Strings For Violins Options

[EllieBongo]

Hi people,

I need to replace the strings on my violin apparently (I'm such a dunce I didn't realise I was supposed to change them regularly). Any advice on which strings to go for? (I'm preparing for grade 8 at the moment if that helps). I have always gone for Dominants since I was a beginner, but I'm guessing there are fancier ones I should be going for??

Also, how often should I change my strings and is there other vital maintenance I should be doing?

I never remember to ask my teacher these sorts of questions and I feel like I'm missing out on some crucial knowledge!

Thanks!

[Flossie]

Is there anything wrong with how dominants sound on your violin? If you're happy with how your violin sounds with dominant strings then I'd be inclined to stick with what you know until after your exam, because you know how this type of string play and respond on your violin, and then experiment after if you want to (but remember that there are plenty of professional players who use dominants - 'fancier' strings won't in themselves make you a better player).

If there are things you don't like about the sound of your violin or its response with dominants then it might be worth talking to your teacher or a luthier about what might suit the violin better.

There aren't really 'right' or 'wrong' strings for different grades - it depends a lot on what suits the individual player and instrument. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[EllieBongo]

Oh tha makes me feel better! I asked in the music shop about strings and he said "Oh sorry we only do Dominants" which made me think that I was totally off the mark!

Anyway, I'm not taking my exam yet and there;s definitely room for improvement sound-wise, so I don't mind experimenting with new strings. (I'm finding false harmonics difficult, which my teacher thought might be beacuse of my duff strings, as she tried on my fiddle and struggled too!).

[Organistin]

Oh tha makes me feel better! I asked in the music shop about strings and he said "Oh sorry we only do Dominants" which made me think that I was totally off the mark!

Anyway, I'm not taking my exam yet and there;s definitely room for improvement sound-wise, so I don't mind experimenting with new strings. (I'm finding false harmonics difficult, which my teacher thought might be beacuse of my duff strings, as she tried on my fiddle and struggled too!).

I've used Dominants for years and I have decided now to stick with them. I have experimented with other brands and they just don't suit me. Dominants play in extremely quickly and they suit my violins. I change them every 3 to 6 months. They get quite a bit of heavy use.

If the harmonics are off then it is time for new strings.
Try your natural harmonics (eg E harmonic on E string) followed immediately by pressing your finger fully down in exactly the same place as the harmonic to hear the normal note (ie. the E one octave above the E string). The note should sound the same or nearly the same, not a quarter of a semitone or more out.

False harmonics are often the strings but can sometimes be the violin too. If you have no joy after a string change and the teacher still can't get the false harmonics easily then maybe your violin might need the sound post adjusting or the bridge.

[miffy]

Dominants are really good strings, and by far the best (in my opinion (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ) in and around their price range. All my students use them.
If your shop only stocks them it's because they know they are good sellers, not because they are inferior.
If you're happy with them, stick with them.

[BadStrad]

I put Dominants on the first violin I borrowed, because that's what it's owner used.

On the advice of my tutor, my current violin has 3 Pirastro Aricore strings and a Hill E string. They have a sweeter tone that suits my violin better. The Dominants were a bit harsh sounding.

So maybe ask you teacher's advice? Maybe put a note in your violin case to remind you to ask.

Happy shopping.

[DiscoPants]

Dominants are not inferior or "student" strings. They are used by many professionals, including top soloists.

[miffy]

Absolutely.
Perlman uses them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Claudia's Mum]

We had trouble finding strings other than dominant that you could use with fine tuners (don't know if this is relevant or not).

[jojo]

Any strings should work with fine tuners - the amount the string stretches will have an impact on how much fine tuning you can do - metal strings will give you the most movement per fine tune, synthetics less and gut practically none - but all strings should work with fine tuners.

You should also find that any synthetic string will work just as well with fine tuners as Dominant does (obligato, violino, zyex, infeld - all of them).

What was it that stopped them working for you Claudia's Mum ?

with gut core strings they usually say not to use with fine tuners.....not sure why, if it's because of the amount they stretch??? can't remember where I saw this if it was on the website where you buy them from or on the packet of strings themselves (I have a packet of passione solo at home can check when I get back)

[Claudia's Mum]

What was it that stopped them working for you Claudia's Mum ?

The luthier said they needed to be ones with a loop on the end - which he didn't have.

Don't know if this is correct or not but he said the strings on our list (provided by the teacher) did not have this loop so he would have to take the fine tuners off to fit them.

[Minstrel]

Claudia's mum - sounds like that's all your Luthier had left in stock!
Many decent strings - including dominants - come as either loop end or ball end, just be sure to specify which you need when you order. I'm very lucky to have a couple of great luthiers who look after my instruments and simply get me what I need for the next day if they don't already have it in stock. However there are some great (and not-so-great) websites for ordering strings. Ask around (suggestions, anyone?) and always buy from somewhere with a good reputation for sevice and a good volume of sales so that you can be sure that the strings are fresh and sounding their best. Ask your current teacher's advice and, even better, ask for contacts in September when Claudia starts Junior Conservatoire.

Elliebongo - it's probably worth taking your violin along to a good luthier (ask your teacher for advice), tell them what you like and don't like about the way your violin's sound and the way it plays and as much else about your playing (grade 8) and your violin (when last checked over, when strings last changed, etc) and ask their advice for what strings they would suggest, whether there is anything else they would recommend doing, and how much it would cost. The performance of all stringed instruments is hugely affected by the relationship of how the bridge, sound post and strings are made and fitted relative to each other, and changes over time depending on use, transport and even changes caused by the weather. As you're working towards grade 8 I would suggest that you'll get the best out of your lesons and practice if your violin is working at it's best. You'll enjoy it even more, too.

[Claudia's Mum]

Claudia's mum - sounds like that's all your Luthier had left in stock!

Ha ha, yes that's what I thought but as he was the second place we had tried I wondered whether this might be a common problem. Does it have anything to do with the size of the violin I wonder? Are strings for full size and 3/4 size different?

[DiscoPants]

Claudia's mum - sounds like that's all your Luthier had left in stock!

Ha ha, yes that's what I thought but as he was the second place we had tried I wondered whether this might be a common problem. Does it have anything to do with the size of the violin I wonder? Are strings for full size and 3/4 size different?

Almost all commonly-used strings have ball end GDA strings. This is what you need to fit fine tuners, not loop end. Only E strings come with a choice of loop or ball end, and either can be used with fine tuners, providing you use the right type of tuner.
Size of violin is irrelevant in this respect..
Your "luthier" sounds like a right doughnut.

[jojo]

Your "luthier" sounds like a right doughnut.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif)
discopants is never shy to give his honest opinion (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


going back to the original topic......yes what discopants says its true, most strings (well all of those I have seen anyway) will come with ball end G/D/A strings and a choice of ball/loop for E string
if you have fine tuners on all strings it is true that there is 2 types of fine tuners, those that will hold a ball end string and those that will hold a loop end string. I must say I have never seen a violin with the 'loop end' type of tuners fitted on G/D/A but if you have I'd either take them off altogether (my preferred option) or change these fine tuners to the ones which accomodate ball end strings. Fine tuners are cheap to buy and you can put them on yourself so switching to ones for ball end strings will give you the full choice over what strings you use (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)