I've been playing trad tunes on several instruments for many years, but only recently I decided to take up the fiddle.
I've just decided to renew the strings. The man in the music shop enquired whether I would want a set containing a plain steel "E", or an alloy wound "E".
Being a beginner, I didn't know.
So could any of you experienced fiddlers please explain to me the merits and demerits of these two types of string, and perhaps advise me which kind I should choose?
Thanks in anticipation of some helpful advice on this point ....
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
Being barely more than a beginner myself,take my feedback with a grain of salt! I use a Piastro universal E wound string with medium dominants on the others. I like it as the dominant e was kinda weak sounding on my fiddle to my ear.
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
If you're a beginner, I'd say go with a set of Helicore, Spirocore or Dominant. Go with a plain steel "E" (I think that's what normally comes in the sets anyway).
At this stage, it doesn't really matter. I was never fond of Dominant, but lots of people swear by them. I've used Helicore and Spirocore, and I'm pretty happy with both.
You've got a long way to go before you need to start worrying about strings.
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
i just put on a set of helicores (med tension) with wound e, and actually had to use the dampeer because the e was so strident. i had thought the wound string would be softer sounding, but was wrong.
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
Wound E Pirastro Eudoxa. Top E is the hardest string to get sounding good. I invariably use these though I just got some lenzer goldbroktat to try, wound but cheaper. Gostrings dot com are the cheapest place for fiddle strings and very fast too.
IMO the quality of strings makes a big difference in the fiddle sound and therefore in personal satisfaction . When I first picked up the fiddle to try I was put off by the awfull sound. its was another 8 yrs before I took it up again ! Some simple lessons in Bowing, good strings and a well set up instrument and you can actually achieve a pleasant sound from day 1 which can do wonders for the psyche!
I tried the wonder Tone Solo Silvery Steel E but it was slightly more expensive than the Eudoxa but without a better sound IMO, for me. I tried the various gold covered strings but again no better, not so good in fact , than the Eudoxa. Its the cheapest way to improve your fiddle without a doubt: A good top E.
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
I like the clarity and definition from a plain steel E. It goes well with my warmer sounding fiddle. It does fine with either, though. Quality fiddles generally do.
Brighter sounding fiddles may require wound E strings in order to preserve your sanity and to prevent your eardrums from bleeding.
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
The E string influences the sound of the all the other strings.
Also as a beginner it might be better to use a plain E rather than a wound
one. That way you are more likely to squeak. The squeaks alert you to
bad bowing technique and learning how to minimize them improves your
technique.
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
I think the material in the E string is almost meaningless. There's very little difference in E string sound once you get a few feet from the fiddle.
If your fiddle sounds too bright for you, try the helicores. You'll find that the E string composition is not as important as the composition of the other strings for brightness. also, consider a denser wood for your tailpiece, try a bulkier shoulder rest if it's comfortable, and consider a soundpost adjustment.
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
"I think the material in the E string is almost meaningless. There's very little difference in E string sound once you get a few feet from the fiddle."
True. But herein lies the problem: Nobody plays their fiddle a few feet away from it.
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
Thanks for the additional comments, folks!
reenactor - I was especially interested in your comment regarding changing the tailpiece.
My tailpiece broke just just last week!
Following the breakage, I examined it and discovered that it was made from some kind of plastic material. So I bought an ebony tailpiece to replace it (cost £10), and also replaced the tail-gut with a modern nylon one. After I had set everything back up again, it took about three days for the fiddle to settle down and stabilise.
I then noticed that there was a small overall improvement to the sound that I was getting from it.
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
I have a couple of fiddles, a Gliga and 30s German and both sound infinitely better with a Pirastro gold E. (It is steel) I have Helicore mediums on the other three strings. E strings....I've tried Dominants wound and plain, Prims Orchestral, J90s, Visions plain, Helicore wound and plain and Thomastik super flexible and none sound as smooth and resonant as the Pirastro Gold - and it's dead cheap - around £2 something - can't remember. Buy a box full.
Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
I've been playing trad tunes on several instruments for many years, but only recently I decided to take up the fiddle.
I've just decided to renew the strings. The man in the music shop enquired whether I would want a set containing a plain steel "E", or an alloy wound "E".
Being a beginner, I didn't know.
So could any of you experienced fiddlers please explain to me the merits and demerits of these two types of string, and perhaps advise me which kind I should choose?
Thanks in anticipation of some helpful advice on this point ....
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
Being barely more than a beginner myself,take my feedback with a grain of salt! I use a Piastro universal E wound string with medium dominants on the others. I like it as the dominant e was kinda weak sounding on my fiddle to my ear.
