|
Not long ago, I found an old catalog (circa 1960) from William
Lewis & Son in Chicago when they were one of the largest violin
shops in the world. I noticed the limited selection of strings
available to musicians at the time. You could choose from a few
steel-core strings, primarily designed for students, or gut-core.
There were familiar names like Pirastro, Thomastik-Infeld, and
Jargar along with others that have since disappeared. This was
more than a decade before Thomastik-Infeld would introduce its
revolutionary Dominant perlon-core strings.
Today there more kinds of traditional gut-core strings than there
were 40 years ago, a dozen or so synthetic-core strings that are
routinely stocked by the larger stringed-instrument specialists,
and a multitude of steel-core strings. Most of these strings have
been introduced in the last few years. The major string manufacturers
are constantly introducing new products, which can be overwhelming
and confusing for musicians. But a little knowledge will help
you through the string-buying maze.
Keep in mind that there is no single perfect string for everyone.
The trick is to find a string that complements the qualities of
your instrument and your playing style. Below you will find a
guide to the basic qualities of each type of string—gut, synthetic,
and steel—followed by a breakdown (alphabetically by manufacturer)
of the specifics of brands and lines. The list is limited to violin
strings readily available in the U.S. and does not include some
of the lowest-priced strings, which are aimed at beginning students.
The manufacturers’ list prices shown are for complete sets of
E, A, D, and G; some sets are available with alternate winding
options on certain strings, so a price range is shown. Be aware
that actual retail prices vary widely from these list prices.
GUT-CORE STRINGS
Musical-instrument strings have been made of sheep or lamb intestine
since the earliest days. Until the end of the 19th century, gut
strings were the only strings available. On the violin, the E,
A, and D strings were usually plain unwrapped gut. The G string
has taken different forms to reduce mass, using forms of twisting,
braiding, and wrapping. Today, musicians specializing in early-music
performance are among the few using plain gut strings. Most who
use gut-core strings use those that are wrapped with silver or
aluminum.
Gut-core strings have their own unique sound, which is very full
and complex with lots of overtones. Of all types, these strings
have the slowest response. On many instruments there is a slight
resistance, or "catch," on note or bowing changes, an
effect that is more pronounced on some instruments than others.
Because they are lower in tension, gut strings tend to feel softer
and more pliable under the finger.
The major disadvantage is that they are rather unstable in response
to temperature and humidity changes and thus tend to go out of
tune frequently. When first installed, gut-core strings need about
a week to stretch out before they have any kind of stability at
all. Some musicians get tired of the constant tuning. The sound
of these strings, however, can be beautiful, and although manufacturers
of synthetic-core strings often claim their strings sound just
like gut, they usually don’t.
|
 |
|
Kaplan Golden Spiral
($53–$59) and Golden Spiral Solo ($64–$71) strings are made
by D’Addario, one of America’s largest string makers. I have
found the sound to be similar to Pirastro Gold (see below). The solo
version is a bit more brilliant and is available in different gauges. |
 |
|
String maker
Damian Dlugolecki (520 S.E. 40th St., Troutdale, OR 97060;
[503] 669-7966; www.teleport.com/~damian/strings.htm)
makes all kinds of traditional gut strings and has a good reputation.
Each string is sold separately (Es and some As in sets of two); a
full set will add up to $37–$90. |
 |
|
Pirastro Chorda strings
($38) are made for early-music specialists with violins set up for
Baroque performance. The E, A, and D are plain gut, and the G is wrapped
with silver-plated copper wire. They are designed to be tuned to a
415 A. (A= 415 is one of many older—and lower—"standard"
pitches. The lower pitch makes for a more mellow sound. Modern pitch
in the U.S. is typically 440 hertz. In Europe the standard is sometime
higher—445 or 450—which gives the orchestras a more aggressive, brilliant
tone.)
|
 |
|
Pirastro Eudoxa strings
($57) have been on the market for a long time and were the standard
string for many years. They have a dark, warm, and quite full sound.
The response is rather slow, and they can sound dull on some (especially
newer) instruments. Eudoxa strings work best on old German and Italian
violins, especially those with a higher arching. |
 |
|
The Pirastro Gold ($48)
is another old-timer, often referred to as "Gold Label."
