I think I'm in need (dire need) of replacing my strings - they lived on my old violin for at least a year (actually, probably more like 2 years), the windings have gone, um, fluffy, and I'm getting black stuff on my fingers, which I can only assume is the residue from my old violin's ebonised fingerboard. Yuck!
Thing is, the strings are Dominants and I'd like something that makes a similar sort of tone but can't really pay £30+ for a set now. So I see I have 2 options: get some cheaper strings (but maybe sacrifice tone?!), or wait until I have a summer job and just get the real thing? Any thoughts/suggestions for a cheaper string that sounds nice? (I actually only need D,G and A as I replaced the E with a new one recently - I don't know exactly but it had a rose on the packet)

Thomastik Visions. At least as good as Dominant and cheaper (£24 a set from Stringmail).

I know exactly what you mean about reasonable priced strings, I'm just waiting for some OPERA PERLON strings to arrive from ebay. They seem to have good reviews and cost around ?10. I think for my standard they should be ok. I have a good E string that I recently changed, and I have a Dominant D string thats just about done, and the other two are the ones that came on my violin over a year ago I really need too change them, they sound well and truely dead!

I am using Helicores and I love them. If you are tight on funds but not in a hurry, try looking in the USA for them, they are much cheaper over there, even with the postage back. My next set are going to be Zyex. I am in Gibraltar so I need strings that can withstand temp changes!!

I'll be interested to hear what the Perlons are like.....please let us know. I have a violin that I use primarily for folk which I don't put such expensive strings on. These might be perfect.