we'll see mcm, maybe one day I'll make you happy, but for now I am really enjoying my goldbrokat too much
ps did you know it's the E string Heifetz used to use on his violin by the way (and no, it's not why I love it so much, but it is the reason why I tried it out in the first place, I was curious to see why he chose it to alongside the plain gut strings A and D he had on his violin and now I know why, it's lovely and it blends so well with the others...)

Fair enough. I imagine that part of the reason Heifetz used a steel E was that it would be much more reliable - very desirable for a performer playing so much and in very different climates. Did you know that he had five bridges of differing heights so that he could keep compensate for the changes in the violin belly shape, caused by changes in temperature and humidity?

It might also be a little louder and more brilliant than a gut one, but until you try it we won't know. Personally I am not keen on Heifetz's sound - it is just a bit too hard and, dare I say it, steely ( ) for my taste. There is a Russian violinist today who has switched to gut strings but for the life of me I can't remember her name at the moment.

On my modern violin I have settled (for the moment!) on Obligatos with a Hill Special E. I really like this combination but will try a Goldbrokat some time. The main thing is that you are happy with your set-up .

Oh yes, am happy with it and oh no, I don't sound like Heifetz but even if a good violinist played my violin (which is a 'good' violin I'd like to think) it still would not sound like Heifetz's violin....
but yes, 'me like it' a lot more now than before

Viktoria Mullova. Now there's a fascinating personality...

Thank you - I knew it ended in "-ova" but could only think of tennis players!