Finally all strings are broken. Paganini: plays with the bow and the violin with no string left. Even the violin is broken. Paganini: plays with the bow and the air. Eventually the bow is broken. Paganini: plays with ladies.
I use strings way above my level, Pirastro Oliv, but I am addicted to the big warm sound they produce. And my odd viola of unknown origin is allergic to high tension, it starts screaming. Curious though how the tension on Evah Pirazzi compares to natural gut.
@@altoclef6688 It could be possible the viola could use another setup like adjusted or replaced sound post & replacement bridge. If the bridge feet are too high it may need one cut lower with more mass lower down & then the lower frequencies can respond warmly & not harshly (something I experienced with one viola decades ago).
@@rossthefiddler5890 Thanks for input! The sound post was adjusted long time ago and the sound hasn't changed since. Before that adjustment the sound wasn't very nice at all. But I haven't tried another bridge, good tip! The placement of the bridge is delicate but the varnish is worn so it is easy to see where it should go. A fifth of a millimetre off and the sound is not there anymore. But as it is an odd and probably old instrument it has its quirks..
Having good eye sight is very important. When I was younger I could see really close up without glasses, but now I use glasses and sometimes glasses with a magnifying glass attachment
Excellent video and very informative as always, Master Olaf! I had lots of questions about strings and you helped answer a great many of them and help me get a better understanding of the sound/material relationship. Bravo!
It’s insane how hard it is to find everything he just said on the internet… just a simple what are the strings made of and how do they generally sound. Thank you!!
I swear by Zyex on my 1780s Saxon violin, I do like the silver D, but I'm not sure if its that much better than the aluminium D. Switching to light tension really helped though - I think I get more projection but a warmer sound, and not 'forced'. I might try an alternative one day, but I'll need more coints! I tried an anti whistle E string... and it was way WORSE!! 🤦🏾♀️Thanks for an informative video.
Maybe since this was made, the strings I’m really liking hadn’t been tested much, being so new. The Pirastro Perpetual are a new favorite of mine. Something makes me wonder if they are a Perlon core, but whatever the case, I really like them over most other established common brands. They achieve a brilliance with less tension than Eva Perazzi brand, and are fairly transparent. Their useable lifespan is more in line with the Tomastik Vision Titanium Solo brand, another really fine string that my del Gesu model violin really excels with.
I was just looking into string tension, Unless you're referring to the Perpetual Cadenzas, the standard Perpetuals are higher tension than Evahs--not lower. Perpetual Cadenza - 48.1 (LB) - 21.8 (KG) Evah Pirazzi - 50.9 (LB) - 23.1 (KG) Perpetual - 51.4 (LB) - 23.3 (KG)
Yes, the Evahs can vary. In my case, breaking in a del Gesu, I was always using the stark set, and that amounts to 53.24 lb string tension, and the last numbers of sets I went through, maybe up to 10 sets, I was using the heavy Westminster E, which would add just a bit more to the figure I listed above. Lots of choices, plus the fiddle that has the perpetuals is set up with a little lower action, which is a big factor.
Hi Olaf! Greetings from Norway! I love your videos! I know you are not so much into mixing different strings on the violin, but I have a set that you might be interested in! Together with my violin maker, we discovered and developed a mixed set that works for violins with a thicker bottom plate. We did even try some viola strings too! The set is like this: G-string: Thomastik Rondo D-string: (we have two different options for this) Thomastik Infeld silver or Vision Solo Titanium. I personally use TI right now. A-string: (two options here too) Pirastro Perpetual or Warchal Avantgarde. I use Pirastro, because I had some trouble with the steel string (it dropped in pitch after you played pizz. That was challenging to hide when i sat in the orchestra. E-string: This is a special string that only makers can provide, and it’s called "Sonderprogram Gold E strong. It is a beautiful string with a lot of sound and clarity, especially pared with the Pirastro A. Other than that, I hope you are fine!
Dominant A & E and D'Adario Prelude G & D Have been playing violin for 7 months and these strings are my favourite. Every G string I tried sounded wierd and I thought it was because I am a beginner, but a bow upgrade has solved it! ( Codabow diamond NX).
