Rather than brands - I am keen for any tips about how to assess what tension of strings bring out the best in any fiddle. I have always used medium, what effects do the other tensions have?
George, what you're asking about is the string *gauge* (the tension of the string has to do with...well, a lot of other stuff). The thicker the string gauge, the heavier it is (strong is the heaviest, soft the thinner and lighter) and the higher the tension usually is. Generally, a thinner gauge is more responsive and a lower tension but won't handle as much heavy bowing nor give as much volume. A heavier gauge, conversely, is less responsive but will handle heavier bowing styles and give more volume.
A medium gauge is what most musicians end up with, but you might find another gauge better for you. Manufacturers may also call soft strings Dolce, Weich, Thin, or Light; Medium strings Mittel or Middle; and strong gauge strings Forte, Stark, Orchestra, or Thick.
Which you should get would depend mostly on your own playing and on the instrument you're putting it on -- your results will vary from anyone else's because of those key differences. That means experimentation is about the only way to figure out what you should get. If your fiddle, after a good set up by a good technician, has certain characteristics that you would like to enhance or hide, then strings can help you do that -- which is why the subject of which strings to play on is both intensely personal and one upon which players talk about a lot.
good one - now to help even more can you classify some of the better know trad musos according to whether they have heavy bowing etc also which ones use other than medium.
does anyone else out there use anything other than medium/mittel and why
Well, I tend to use either middle or orchestra gauge, as up to this point I have been pretty heavy handed, and I do love those crunchy triplets. Lights are just a tad too dainty and a waste of money for me as they deteriorate under my heavy bowing really quickly. (I'm working on a lighter touch.) Also, they don't sound particularly good on my fiddle.
Hello there... I use medium guage because they suite my fiddle and my bowing technique. Having studied baroque and early music it's reallly important to find not only the right weight of string to use but also whether you want to use the various types of winds... some strings can feel coarse. I use a Danish make... they make strings for all bowed instruments but this brand is seen to be used more often with cellists as they keep bright for longer than any other I've tried.. is advertising allowed? and I have also found a really great source for said strings on the web... If the moderator permits, I may be able to post up the URL??
Cheers
SP
Strings (soft, medium, strong)
Strings (soft, medium, strong)
Rather than brands - I am keen for any tips about how to assess what tension of strings bring out the best in any fiddle. I have always used medium, what effects do the other tensions have?
# Posted on July 4th 2002 by donnchad
Re: Strings (soft, medium, strong)
I find rolls and bowed triplets are brighter and snappier with heavier strings.
# Posted on July 5th 2002 by ...
Re: Strings (soft, medium, strong)
Michael
Thanks
heavier = which of the above?
# Posted on July 5th 2002 by donnchad
Re: Strings (soft, medium, strong)
sorry
strong
# Posted on July 5th 2002 by ...
Re: Strings (soft, medium, strong)
George, what you're asking about is the string *gauge* (the tension of the string has to do with...well, a lot of other stuff). The thicker the string gauge, the heavier it is (strong is the heaviest, soft the thinner and lighter) and the higher the tension usually is. Generally, a thinner gauge is more responsive and a lower tension but won't handle as much heavy bowing nor give as much volume. A heavier gauge, conversely, is less responsive but will handle heavier bowing styles and give more volume.
A medium gauge is what most musicians end up with, but you might find another gauge better for you. Manufacturers may also call soft strings Dolce, Weich, Thin, or Light; Medium strings Mittel or Middle; and strong gauge strings Forte, Stark, Orchestra, or Thick.
Which you should get would depend mostly on your own playing and on the instrument you're putting it on -- your results will vary from anyone else's because of those key differences. That means experimentation is about the only way to figure out what you should get. If your fiddle, after a good set up by a good technician, has certain characteristics that you would like to enhance or hide, then strings can help you do that -- which is why the subject of which strings to play on is both intensely personal and one upon which players talk about a lot.
Zina
# Posted on July 5th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: Strings (soft, medium, strong)
zina
good one - now to help even more can you classify some of the better know trad musos according to whether they have heavy bowing etc also which ones use other than medium.
does anyone else out there use anything other than medium/mittel and why
answers on a postcard
# Posted on July 5th 2002 by donnchad
Re: Strings (soft, medium, strong)
Well, I tend to use either middle or orchestra gauge, as up to this point I have been pretty heavy handed, and I do love those crunchy triplets. Lights are just a tad too dainty and a waste of money for me as they deteriorate under my heavy bowing really quickly. (I'm working on a lighter touch.) Also, they don't sound particularly good on my fiddle.
zls
# Posted on July 5th 2002 by Zina Lee
Re: Strings (soft, medium, strong)
Hello there... I use medium guage because they suite my fiddle and my bowing technique. Having studied baroque and early music it's reallly important to find not only the right weight of string to use but also whether you want to use the various types of winds... some strings can feel coarse. I use a Danish make... they make strings for all bowed instruments but this brand is seen to be used more often with cellists as they keep bright for longer than any other I've tried.. is advertising allowed? and I have also found a really great source for said strings on the web... If the moderator permits, I may be able to post up the URL??
Cheers
SP
# Posted on July 7th 2002 by sianfiddle