but I was tired and didn't know how long it would take and that i might get frustrated easily because I was tired. I'm glad that i did it this morning when I am refreshed and had plenty of time to do it.
Like the fiddlerman said, "The hardest thing about changing strings for beginners is to dare doing it." and like the fiddlerman and Barry said, "The more you do it the better and quicker you will become at it."
Hip hip hurray!
Now I am going to play on it:)
Thanks, Barry, but what does "another feather in your hat" mean?
BTW, it sounds so much better!
The only thing i forgot to do during changing the strings is to loosen the fine tuners. I did it after I have all the strings on.
I see, There's a Chinese saying, "There're a lot of knives hanging on my body, but none of them is sharp." LOL. Just like i have been trying out different instruments, but none of them i play well. I hope i will do better with violin given that i do have a violin and have been doing my best to practice everyday.
BTW, cecilio came with extra set of strings, i could have used that as a practice then use the dominant strings, oh well....
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I changed my strings on two Cecilios this morning and it went pretty smooth. They all are rolled really nice on the pegs. It went a lot easier than when I changed strings a few weeks ago. For some reason though the ball snapped off of my A string and I didn't turn it too tight or anything. Still using it though. I put Dominant medium strings on.I tied a knot at the end of the string. It's working and staying in tune. Yep even though my hand still hurts from my accident, I'm playing the fiddle today.
Side note: Yesterday I brought my Cecilio violins to a luthier to check and adjust the sound posts for me and he told me he doesn't touch cheep violins. He was kind of a jerk to me. He sure won't get any of my business when I step up to an expensive violin.
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