I know this video was made 3 years ago. I tried Obligato and was rather disappointed with them. Response was slow, mirky on the A-string. Infeld red or Dominants responds quick and I enjoyed those. Vision Titanium solo worked well but lacks that low end punch the Infeld Reds offered. All subjective. Anyone have similar experience
Thanks for the information. I'm half way through putting on Tomastik Alphayue strings because they sounded ok in other youtube comparison videos. The 2 I've changed so far sound bad compared to the 2 original strings. Is there a way to identify what the originals are?
Perlman used Dominants... so does Hilary Hahn... I always used Eudoxa / Passione... but now I have been using Larsen Normal for 2 years (since my wife has been using Larsen on the Cello since they were invented) . For violin they are not quite as good / rich as Pirastro for sound... but they are thicker than Passione (in circumference) ... the only thing I don't like about Passione is they are thinner in circumference... but they sound amazing... if they made a thicker Passione I would be using that... I don't like Eva Pirazzi... but the Gold version is the better sounding one... the green ones sound too loud and are too silvery in tone.. not enough warmth... but for Solo work they could stand out well. My E string snapped in a live Concert, in a quartet in the last 2 lines... so I carried on, and the violist and cellist didn't even know it had happened !!
Olaf, I have a seven string violin and, I can’t find a low F string. I found a string maker that will make a silk wrapped string. What do you think of that? What do you think of bridges with ebony inserts? I don’t see you working with those much. This was a very helpful video.
If you have a good balanced violin, a neglected string is the Pirastro Tonica. It's similar to the ever-popular Dominants (perhaps a touch sweeter), but half the price. So you can save some money, or change your strings twice as often. Perhaps because of the price point it's often seen as a student string, but on my fiddle I haven't found anything that works better - even at 3 times the price.
@@tullochgorum6323 Maybe you have a newer instrument. Tonicas are much higher tension than Dominants, they shouldn't even be compared the way they are. And I'm pretty sure they are less resistant to nails and humidity.
@@LordCarmesimXXVII I don't know where you get the impression that the Tonicas are much higher tension. Pirastro don't seem to publish figures, but they are both classed as medium and I can't feel much difference. They were formulated as a direct competitor and are similar in most aspects. I've had a lot of issues with Dominant As and Ds unwinding - never with the Tonicas.
The figures are in their official website, the data doesn't lie. "Medium tension" doesn't say much because it has big range. Tonicas: G: 4.9kg D: 4.5kg A: 5.5kg Dominant: G: 4.4kg D: 4.1kg A: 5.5kg Quite a big difference on the G and D. Tonicas put a lot more strain on the instrument.
Pro-tip: If you think Thomastik Dominants are expensive, then get Daddario strings for Mandolin. That's right -- you can put mandolin strings on your violin. Bonus -- when you buy a set of strings for Mandolin, you get two of each string. You'll be spending 1/4 the price of actual violin strings this way. Just make sure you get the ones with ball-end.
What do you recommend for beginners playing "less expensive" instruments? My grandson is playing on an older Franz Hoffmann Maestro 4/4 violin, Romanian made.
I wish he would have explained more...what does composite mean? What are synthetic strings made of? How are the materials arranged and assembled? Was hoping for a more technical explanantion of the difference between string categories.
Composite strings are made from a combination of materials. Synthetic strings are made of plastic, usually nylon or polyester. It would be difficult to go through every line of every brand of string to tell you what each is made of, even if he knew. And companies don't always say, especially with synthetic.
Love your videos! I am a fiddler and use Helicore steel core strings. Since steel strings are usually thinner, higher tension than synthetic or gut, can the string height be lowered to make playing easier and faster. I understand that lowering the height of the bridge would change the angle of the strings but, doesn't that lower the tension?
hi, good video 👏 excuse me, have you tried the asiatic strings, "Alice A747"? do you think that it could be at the level of a tonica? what do you think of it? thanks!!
@UCe_HpwyNE6agIkPwoaShNlA Synthetic Core Cello & Double Bass Strings are becoming really popular because if you have a really old Cello that can't handle the tension of steel strings, Synthetic Core Strings (like Pro Arte) would work.
I have a quick question about getting an instrument serviced: If I send my violin in for a touch-up is it reasonable to ask for little fixes? For example: say the varnish is in worn out in a few spots; would that be a time where I could ask the luthier to, say... re-stick the makers label? I'm just wondering if little things like that are considered a bother, or are no big deal.