Less expensive than Olivs or Eudoxas, the Gold Label comes in only
one gauge and has a sound somewhere between those of the other labels.
The E string is one of the most popular on the market and works well
with many other strings. |
 |
|
Pirastro’s premiere
gut-core string, Oliv ($89), has been on the market for almost
40 years. The sound is moderately brilliant with quick response for
a gut-core string. You can dig in and get lots of sound from these
excellent strings. The G string uses a gold alloy wrapping, and the
E string is gold-plated steel with a beautiful, clear, and pure sound.
|
SYNTHETIC-CORE STRINGS
In the early 1970s, Thomastik-Infeld revolutionized
violin-string making by introducing Dominant perlon-core strings.
The claim was that now you could have a string that sounded like
a gut-core string but didn’t have the disadvantages of pitch instability
and slow response. These strings use a core of perlon (a type
of nylon) wrapped with silver or aluminum. Within a day or two
of installing the strings, they stretch out and stabilize. The
core isn’t affected by changes in temperature and humidity nearly
as much as gut, so these strings stay in tune much better. They
also have a quicker response. Since the introduction of Dominant
strings, other manufacturers have introduced many new synthetic-core
strings using not only perlon, but also high-tech composites such
as Kevlar. Each string has its own particular sound quality.
|
 |
|
Made in France by Saverez,
producer of high-quality strings for tennis rackets, Corelli Alliance
strings ($110) use a Kevlar core rather than perlon. The sound is
warm and dark, although not as warm and dark as the Obligato, for
example. These strings have a small but devoted following. |
 |
|
Corelli Crystal strings
($38) have a tone that is warm and dark, with a fair amount of edge
that keeps them from sounding too dull. When you take them out of
the package, you will find them very stiff compared to other strings.
They also feel thick under the finger, although they really are not
thicker than any other string. |
 |
|
Although Dogal has been making strings in Venice,
Italy, for more than 50 years, they are not well known in this country
in spite of their recent ad campaign. In fact, if you want to try
them, be prepared for a long search (you can try contacting the
company directly through the Web site www.dogalstrings.com)
. When I first installed Dogal Synthetic Gut strings ($34)
on my violin, I found them rather dull-sounding, with a sluggish
response. After two days, they seemed to perk up. I would characterize
the sound as slightly dark, with slower-than-average response. I
think Dogal needs to improve the D string (silver winding instead
of aluminum would help) because of the flat, sluggish sound.
|
 |
|
D’Addario Zyex strings
($60–$64) have a bright, focused quality and must be played for a
few days before they reach optimum sound. D’Addario Pro
Arte strings ($45–$49) offer a sound that is fairly dark and smooth,
making them a useful choice for bright, rough-sounding instruments.
|
 |
|
Larsen ($90) has been
making excellent cello strings for some time. When the company’s violin
strings came on the market, I was as impressed as I have ever been
with new strings. They are powerful and brilliant but with great quality.
The sound is noticeably bigger than that of the Dominant. The biggest
problem so far is that the D and G strings tend to lose their quality
rather quickly and suddenly. |
 |
|
John Pearse Artiste strings ($37)
have been around for several years. They have a clear, focused sound;
the exception is the D string, which is a bit darker than the others.
They might work well for an instrument needing extra clarity and focus. |
 |
|
Pirastro’s first response
to Thomastik-Infeld Dominant strings (see below) was the Aricore
($37). This string has a dark, warm sound, but can be dull and rather
dead on some instruments. If you have a violin that is harsh and shrill,
you might want to consider these strings, which are available only
in medium gauge. In contrast to the Aricore, Pirastro’s Synoxa
($39) is brilliant and focused. If your violin has a fuzzy tone, you
might try this string (also available in medium gauge only). |
 |
|
Until Pirastro introduced its Tonica strings
($45), the company seemed to be having trouble competing with Dominants.
Tonicas are excellent strings with a bright sound. The sound is
not as bright as that of the Dominant, but it has more complexity,
fullness, and depth. Some people may find the string to have a slightly
slower response. Two E strings are available, one plain steel and
one with aluminum wrapping. I’ve found the wrapped E to be very
useful on violins that have a tendency to squeak when going to the
open E.
|
 |
|
When Pirastro introduced the Obligato ($61),
I found it to be one of the more interesting strings on the market.
