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What is a good step up for the E string?
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (3 votes) 
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PopFiddle

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January 12, 2016 - 1:07 pm
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I've tried playing on both steel and perlon core strings and I've found that in both cases the unwrapped E string is a problem in making smooth transitions to it and double stops with it.

I've seen some discussions about squeak proof E strings and wrapped E strings.

What is a good first step for moving up to a better E string?

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Hermes
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January 12, 2016 - 8:17 pm
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What it's on your instrument at the moment? (in all strings)

Pirastro Gold label medium could do the trick, if it would be for a plain steel one  (in case you haven't tried it yet). 

Otherwise my experience with the aluminium wound Eudoxa E paired with dominant mediums ADG is pretty good as well. Not the most projecting out there, but round and beautiful.

Which ones have you tried till now?

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PopFiddle

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January 13, 2016 - 12:41 pm
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I have tried D'Addario Red Label strings and Tomastik Dominants, so I would like to substitute an E string for either of these plain steel strings.

Trying a wound E string seems the most promising.  What is different about the Pirastro Gold label?  I looked up Pirastro Gold and see the wound strings are gut core and the E string is steel.  I suppose if they pair a steel E string with the gut strings, it is bound to be different.  How?  (Eudoxa is also a gut string from Pirastro)

Projection is not really an issue for me.  I am not a performer and violins are already a little loud for me.  I always play with some kind of mute.

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Hermes
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January 13, 2016 - 9:41 pm
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About the Pirastro Gold label, compared to the Dominant E. It seemed to me as if it was less aggressive and edgy, somehow more brilliant and delicate. It's just a different construction method ( and different materials) than the Gold.

As far as I know, Dominant sets come with two different E strings. A chrome steel and a tin plated carbon steel (like the Pirastro gold label E), their difference being the silking at the tailpiece, the tin plated is orange, the chrome steel is purple. I have never tried the tin plated dominant, but it could also be a candidate I guess.

Wound E strings like the Eudoxa (bear in mind, there is also a non wound Eudoxa E, so we refer to the one with the Steel/Aluminum indication at the package) seem to be rounder, and fuller, and a little more "polite" and less prone to squeaking.

Both Eudoxa and Gold Es have a steel core making them different from either a synthetic or gut ADG combo. In terms of feel, sound, everything. Yet they are more stable and less prone to breaking.

Supposedly that I played only for fun, and had infinite time and budget, yes I would play with all gut just for the shake of it afro

P.S. Since you mention that you play with a mute, you could like the Pirastro Violino as well, they seemed mellow and soft sounding last time I checked them. 

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PopFiddle

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January 14, 2016 - 12:25 pm
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Thanks for your response Hermes.  I feel like I have enough clues to make a change to my E string and maybe my whole set.

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Hermes
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January 14, 2016 - 1:55 pm
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Please keep us posted about the results :)

Unfortunately most things depend on the particular instrument, the player, his/her style, and personal taste. But sharing such things is great imo. 

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bfurman

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January 21, 2016 - 9:20 am
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There really is no better or best but simply what works for you and your instrument.  A search of the forums will suggest that Goldbrokat, Jargar, Warchal, Larsen, and Pirastro all make popular E strings for players using mismatched sets.  The good and bad news is that the E string will affect the character of the entire set, so you'll have to experiment.

If whistling and balance with the A string are problematic, then you could start with the Kaplan non-whistling E.  Some string sets also come standard with both wound and unwound E's, but you might try staying with your Dominants for now.

I use a Prim Lisa E because it is brilliant, low tension, and durable.  It does whistle from time to time and isn't the best match for darker strings.  I'm curious to try the Warchal spiral E.

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coolpinkone
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January 21, 2016 - 12:01 pm
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bfurman 

I did not know this:

 The good and bad news is that the E string will affect the character of the entire set, so you'll have to experiment.

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

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bfurman

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January 21, 2016 - 8:29 pm
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Yep.  It's pretty cool if you think about it.  Why change a whole set of strings when you can change just one?

Plenty of pros use Dominant strings while changing only the E string.  The E-string tension has an outsize influence because of its proximity to the sound post.

There are no magic bullets, but sometimes a small thing can make enough difference to genuinely increase our enjoyment.

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