I think Olaf doesn't recommend anything below 600$ Australian. Anything below that is probably not good enough, since they won't help and they might actually hold the player back by making it too difficult to produce sound. it's definitely better to save up for a good instrument rather than start out on some VSO ( violin shaped object) that might end up making you quit. Hope this was of some help to you, and good luck with your journey!
Olaf answers this question in detail a few times in earlier videos - go ahead watch, those videos are very informative. The short answer is: if you buy from a reputable luthier you can get a decent violin for as little as 500-600 Australian dollars, but at an inexperienced or bad music shop this may get you a very bad instrument. Save up to have enough money to spend about 1000$ - you will need extras too, maybe a better bow, maybe a sturdier case, maybe the cheapest decent violin has the wrong sound for you, etc. And in the meantime start music school with a borrowed or rented violin and talk to your teacher(s) and older students to find out where the good luthiers are - violin seems to be a maintenance intensive instrument, so you'll need a good working relationship with one. Take your time. ...if during that time you find out that you may be better off with percussion, an electric guitar or a synth - no harm and now you have enough money to buy a decent one. ;-) This is true for any profession or hobby by the way: try it out with the help of friends or teachers and save up money till you know in what profession or hobby you want to invest - there is no really cheap one, if you want to do it right you need the right tools. (I'm a software engineer - my computer collection looks very different from what's in most living rooms.)
I like em. They don't last too long in my experience, but they're nice bright strings. And the price isn't bad either. If you like tônicas you might like infeld blues for a little upgrade. But the price goes up too.
I think there’s more to gut strings to be expanded on. It opens a whole new world to what making music was like pre1920s. Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi or the French Baroque using gut brings so much to the music. I use both gut and modern strings but feel that I learn so much more from gut than steel, composite, or nylon. Just my two cents.
I've heard there is violin string made of spider web. It might sounds disgusting, but it really sounds good, they say. But it takes a lot of time and troubles to make spider web strings, so it's very high price and small supply.
@@chancewatley5623 Thom like in tomato, just with an aspirated T, mas like in mustard, stik like in stick, just with a softer k. Infeld is In like in in, feld like felt, just with a soft d. It’s just that Olaf is german, so he knows exactly how this is pronounced.
I really liked seeing the Violin your making, even if only briefly. Perhaps you'd consider working on a Violin creation video? =) (long term project I'm sure)
:D Same! I will buy my first violin probably next week and will take lessons soon after and I already watched so many videos of Olaf and TwoSet that I feel quite ready for the challenge!^^
Oh, you should try to learn! Buy a quality used violin rather than a cheap intro violin. The sound will be better. Get a good bow as well. Go slowly and enjoy the learning experience. Watch instruction videos, as well. Violin Lab is a good channel to learn lots of technique and theory.
This Video was very helpful for me. I've been trying to find good strings that fit to me and my violin, but I found it very difficult. I would be interested in a comparison between the most common stringsbrands and their strings, maybe that would give you a topic to talk about someday. A comparison between the sound would be very interesting. Good informative video as always!
there's a guy that sells violins, his shop is called whitehorse something, don't remember exact name, and in one of his videos on yt he actually shows how different types of popular strings sound on one violin. you do have to take in consideration that what works well for one instrument may not sound as well on another. however his video is probably the best chance to actually compare the impact on sound that different strings have.
I find this fascinating. I'm an electric guitarist and just love these videos. I feel for you guys-everything is so expensive. Most of the recommended strings cost more than $50! Some over $100. How do you guys afford that? Good bows are hundreds of dollars. The violins are thousands....do you guys even eat? If I had to pay that kind of money for my instrument....well, I'd probably be a synth player....
I didn't realise that strings had to be changed quite often, depending on how much you play, and I'll get away with once a year but the pros like Hilary Hahn and Ray Chen, you're looking at every 2 weeks! Yeah, it's not cheap and I've got lessons to pay for as well but I am saving, so I can eventually replace my rented violin...
