I usually use helicores or eva pirrazis, but I've been thinking about giving a set of steel core strings a try. The problem is the few I've tried sounded really bad, but surely there must be some that sound better than others?
Other's I've been satisfied with include Prim, Jargar, and Chromecore. I use a Thomastik Superflexible E (no. 8)--it's a steel core, but braided rope, not just a wire. I haven't tried the other strings in Superflexible, but may give them a go just based on how much I like the E string.
I like chromcors. I have found helicore's to be a little sketchy, seems the A goes south at an unpredictable timing on all 3 fiddles I have tried them on. Chromcors seem to last a while, and feel very even in tone quality across all 4 strings to me. I think they give good volume, and are relatively sweet.
It really depends on the fiddle, a set of strings that sound great on one fiddle may sound awful on another. So if you want to find good-sounding steel strings, you're really going to need to try out different sets on your fiddle. Will listed very good ones to try out.
It's also possible that your fiddle just doesn't sound good with steel strings. Does it generally have a bright sound with synthetics? You generally want mellow strings on a bright fiddle and vice-versa, but it kinda depends on the sound you want and what sounds "good" to you.
My fiddle has a loud low end but is still a bit bright. Your right some strings sound great on one fiddle & bad on another. I don't want to throw money around on strings I might not like though.
Prims definitely do NOT sound good on every fiddle, as I've tried them on several myself. YMMV, I suppose.
Helicores are steel core, but with a layer of dampening resin to reduce the harshness, while (hopefully) still maintaining the articulation of steel strings. In the end, they're a compromise than anything else.
Here's Georgi's guide to choosing strings; I've spent quite a bit of time researching, across several fiddles, and polling several of the best fiddle players I've ever met (Frankie Gavin, Tommy Peoples, Liz Carroll, John Carty, Brian Conway, Paul O'Shaughnessy, etc). Here's what I've settled on:
General Info:
1) If you have a very "dark" sounding fiddle, then steel strings will sound markedly better on it than they would on a fiddle that's even slightly "bright". In the end, your fiddle will help dictate what kind of strings you buy.
2) If your preference is for faster music, or for playing in louder sessions, steel is much more advisable (you get the "punch" and articulation of a steel string, and the room is too loud to be bothered with harshness.
3) If your preference is for slower, quieter music, then steel strings are less necessary, even perhaps undesireable. People who play for quiet audiences are slightly more likely to go the synthetic route for its sweetness as well.
4) the more extensive your ornamentation (and the more you care about it sounding articulate), the more you will likely prefer steely strings. If you favor tone over ornamentation, then perhaps a synthetic string is better.
Who uses what:
Most of the Ulster/Connaught fiddlers I've met seem to favor steel strings, presumably for the crispness and rhythmic punch. Most of the East Clare/E. Galway fiddlers I've met prefer synthetic strings for the sweeter tone. Everybody else is pretty much all over the shop.
Frankie Gavin and most of the Donegal fiddlers I've met use the steel-cored Spirocores (though plenty go for the cheaper, crisper Dr. Thomastiks--like Paul O'Shaughnessy). They're VERY fast under your fingers (ornamentation works great!), not TOO harsh, with a strong but dry tone.
Helicore is a popular compromise between the crispness and articulation of steel, without all the harshness. They're popular up and down the west coast (of Ireland), though they're definitely a compromise, not being fantastic at anything. Last I checked, Martin Hayes, and Tommy Peoples used helicores, as well as a healthy smattering of everybody else. (for a little more depth of sound, get the heavy-tension helicores. For a little more muscle work, you get 90% of the crispness of the medium-tensions, and a much richer tone--I use H-T Helicores on my session fiddles).
John Carty and Liz Carroll both used Tonica's (nylon core). They're very responsive, not too harsh, sweet in tone, but not very focused. In a loud room,they sound weak, but in a quite room they're very articulate. I've recently found that Larsen Tzigane strings fit this same description, but with a little more beefy tone. I personally prefer Larsen Tziganes for their better richness, but whatever.
