For any of you who use or have tried this combination, on your fiddles. I have a resonant and projecting fiddle, and I like it. I am curious however to try this combination but does the resonance remain consistent, between the D and A strings when crossing/string changing? I currently am using a synthetic set with steel E. I kind of think going all steel would give me the consitent feeling I want. Hmm did I answer my own question? Any thoughts?
I would have to change tail piece arrangements, which will could have an impact, though hopefully not signifcant.
I've used this combination for a long time. If you don't want to go all steel I can reccomend Larsen medium tension with the steel core A . The A is designed to work with the perlon core D & G and the resonance does stay consistent. You seem to get the best characteristics of both kinds of string. super tone on the bottom two, but the steel A & E give you the speed and quick response needed for reels etc. If you can obtain this set, they're well worth a try. Expensive, but they're well nigh indestructible . If you want to go all steel, you can't do better than Helicore, but the A's wear out too quickly. At the moment I'm using Helicore G & D with a Larsen steel A, and a Thomastik Superflexible E (best E string in the world) and I find this is a great setup for trad,
I use 2 helicores with a Jarger A and Piastro Universal (wound) E.
Like bazfaz says, the helicore A doesn't hold up; also on my
fiddle it has this shrieking dog whistle harmonic that cuts
through my skull (nice, huh?). The spirocore A sounds
kinda bombastic and doesn't match up well with helicores,
but it is very durable and doesn't have that bad harmonic.
The Jarger A is very responsive and works well with the
others in this set. I'd like to find a better A, if it's durable.
The E is responsive, cheap and whistle-resistant. It
is not the best in the world and I don't care.
Lazyhound wrote: ' I find a steel A and E can be a good combination because you get a good tonal transition when going from one string to another; and if you have that combination it's worth using good quality synthetic core G and D. Those lower synthetic strings will tend to have more natural resonance than steel G and D, and tend to have stronger harmonics which will resonate with a lot of what you're doing on the A and E - providing the strings are in tune and you're playing in tune .
Synthetic core G and D will tend to have a richer and more responsive tone than their steel-core counterparts.
I'm using this kind of string setup on both my fiddles and on my cello, and it works well.
I'm not going to recommend specific makes of strings because there are too many variables in the equation - the type of fiddle, its age, its tonal characteristics, its setup, what sort of music you play, the playing environment (session, concert platform, recording studio), your playing style, the sort of tone you prefer ... the list goes on. A chat with an experienced luthier should help, because these people see far more instrument/string combinations than the individual player is ever likely to come across.
Henk, that quote was a bit historical, but I still stand by it, even though it's not quite my current string configuration. Those who know me will confirm that I change my strings regularly depending on any combination or selection of the phase of the Moon, whether Mars is in Aries, whether the rising Sun was actually visible at the previous solstice at Stonehenge, and whether the wind is blowing from a westerly direction.
Steel E-A Synthetic D-G on your fiddle
Steel E-A Synthetic D-G on your fiddle
For any of you who use or have tried this combination, on your fiddles. I have a resonant and projecting fiddle, and I like it. I am curious however to try this combination but does the resonance remain consistent, between the D and A strings when crossing/string changing? I currently am using a synthetic set with steel E. I kind of think going all steel would give me the consitent feeling I want. Hmm did I answer my own question? Any thoughts?
I would have to change tail piece arrangements, which will could have an impact, though hopefully not signifcant.
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by ElanorFiddles
Re: Steel E-A Synthetic D-G on your fiddle
I've used this combination for a long time. If you don't want to go all steel I can reccomend Larsen medium tension with the steel core A . The A is designed to work with the perlon core D & G and the resonance does stay consistent. You seem to get the best characteristics of both kinds of string. super tone on the bottom two, but the steel A & E give you the speed and quick response needed for reels etc. If you can obtain this set, they're well worth a try. Expensive, but they're well nigh indestructible . If you want to go all steel, you can't do better than Helicore, but the A's wear out too quickly. At the moment I'm using Helicore G & D with a Larsen steel A, and a Thomastik Superflexible E (best E string in the world) and I find this is a great setup for trad,
# Posted on May 15th 2008 by Bazfaz
Re: Steel E-A Synthetic D-G on your fiddle
I have a similar set to bazfaz.
I use 2 helicores with a Jarger A and Piastro Universal (wound) E.
Like bazfaz says, the helicore A doesn't hold up; also on my
fiddle it has this shrieking dog whistle harmonic that cuts
through my skull (nice, huh?). The spirocore A sounds
kinda bombastic and doesn't match up well with helicores,
but it is very durable and doesn't have that bad harmonic.
The Jarger A is very responsive and works well with the
others in this set. I'd like to find a better A, if it's durable.
The E is responsive, cheap and whistle-resistant. It
is not the best in the world and I don't care.
# Posted on May 16th 2008 by Hup
Re: Steel E-A Synthetic D-G on your fiddle
There is a ton of previous discussion on this subject if you search for it.
I think everybody's burned out on this topic.
# Posted on May 16th 2008 by Hup
Re: Steel E-A Synthetic D-G on your fiddle
Lazyhound wrote: ' I find a steel A and E can be a good combination because you get a good tonal transition when going from one string to another; and if you have that combination it's worth using good quality synthetic core G and D. Those lower synthetic strings will tend to have more natural resonance than steel G and D, and tend to have stronger harmonics which will resonate with a lot of what you're doing on the A and E - providing the strings are in tune and you're playing in tune .
Synthetic core G and D will tend to have a richer and more responsive tone than their steel-core counterparts.
I'm using this kind of string setup on both my fiddles and on my cello, and it works well.
I'm not going to recommend specific makes of strings because there are too many variables in the equation - the type of fiddle, its age, its tonal characteristics, its setup, what sort of music you play, the playing environment (session, concert platform, recording studio), your playing style, the sort of tone you prefer ... the list goes on. A chat with an experienced luthier should help, because these people see far more instrument/string combinations than the individual player is ever likely to come across.
# Posted on June 24th 2006 by lazyhound
# Posted on May 16th 2008 by Henk Bos
Re: Steel E-A Synthetic D-G on your fiddle
Henk, that quote was a bit historical, but I still stand by it, even though it's not quite my current string configuration. Those who know me will confirm that I change my strings regularly depending on any combination or selection of the phase of the Moon, whether Mars is in Aries, whether the rising Sun was actually visible at the previous solstice at Stonehenge, and whether the wind is blowing from a westerly direction.
# Posted on May 18th 2008 by lazyhound
Re: Steel E-A Synthetic D-G on your fiddle
Thanks for admitting that hound. Fiddles can drive one mad,
I KNOW.
# Posted on May 24th 2008 by hauke