If you had any money in the world to buy violin strings, which one would you buy and why? My uncles bday is tomorrow and I just had the idea to get those as a gift (I hate bday following right after xmas) but I have no idea which are good, and he is kind of fancy.

Which ones does he usually use?

If you know what taste in strings he has, someone can maybe think of a posher version?

I am going to say: OLIVS (by pirastro) and more specifically the 'rigid' ones and more specifically a 'thick' gauge G string with medium D medium A and a Goldbrokat E string (not the Oliv E) and you did say money was 'no object' and just as well as these strings don't come cheap! (except from the Goldbrokat E which is 'one pound' )

and why?

because they are the BEST strings I have ever bought that's why

they are Rich like chocolate, they are warm, they draw all colours of the rainbow and they are capable of being loud too, it's like having a palette with ALL colours at your disposal, they are absolutely wonderful! (can't you tell I love them? hahahahaha!)


(they are the best which are not 'plain gut' but I understand plain gut are not to everyone's taste )

I would say that strings are a very personal thing...I would suggest an IOU for a set and give him a choice. He may choose to try something new, or if he is picky, stick to what he loves.

Yes, I agree they are personal. Some like mellow, some like brighter. If you wanted to get him something new though, if he for instance likes mellow, you could get him a more expensive mellow set? You could find out what he normally uses and maybe phone a string specialist - the guy at Stringzone.com is very good - and ask him what an 'upgrade' on his current strings might be.Or like Sunrise says, a nicely decorated birthday IOU