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What violin strings do you use?
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luminiz
New York

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June 20, 2011 - 4:13 pm
Member Since: June 19, 2011
Forum Posts: 28
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My friends say that Dominant Strings are the best all around for quality, durability, and sound. Would better strings on a sub-par violin (student violin) make the resonance better?

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Guest
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June 20, 2011 - 6:07 pm

If a violin just doesn't have the sound, strings will not save it.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
June 20, 2011 - 11:58 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16535

I agree with Oliver.

If your violin sounds too bright or metallic because you are using steel strings, Dominant will help and also make it easier to play in tune. The pitch with steel strings, especially on the G are greatly affected by bow pressure.

If you have old strings on your fiddle changing them will help and if there is potential to sound better Dominant strings might help as well. The problem is that you can never know before trying and they are not cheap.

I use either Dominant or Obligato on my instrument.

 

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

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Guest
Guests
June 21, 2011 - 9:23 am

Whoa !

Obligato vs. Dominant. 

I have used both and find them to be very different.   How do you use them.....not interchangeably I would guess ?  Do you use more than one violin ?

I never liked Dominant "A","E".  Running Helicore right now on electric.  Mix on acoustic.  I always wind up with mixed strings on the acoustic.  I like Super Sensitive fiddler "E"'s.

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
June 21, 2011 - 3:00 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16535

Good point Oliver,

No I don't mix them. If I feel flush I buy Obligato. Now a days I think that they are the same price so maybe I'll only buy Obligato from now on.

I actually only use Dominant on the G and D. Use cheaper steel strings on the A and E and can change on a monthly basis :-)

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

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Guest
Guests
June 21, 2011 - 3:09 pm

Do you mean a plain steel on the "A" ?

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
June 21, 2011 - 3:40 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16535

No, sorry, I use a steel core A called "Piranito" made by Pirastro. 

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

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luminiz
New York

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June 21, 2011 - 4:42 pm
Member Since: June 19, 2011
Forum Posts: 28
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What mix of strings do you think are the best for under 50$ ?

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
June 21, 2011 - 7:18 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16535

It depends on what your violin likes. I think that Dominant are generally safe and work on more variety of violins than any other string that I can think of. They have been around for a long long time too. You can get a set for under $50. I tend not to use the perlon A-string because they don't last long for me. I can wear one out in a couple of weeks. If you have a very weak sounding fiddle you may want good steel core strings but beware that you may get a metallic and harsh sound.

No one can really say what kind of strings will work best on another violin without trying. Most pros try many different type of strings and learn which work for their particular fiddle. Dominants are used by many pros and even frequently used on fine old Italian fiddles.

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

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