Bear in mind how long the strings are going to stay on the instrument as well. Sometimes you're better off with new alphayues than old dull sounding pirazzis. And don't obsess too much. Like the cheapest of strings might hold you back. But pirazzis won't make you amazing and preludes won't make you bad. I found the general sound type I liked and then bought strings depending on my pocket and the availability. Infeld blues if I had the money. Tônicas or even alphayues if I didn't. I've gigged with all three, and plenty more besides. Spiricores, dominants, Larsen's... Strings make a difference, but other things matter more. Especially technique and practice.
I purchased tonica based on this video and so far I’m liking how they sound. It is my first strong change so I’m still seeing how things change as they settle in.
Hi Olaf, I just have a slight question. When I was younger, I was renting an instrument and my private lesson teacher would beg me to buy a better one. The sound quality wasn't the best and apparently, the bow was warped. To this day I appreciate my teacher for saving my interest in violin, but the violin we bought next wasn't actually that much of an improvement. At first, it sounded amazing and compared to my classmates, my violin was crisp, clear, and free. Later, after around 2 years of playing it, I noticed it sounded almost like a toy. I knew that the change in sound quality was gradual and in fact, I didn't even notice it until I compared it with my new violin, an instrument my private lesson teacher handpicked. I want to know if cheap violins can "mask" their sounds in the beginning because I have a slight feeling my violin might have been made that way. Like what causes the change in sound? I know you made a video on "the man who asked you to play the violin" (which I greatly enjoyed) but my violin just went from sounding amazing to straight-up horrendous. If you read this, I love your vids, please continue them, and thx for trying to help with my curiosity.
I'm not a luthier by any stretch of the imagination, so take this with a grain of salt. I have however, been playing for quite some time, and to be totally honest, it was probably just the years of playing. I have one of my old instruments that I bring out sometimes, and it doesn't sound very good at all. The natural materials wear out, and it's entirely possible your soundpost and/or bridge shifted enough to lower the quality to the level you're talking about.
Maybe I'm way off, but back when I first started playing all the students talked about the violin flu, and how it affects the sound of the instrument after it has recovered: either the instrument gets better and stabilizes or the instrument just becomes barelly playable... Could it be something like this that happened to you? Since we're hear, has anyone ever experienced this or is that just urban legend?
Did you change your strings (at least every year)? Did you check up on your violin (ie. take it to a luthier, eg/ before a performance)? Are there any cracks/open seams? I’m not a luthier but if kept well, violins can last for a long time, but you actually have to have it checked up on.
I think Brett and Eddy mentioned something like this recently. I believe they said something about the top plate being too thin and causing the sound to worsen....
I believe we might also go "tone-deaf" at times. We buy a new violin and it sounds awesome and then we get used to it and suddenly believe it would sound worse, while actually we have gotten used to its sound and the novelty wore out.
I was pleasantly surprised with Larsen. Even the E is no problem, and I always have trouble with E whistling or just tooo loooooud and shrill. I used to play on oiled gut, even as an absolute beginner, ( to make it easier on myself, yeah) because it was the only E I could bear. But they snap all the time. And Larsen E is as nice as gut and even sings better. But it all depends on the violin. Every violin sounds different and needs a different set of strings. Good information in this video.
I HATE, HATE, HATE my A string on my Viola, it feels like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I've looked at the variety of strings out there and to be honest, it's just overwhelming. I have a good quality Viola, I bought it from a retiring Violist from the local philharmonic. I know I want a soft, melodic sound, at 66 I'm not going to be playing with others, this is for myself. What strings would suggest I look for? I'm less concerned about the cost if it will give me a sound that I enjoy.
As a long time cellist I've actually not tried that many brands. Mainly because of the cost of a set of cello strings, up to $400 US for a set. That being said I have tried some new cello sets in the last few years. First a set of Larsen Magnacores (Which I loved) and lately a set of Thomastik rondos (Based on a recommendation from a fellow Carl Becker and Son owner). I must say the Rondos are amazing: power, rich warm sound and almost no break in period. So for cellists who want top quality strings the Magnacores and the Rondos are both terrific. The larsens need more break in time. For the first two weeks I though I had made a huge mistake. The Rondos sounded great the be very beginning. I'm super curious about the new Larsen Il Cannone strings but have yet to purchase a set.
