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All my strings have satisfactory sounds if I take into consideration their cheaponess. But the D string is a a total failure. No matter where I place my fingers to make the note as precise as possible it sounds weird, muffled and it's the only one doing that. Anyone else have trouble with the D string?
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
Yes, I have that same kind of problem with my G string in second position. I'm thinking it's maybe the bass bar, I dunno. 
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My suggestion if you dare is to pull the bridge over to the right slightly. Not more than 1 or 2mm just to see if the D string sounds stronger. Having the sound-post closer to the bottom actually gives a darker stronger bottom sound. Granted that there is an optimal position for your bridge but this is just to see if it might be advantageous for you to have your sound-post moved by a luthier.
Possibly you have it too much to the left anyway. I don't know. 
There is a very slight possibility that you have a bad D string but I doubt it.
You might also want to experiment with a stronger tension D. All instruments are individual.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
I moved it, not sure yet what's about to happen. And the sound post was cut new and installed by a luthier, but the strings he put on it were not Zyex.
They were Helicore, same Manfg though.
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I'll wait to see if Zyex strings would fix it before moving the sound post because I'm too chicken to touch it. The D string really reacts weirdly it's like only that string needs lots of rosin to sound kinda ok but not the others, go figure. Maybe my violin just hate Preludes D string lol.
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
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The D string is my least favorite string. Just doesn't sound as good as the others. It's probably something I'm doing wrong.
When the work's all done and the sun's settin' low,
I pull out my fiddle and I rosin up the bow.
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i have 2 violins. My $20 violin was painted real thick, so i took the strings off and sanded the paint off "mostly". i looks real bad, but in doing this, i noticed the soundpost looked to be real far back. so after i put the strings back on, i played with the bridge. its easy and i don't think you can hurt anything. It makes a big difference.
to get a good sound out of mine, i actually moved the bridge a little to the trebble side as well as moving it about a half inch back. yea it changed my scale length, but i am quite happy with the sound of my $20 violin. even with $3 strings....
so, i agree with fiddlerman, try playing around with the bridge
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But my violin was ajusted by a luthier and I think he knows his job better then me lol. That's why I am reluctant to move stuff around!
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
Maybe (just maybe) the violin is being falsely accused (and it probably is).
What kind of strings are you using?
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I think FM was implying that the bridge could be moved as a temporary test to see if helped produce a better sound or not. The strings should be centered over the fingerboard with equal open area on both sides of the E and G strings.
After moving the bridge slightly, if it doesnt make a difference then move it back where the strings are once again centered. If it DID make a difference and it was a good difference, then by all means, have it looked at and explain what you did to make it sound so good and they will move things and adjust the post, etc to mimic your test.
Good luck. Be sure to use both hands and grip the bridge equally and firmly so it doesnt 'snap' over and fall or break under the stress of moving only part of it.
I'd almost be tempted to slack of the string tension a little to make moving it easy to do without damaging the top surface of the body.
"If you practice with your hands you must practice all day. Practice with your mind and you can accomplish the same amount in minutes." Nathan Milstein
It is certainly possible to modify the violin stress pattern by rearranging things but as cd points out, damage can happen (this includes the sound post falling over, scratches from the fine tuner levers and maybe even a crack...you can also manage damaged fingers...and I guess you could break a bridge too).
A much neater and safe remedy is to CHANGE THE OFFENDING STRING to maybe another brand or type. If "D" is a thud, maybe a bright metal string would help.? Most suppliers will sell individual strings and, of course, the cost is much less than the full set. You did not tell what your strings are so I can't guess what else might work. (I have a shoe box full of unknown strings and it's for sale if the price is right.)
I have swapped out strings for 6 violins over a ten year period and it basically will work (while the smarts of two luthiers did not).
Most (amateur) violins never achieve a really even sound across all four strings. I think "matched sets" is an advertising fable. And most "D" and "A" strings do act up now and then ... at least on my cheap ($2000) student violins.
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Oh sorry I said only in 4th post that I use Preludes lol. Thanks aguys for trying to help me, now I'm even more scared to touch the bridge though after what Oliver said . I have spare strings that came with the violin, I'll try changing the D one to see if the same thing happen (never did that before even though I saw many tutorials on how-to, it will be an experience). If it still sounds dull, no matter how careful I am on my fingering and bowing, then I'll know it's a violin problem.
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
What kind are your "spare" strings? Nylon, Perlon, Metal ?
A different Prelude D will probably not help you.
Have you seen this ? Would help choosing a brighter string AND one can buy only one string if you wish.
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$2000student violin,
Pick me back up off the floor would you!
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
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I guess synthetic core is what I would prefer for sound. My spare are in a plastic bag so I have no idea what they are! Probably chineese steel cheapothingie. I hate metallic sound.
"It can sing like a bird, it can cry like a human being, it can be very angry, it can be all that humans are" Maxim Vengerov
Noir - May the force be with you!
Terry - Yeah, $2000 is about where my wife starts complaining.
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Oliver said
Noir - May the force be with you!
Terry - Yeah, $2000 is about where my wife starts complaining.
Haha, tell her you paid in Egyption pounds!
I am amazed at how old people of my age are.....
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cdennyb is right, I was implying to move it just to see if the post might be better off moved slightly. It's kind of an easy test when you aren't sure.
The sound-post may need to be tighter or looser as well, a good luthier would be able to help you.
"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."
Maybe the D sits too far into or out of the nut, or maybe the fingerboard contains an imperfection. A new bridge with a slightly altered D position might prove me wrong; careful experimentation or a good luthier will find the results you seek...
good luck
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