Of all the synthetic-core strings, the Obligato comes the closest
to sounding like a gut-core string, namely the Eudoxa. Obligatos
are, however, more responsive and slightly more brilliant. If you
have a violin that would work well with Eudoxas, you might want
to try the Obligatos. I would also suggest them for overly bright
instruments. The standard set includes a silver-wrapped D and a
gold-plated E.
|
 |
|
My initial trials of the Pirastro
Evah Pirazzi ($68) have shown it to be an outstanding string.
It’s more brilliant than the Obligato, silvery, powerful, and with
a great deal of character. These strings need two or three days to
stabilize, as they tend to stretch a great deal when new. |
 |
|
When the Super-Sensitive
Musical String Co. first introduced Sensicore strings
($53), they had a nice, brilliant tone—slightly less bright than Dominants.
More recently, they were reformulated and repackaged. They now have
a darker, warmer sound somewhat like Pirastro Aricore. The strings
fare better in the lower register, building a deep, warm tone and
good volume. But the A and E strings tend to be more shrill. |
 |
|
Thomastik-Infeld Dominants
($54–$58), the original synthetic-core strings, are still top sellers.
The sound is brilliant and responsive, and these strings seem to work
well with many different instruments. When they are first installed,
they have a rather metallic and edgy sound that disappears with a
few days of playing. The E strings don’t seem to match the quality
of the other strings, and many players substitute a Pirastro Gold
Label E, which is a good match. |
 |
|
Thomastik-Infeld’s Infeld
Blue ($59) and Infeld Red ($68) strings are newer to the
market. They are designed to complement one another; the tensions
are the same, allowing you to mix and match. The Infeld Red set has
a darker, warmer sound, and the Infeld Blue is more brilliant. In
my preliminary tests, I found them to be excellent strings. The Blue
set sounds a bit like Dominant strings but with more warmth. These
strings also proved to have a shorter break-in period. |
STEEL-CORE STRINGS
Steel strings began to appear in the late 19th
century with the introduction of the steel E string (most E strings
still employ steel in their creation). The A, D, and G strings
use a core of fine strands of steel covered with a variety of
metals, including chrome steel, silver, tungsten, titanium, and
others.
Many (but not all) steel-core strings have a tendency
toward brightness. The sound is usually clear but simple, with
few overtones. Steel-core strings have the fastest response of
any string. Most are higher in tension and thinner than other
types of strings. The least expensive of them tend to be edgy,
tinny, and a bit rough. The best are of a much higher quality.
With steel cores, there is very little expansion
or contraction during temperature and humidity changes, and they
tend to stay in tune better than synthetic-core strings. They
are therefore a good choice for beginning students.
|
 |
|
The D’Addario Helicore
($50–$55) is a popular string with a smooth, warm tone. It has a soft,
pliable feel under the fingers, unlike most other steel-core strings.
It is probably the best choice for electric violins. |
 |
|
Many decades ago, Jargar
strings ($55) became popular with cellists, especially for the
A and D strings, and with violinists for the A string. They have a
warm sound and a good following, even with some classical musicians.
|
 |
|
If you play country, old-time,
Cajun, or rock, Swedish Prim strings ($35) might be a good
choice because of their power and projection. Their bright, edgy sound
and low price make them popular. |
 |
|
The Pirastro Piranito
($24) is among the least expensive violin strings on the market, but
has a surprisingly good sound for its low price. I find Piranitos
useful for small student instruments. The Pirastro Chromcor
($31) is a step up from the Piranito but still budget priced. Chromcors
have a bright, clean, and clear sound. They are also good with small
student instruments. Pirastro’s Flexocore strings ($46) have
a warm, dark tone like the Helicore. |
 |
|
Super-Sensitive Red Label
strings ($27–$30) have a wide acceptance with schools and some
beginning students because of their durability, very low price, and
wide availability. |
 |
|
Thomastik-Infeld Spirocore
strings ($57) have a very bright, hard-edged sound. They have a following
among some nonclassical (country, bluegrass, mariachi, etc.) players.
The company’s Superflexible ropecore strings ($44), on the
other hand, have a very dark sound with very little edge. For years
Zeta, the maker of electric violins, recommended these strings for
all its instruments. |
Excerpted
from Strings
magazine, July 2001, No. 95
|
