It didn't occur to me until a week ago that I could do the usual thing of downloading and uploading just the picture. This is probably acceptable practice. This is a competitor's chart, so you can get a slightly wider/different viewpoint: -

And here's fiddlershop's link again for easier comparison than going back to the OP: - https://fiddlershop.com/pages/.....comparison

But Fiddlershop's link is interactive, so I don't know how to post a picture here.

Fiddlerman said

I won't object to the Shar advertisement in this case since most people know about Shar anyway. But moving forward, if it has advertisement on it, I prefer not for you to post it. Thanks for keeping it in mind as I know that you reached out.

  

I have now edited the picture to remove their name and the prices. I apologise for not thinking about this in the first place.

Yes to all your questions, John.

If you look closely at what's on offer, all the warm strings seem to be gut, which I intend to avoid as long as possible.

My teacher's first recommendation was "something middle of the road, like Dominants or Tonicas." But the three violins I have bought have all been supplied with those two strings.

I went to the Shar list (2 1/2 years ago, before Fiddlerman's list existed) and eliminated things by price and material and whatever and ended up with a shortlist of Dominants and Tonicas.

To any noob on this forum bewildered by those charts, I'd say, get Tonicas or Fiddlershop's equivalent (I hear they are exceptional value) and forget the rest for a few years.

You have only been playing for 2 months, is that right?

Each string needs different technique, but it's unconscious, so don't fret about it.

Each string has a different character and response.

My recollection is that each string "comes in" for the beginner at a different rate. In other words, if my experience is typical, first you will get good tone from the G string, then perhaps the E string - I don't recall having any difficulties with mine, so perhaps it preceded the G string (probably the main reason for the E string making your ears bleed is intonation). Next the D string starts sounding nice - work on it on its own - play E, F, F# and G slow and loudish, varying bow pressure and speed and listening for changes. Finally you will get the A string to sound nice.

ymmv

Possibly you won't notice the full effect until you are using vibrato. I can't remember.

The main thing to take away is, play each string for itself initially, rather than playing the whole instrument. That's starting to sound philosophical, lol!