I used this thread from last fall for info...
<a href="http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/19098/comments">http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/19098/comments</a>;
I hope the link works never tried to post one before....
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by FiferFiddler
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
That was a train wreck of a link attempt.
This should work
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/19098/comments
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by FiferFiddler
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
If you're a beginner, I'd say go with a set of Helicore, Spirocore or Dominant. Go with a plain steel "E" (I think that's what normally comes in the sets anyway).
At this stage, it doesn't really matter. I was never fond of Dominant, but lots of people swear by them. I've used Helicore and Spirocore, and I'm pretty happy with both.
You've got a long way to go before you need to start worrying about strings.
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by tradshark
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
I like Piastro's Wonder Tone Solo Silvery Steel E
Mary
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by Antikhntr
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
i just put on a set of helicores (med tension) with wound e, and actually had to use the dampeer because the e was so strident. i had thought the wound string would be softer sounding, but was wrong.
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by 'tinamatt
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
damper, that is...
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by 'tinamatt
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
Thanks for all your replies, folks! ....
Based on the info provided thus far, I think that I'll probably go for a Helicore set with a plain steel "E".
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
trasdhark - tried playing the thing without strings, but got no sound from it at all! ....
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
Wound E Pirastro Eudoxa. Top E is the hardest string to get sounding good. I invariably use these though I just got some lenzer goldbroktat to try, wound but cheaper. Gostrings dot com are the cheapest place for fiddle strings and very fast too.
IMO the quality of strings makes a big difference in the fiddle sound and therefore in personal satisfaction . When I first picked up the fiddle to try I was put off by the awfull sound. its was another 8 yrs before I took it up again ! Some simple lessons in Bowing, good strings and a well set up instrument and you can actually achieve a pleasant sound from day 1 which can do wonders for the psyche!
I tried the wonder Tone Solo Silvery Steel E but it was slightly more expensive than the Eudoxa but without a better sound IMO, for me. I tried the various gold covered strings but again no better, not so good in fact , than the Eudoxa. Its the cheapest way to improve your fiddle without a doubt: A good top E.
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by the wicked hacker
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
I like the clarity and definition from a plain steel E. It goes well with my warmer sounding fiddle. It does fine with either, though. Quality fiddles generally do.
Brighter sounding fiddles may require wound E strings in order to preserve your sanity and to prevent your eardrums from bleeding.
# Posted on April 30th 2009 by awildman
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
The E string influences the sound of the all the other strings.
Also as a beginner it might be better to use a plain E rather than a wound
one. That way you are more likely to squeak. The squeaks alert you to
bad bowing technique and learning how to minimize them improves your
technique.
# Posted on May 1st 2009 by Hup
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
Thanks for the additional comments, folks!
My fiddle is very bright-sounding, so based on the comment above, it might perhaps need a wound "E".
So I'll probably end up trying both, in order to find out which is best for me and my instrument.
# Posted on May 1st 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
I think the material in the E string is almost meaningless. There's very little difference in E string sound once you get a few feet from the fiddle.
If your fiddle sounds too bright for you, try the helicores. You'll find that the E string composition is not as important as the composition of the other strings for brightness. also, consider a denser wood for your tailpiece, try a bulkier shoulder rest if it's comfortable, and consider a soundpost adjustment.
# Posted on May 1st 2009 by reenactor
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
"I think the material in the E string is almost meaningless. There's very little difference in E string sound once you get a few feet from the fiddle."
True. But herein lies the problem: Nobody plays their fiddle a few feet away from it.
# Posted on May 3rd 2009 by awildman
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
Thanks for the additional comments, folks!
reenactor - I was especially interested in your comment regarding changing the tailpiece.
My tailpiece broke just just last week!
Following the breakage, I examined it and discovered that it was made from some kind of plastic material. So I bought an ebony tailpiece to replace it (cost £10), and also replaced the tail-gut with a modern nylon one. After I had set everything back up again, it took about three days for the fiddle to settle down and stabilise.
I then noticed that there was a small overall improvement to the sound that I was getting from it.
# Posted on May 4th 2009 by Mix O'Lydian
Re: Fiddle "E" string - plain steel or alloy-wound?
I have a couple of fiddles, a Gliga and 30s German and both sound infinitely better with a Pirastro gold E. (It is steel) I have Helicore mediums on the other three strings. E strings....I've tried Dominants wound and plain, Prims Orchestral, J90s, Visions plain, Helicore wound and plain and Thomastik super flexible and none sound as smooth and resonant as the Pirastro Gold - and it's dead cheap - around £2 something - can't remember. Buy a box full.
# Posted on May 8th 2009 by debroos