Damn 400 just for strings? I think the MOST expensive strings I ever got for my bass( and bass strings tend to be at least double or triple the cost of guitar strings) were like 30 bucks for the Earnie Ball Cobalt. I ended up going back to the regular earnie ball ones that are more 16/17 dollars because i actually liked them better than the cobalt
Thanks, Olaf. I am playing now on my first Dominant strings. I'm a beginner and I'm playing a new to me instrument so I really can't tell you much about strings, but so far I like these Dominants.
I'm pretty sure Ray Chen actually uses Peter Infeld (PI) strings only for his G and E strings, with a soft Dominant D string and medium Dominant A string. James Ehnes uses a set of PI strings on his "Marsick" Strad, with a Pirastro Gold E string. I can confirm they are excellent strings! :))
Hi Olaf. I was wondering if you could suggest some strings for me to try. My violin is rich, dark and has a lot of projection. I would like something that enhances this natural character without adding too much in the way of extra projection. I should also state that it is a modern violin, not antique (I know that can make a world of difference to any recommendations).
I use dominant C, G, D and Jargar A on my viola. I don’t see why it’s not recommended to mix and match? I know a lot of violinists and violists who mix and match strings (I use a Jargar A because it has a nice, bright and projecting sound which is usually not something you would want on lower strings ((or maybe you do, idk, but I don’t)))
I personally have 15 or so sets of strings and fellow musicians ask me which are the best ones. It's almost impossible to answer that question because they all have such different (but wonderful) qualities. It's like asking someone what their favourite movie is.... there are so many to choose from! The response to that question usually is followed up with "Comedy? Action? Drama?" ....it's hard to pick just *one* good one. Same with string sets :)
Helicore Strings are generally easier to bow cause they're a little bit thinner. This is why you see them on student instruments especially really small Double Basses. Also Helicore Strings have a flexible steel core which lowers the tension a bit.
I actually changed my G, and D strings this week. The G string is almost as thin as the d string and the d is almost is as thin as the a string they were medium strings. I changed them by myself and it took 30 mins.
Yesterday, i got a new set of Pirazzi Gold and I actually have to say, that they are worth the money. Also had a nice deal with a bow from "Roth & Junius" Well, I have to say, that my Violin (Stentor Student2) is a cheap 200€-block of wood and more into guitars and other things :D I never was a fan of factory strings. They were always the first thing i got rid of on my guitars. I watched some Videos on RU-vid about how to improve the sound of a violin without calling or being a luthier. I went with the Strings & Bow - Method. Biggest weaknes of my violin is, that it has to much treble in its sound. The Evah Pirazzi Gold kinda got it under controll and make the violin sound more warm and smoother. Even the bow made it better by giving you more room with movements without cutting of the sound at longer downbowing and upbowing.
Hi Olaf! Greetings from California! I am a violinist and for the past few years, I have been using Evah Pirazzi strings with a pirastro gold E. While doing my research, I have found that strings such as the Pirazzis, Thomas Infield, lose the brilliance pretty quickly, and would need to be changed over the course of a few weeks. I am wondering what is your opinion on this? For example, if I am playing on Evah Pirazzis, how often should I change the strings? I haven't noticed too much difference on my violin, and I change my strings roughly once per year, but I was told it is quite a long period for Evah Pirazzi?
On my great-grandfather's german violin, I will only use Pirastro Eudoxa - as an old instrument, it came before A=440 tuning, and past use of other strings has shown some weakness in the ribs each side of the button. Therefore, a string with low tension is all that will reach 440Hz tuning without putting undue stress on the violin. And they help the violin sound BEAUTIFUL (I only wish I still could - arthritis sucks). It is a recommendation I would make for any instrument which was made before tuning was standardised, as many used lower tuning and just can't take the higher tension needed for standard without deteriorating in time.
Thanks for the video! Do you know if, for these major brands, the viola set is the same as the violin set on the 3 overlapping strings (G, D, A)? We have trouble finding viola string sets for "half size" 13" viola, and I am wondering if I could just get the violin set plus separately get the lowest viola string (C) as an individual string, and maybe or maybe not of the same type - so I can get the brand and style I want.
I bought a pack of strings about 10 years ago but I lost it somewhere in my house, since it hasn't been used, is the condition still good as the new strings
