I have a few small questions about my violin, so rather than post many posts about small barely existant problems i thought i'd post 1 post with some of my questions/thoughts =]

1 - Strings.
I was thinking sometime after my exam (in Feb/March) of trying some different strings for my violin. So far i've only ever tried the practically-barbed-wire strings that came on my first violin (Stentor 2 :|) and dominants.
What other types are there to try and what are they like?

2 - Bows.
I got a new violin a few weeks back, dunno if you read about my beloved Fidelio 120 year old German violin, copy of a strad. Anyway it didn't come with a bow or anything. I'm planning on buying a new one in January or Febuary.
My current bow is really bad. Ych a fiiii >_< It's the one that came with my stentor. The bow hairs look and feel like bad plastic. No matter how much rosin i use it still doesn't wanna grasp the strings properly and makes a sort of hissing sound. ¬_¬
Anyway sorry i keep going off the subject. How much should i spend on one to get a fairly decent one? Never bought a bow on it's own before, so i don't have much of an idea.
Do you try them out when buying them like you would a violin? (i.e. should i take my violin with me to the shop XD)

1. Strings - Dominants, although I would stay away from the infamous E string. I have Vision Titanium Solos on my violin and they're very brilliant and bright in sound. The E string squeaks quite abit though. My teacher has recommended Pirastro Obligatos. I will have them on my violin when he comes back from a vacation. He also recommended Larsen Tzigane strings (never really heard of it) and Evah Pirazzis, but Pirazzis depend on your violin. They are really for soloists to play because they very brilliant and may strangle the sound of some violins by being too bright. Do bring your violin to the shop and see if they can recommend you some strings. Dominants are pretty good all-round strings. A nice alternative would also be Pirastro Tonica. I had them on before I changed to my current violin with Visions on them.

2. I have never actually had to purchase a bow but yes, you do have to bring your violin to the shop and see which one best suits your violin and you. I've read somewhere that the bow should roughly be 1/3 of the violin's price but I can't confirm this. Play all different strokes with the bow to see if you like the heaviness (or lightness) of it. Try scales, pieces and anything you want. I think some shops even let you take a few bows home for a period of time (I think it's a week or so) to try them for a small fee.

All in all, buying new strings and a bow is like buying a new violin. You have to see which one you like best because after all, you're the violinist! Good luck!

Yeah i have dominants on this one - dunno how long they've been on there or when they were last played before i bought it, but my E string has gone all funny. Sort of, changed colour... I have a newer set of dominants that i may put on there until i can try out some others


+++ thanks for the advice

hello ffliwt

1. I hate dominant strings. I had them on my Gliga but changed them to Evah Pirazzis (Pirastro) which made it sound strong and quite bright. I put Pirastro Obligatos on my Dad's fiddle and they're my favourite so far. I now have the Evah Pirazzis on my brand new hand-made lovely, lovely violin ('Martha' ) and they're quite bright (better than the dominants that were on it) but when I'm ready to change them I will definitely be using Obligatos.. they're lovely and warm-sounding.

2. Well I'm kinda in the same boat as you! I have only ever had one bow and now have some money to buy a new one in the new year. The Violin Shop in Glasgow have promised me a good 'deal' on a bow when I can visit them so I will go and try out several (they come in different weights etc) and pick one I like the 'feel' of rather than exactly how much it will cost (within my budget of course).

Have fun with Fidelio - Martha sends her regards!

Seconded. Dominant Es sould be avoided at all costs. Pirastro strings are always good quality, Evahs are the standard type used by most. For the purposes of grade 4 the difference is pretty minimal (except the E) but personally I find Evahs give a better-rounded, warmer sound, possibly at the cost of a little projection but not enough to be noticeable.