Dominants (perlon core) and Evah Pirazzis (some other synthetic, whose name I forget) are still popular in the East Clare/E. Galway crowd, where playing prettily is slightly more important that the aforementioned punch and articulation. Brian Conway and Seamus Connolly used these last I paid attention.
There's a smattering of other brands out there in Irish sessions (Prim, Jargar, UltraSensitive), but they are so rare that I won't bother. In my experience, the vast bulk of the best Irish fiddlers I know use one of the brands mentioned above.
I myself tend to switch between Helicore-HeavyTension and Larsen Tziganes. While the former is better for sessions, the latter is slightly better for concerts.
Thanks Georgi - that's really interesting and informative. I thought I'd try steel strings about a year ago and I think I'll always use them. I've had spirocores on a French fiddle for a few months and they're working well, but I did change the E for a Pirastro universal E because there just seemed to be something odd about the spirocore. The fiddle has a dark, woody kind of tone and it really brightens up with the steel strings. Previously I had Chromcors and I would use them again. Steel is the miracle material of the age.
... Oh, and it's worth noting that, at least around 10 years ago, Chromocor's were the default brand of string for most of the Inverness County Cape Breton fiddlers (though at the time, I hadn't seen any self-described Irish trad fiddlers use them.
Chromcores and Spirocores - besides being good strings -
are also very durable. You should realise though that the Spirocore
E is Aluminum wound. If you're like me, that means it will wear
out in a few weeks.
Steel fiddle string recommendation
Steel fiddle string recommendation
I usually use helicores or eva pirrazis, but I've been thinking about giving a set of steel core strings a try. The problem is the few I've tried sounded really bad, but surely there must be some that sound better than others?
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by B Rad
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
Helicore's are my choice for steel core.
Other's I've been satisfied with include Prim, Jargar, and Chromecore. I use a Thomastik Superflexible E (no. 8)--it's a steel core, but braided rope, not just a wire. I haven't tried the other strings in Superflexible, but may give them a go just based on how much I like the E string.
YMMV.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by Will Harmon
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
Whoops, I never realized Helicores are steel cores. Duh - I've been using them on & off for years. What's YMMV mean?
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by B Rad
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
I like chromcors. I have found helicore's to be a little sketchy, seems the A goes south at an unpredictable timing on all 3 fiddles I have tried them on. Chromcors seem to last a while, and feel very even in tone quality across all 4 strings to me. I think they give good volume, and are relatively sweet.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by SandyBottoms
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
It really depends on the fiddle, a set of strings that sound great on one fiddle may sound awful on another. So if you want to find good-sounding steel strings, you're really going to need to try out different sets on your fiddle. Will listed very good ones to try out.
It's also possible that your fiddle just doesn't sound good with steel strings. Does it generally have a bright sound with synthetics? You generally want mellow strings on a bright fiddle and vice-versa, but it kinda depends on the sound you want and what sounds "good" to you.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by Marklar
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
My fiddle has a loud low end but is still a bit bright. Your right some strings sound great on one fiddle & bad on another. I don't want to throw money around on strings I might not like though.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by B Rad
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
"What's YMMV mean?"
Something about yo mama?
I keep coming back to Prims, but I have to swap the E string. Oddly enough, after all these years, I haven't yet tried Helicores.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by Bob himself
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
Yo Momma may vary... Helicores are very nice, I like the "Heavy Tensions" best.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by B Rad
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
Prims seem to sound good on every fiddle I've used them on (three).
I always use a Pirastro Wondertone E insted of the Prim E though.
I don't really like the Helicores after using the Prims
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by procarpenter
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
And YMMV is your mileage may vary!
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by procarpenter
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
Prims definitely do NOT sound good on every fiddle, as I've tried them on several myself. YMMV, I suppose.
Helicores are steel core, but with a layer of dampening resin to reduce the harshness, while (hopefully) still maintaining the articulation of steel strings. In the end, they're a compromise than anything else.
Here's Georgi's guide to choosing strings; I've spent quite a bit of time researching, across several fiddles, and polling several of the best fiddle players I've ever met (Frankie Gavin, Tommy Peoples, Liz Carroll, John Carty, Brian Conway, Paul O'Shaughnessy, etc). Here's what I've settled on:
General Info:
1) If you have a very "dark" sounding fiddle, then steel strings will sound markedly better on it than they would on a fiddle that's even slightly "bright". In the end, your fiddle will help dictate what kind of strings you buy.
2) If your preference is for faster music, or for playing in louder sessions, steel is much more advisable (you get the "punch" and articulation of a steel string, and the room is too loud to be bothered with harshness.
3) If your preference is for slower, quieter music, then steel strings are less necessary, even perhaps undesireable. People who play for quiet audiences are slightly more likely to go the synthetic route for its sweetness as well.
4) the more extensive your ornamentation (and the more you care about it sounding articulate), the more you will likely prefer steely strings. If you favor tone over ornamentation, then perhaps a synthetic string is better.
Who uses what:
Most of the Ulster/Connaught fiddlers I've met seem to favor steel strings, presumably for the crispness and rhythmic punch. Most of the East Clare/E. Galway fiddlers I've met prefer synthetic strings for the sweeter tone. Everybody else is pretty much all over the shop.
Frankie Gavin and most of the Donegal fiddlers I've met use the steel-cored Spirocores (though plenty go for the cheaper, crisper Dr. Thomastiks--like Paul O'Shaughnessy). They're VERY fast under your fingers (ornamentation works great!), not TOO harsh, with a strong but dry tone.
Helicore is a popular compromise between the crispness and articulation of steel, without all the harshness. They're popular up and down the west coast (of Ireland), though they're definitely a compromise, not being fantastic at anything. Last I checked, Martin Hayes, and Tommy Peoples used helicores, as well as a healthy smattering of everybody else. (for a little more depth of sound, get the heavy-tension helicores. For a little more muscle work, you get 90% of the crispness of the medium-tensions, and a much richer tone--I use H-T Helicores on my session fiddles).
John Carty and Liz Carroll both used Tonica's (nylon core). They're very responsive, not too harsh, sweet in tone, but not very focused. In a loud room,they sound weak, but in a quite room they're very articulate. I've recently found that Larsen Tzigane strings fit this same description, but with a little more beefy tone. I personally prefer Larsen Tziganes for their better richness, but whatever.
Dominants (perlon core) and Evah Pirazzis (some other synthetic, whose name I forget) are still popular in the East Clare/E. Galway crowd, where playing prettily is slightly more important that the aforementioned punch and articulation. Brian Conway and Seamus Connolly used these last I paid attention.
There's a smattering of other brands out there in Irish sessions (Prim, Jargar, UltraSensitive), but they are so rare that I won't bother. In my experience, the vast bulk of the best Irish fiddlers I know use one of the brands mentioned above.
I myself tend to switch between Helicore-HeavyTension and Larsen Tziganes. While the former is better for sessions, the latter is slightly better for concerts.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by Georgi
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
As I recall, several years ago Liz Carroll mentioned to me that she used Obligatos.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by leoj
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
Thanks Georgi - that's really interesting and informative. I thought I'd try steel strings about a year ago and I think I'll always use them. I've had spirocores on a French fiddle for a few months and they're working well, but I did change the E for a Pirastro universal E because there just seemed to be something odd about the spirocore. The fiddle has a dark, woody kind of tone and it really brightens up with the steel strings. Previously I had Chromcors and I would use them again. Steel is the miracle material of the age.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by RichardB
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
... Oh, and it's worth noting that, at least around 10 years ago, Chromocor's were the default brand of string for most of the Inverness County Cape Breton fiddlers (though at the time, I hadn't seen any self-described Irish trad fiddlers use them.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by Georgi
Re: Steel fiddle string recommendation
Chromcores and Spirocores - besides being good strings -
are also very durable. You should realise though that the Spirocore
E is Aluminum wound. If you're like me, that means it will wear
out in a few weeks.
# Posted on July 21st 2011 by Hup