Ive tried lots of strings and Im pretty happy with the helicore heavies. They sound decent on my fiddle and the A string dosent come apart on me like they do on the mediums. Im due for a new set as my G broke on me (replaced it with a G helicore medium for now) . I keep hearing I should try Prims so im considering them as my next set. If I dont like them then I plan to go back to the heli heavies and be done experimenting.
So any advice, experience with them etc would be appreciated.
Personally, I play a Helicore heavy set with a Prim e, but only a few days ago I got a new set in the mail and the Helicores have been oddly soupy and stale. I've heard other people say it, so I'll toss my sidenote in: Helicores have generally good but occasionally variable quality. When they're good they're great though!
I've tried a couple of sets of Prims. They don't look very fancy when you get them out of the envelopes. I found they worked well though and lasted for ages. They have a sort of plaited rope look about them and they have good friction against the bow. I'm sure they're perfect for Bluegrass and Old-time. I've got a set of Helicores on a fiddle at the moment. They're fine too. If there's any problems, it's me not the strings.
Helicore strings have a layer of dampening resin between the core and the wrapping. This is intended to smooth out the otherwise comparatively harsh sound of steel strings, and round out the sound without sacrificing much of the punch and responsiveness that steel strings give you.
If you have a newish fiddle with a brighter tone, it's likely that Prims will sound wiry and harsh compared to the helicores.
On the other hand, if your fiddle has a deeper, darker sound, then brighter, harsher strings might actually work nicely on it.
Thanks for the advice Georgi. Mine is newish. German made,2009. Im thinking it may be best to stick with the Helicore heavys. Prims were suggested to me , but I think my best bet is to stay with the heli's. online they are about the same price as the Prims. Helicores at the local store are $45 compared to the Prims at $32. So I guess I'll be ordering and staying with the Helis, Thank you everyone for your time in helping me decide.
Of course, it wouldn't do any damage to *try* the Prims.
The dampening resin in helicores does dull the sound of the string a bit, and if theys bothers you, then Prim (or Jargar, or Spirocore) strings might be the way to go...
Fiddlers: Helicore heavies vs Prims
Fiddlers: Helicore heavies vs Prims
Ive tried lots of strings and Im pretty happy with the helicore heavies. They sound decent on my fiddle and the A string dosent come apart on me like they do on the mediums. Im due for a new set as my G broke on me (replaced it with a G helicore medium for now) . I keep hearing I should try Prims so im considering them as my next set. If I dont like them then I plan to go back to the heli heavies and be done experimenting.
So any advice, experience with them etc would be appreciated.
# Posted on August 16th 2011 by Barry1963
Re: Fiddlers: Helicore heavies vs Prims
I love Helicore heavies, but try the Prims - lots of people swear by them
# Posted on August 16th 2011 by airport
Re: Fiddlers: Helicore heavies vs Prims
I am a recovered Helicore user, I love the Prims mediums now. They sound great and they are everlasting.
# Posted on August 16th 2011 by timmy!
Re: Fiddlers: Helicore heavies vs Prims
Personally, I play a Helicore heavy set with a Prim e, but only a few days ago I got a new set in the mail and the Helicores have been oddly soupy and stale. I've heard other people say it, so I'll toss my sidenote in: Helicores have generally good but occasionally variable quality. When they're good they're great though!
# Posted on August 16th 2011 by Danjo
Re: Fiddlers: Helicore heavies vs Prims
Thanks for the comments, I think I'll give the Prims a go and see how they do
# Posted on August 17th 2011 by Barry1963
Re: Fiddlers: Helicore heavies vs Prims
I've tried a couple of sets of Prims. They don't look very fancy when you get them out of the envelopes. I found they worked well though and lasted for ages. They have a sort of plaited rope look about them and they have good friction against the bow. I'm sure they're perfect for Bluegrass and Old-time. I've got a set of Helicores on a fiddle at the moment. They're fine too. If there's any problems, it's me not the strings.
# Posted on August 17th 2011 by RichardB
Re: Fiddlers: Helicore heavies vs Prims
Helicore strings have a layer of dampening resin between the core and the wrapping. This is intended to smooth out the otherwise comparatively harsh sound of steel strings, and round out the sound without sacrificing much of the punch and responsiveness that steel strings give you.
If you have a newish fiddle with a brighter tone, it's likely that Prims will sound wiry and harsh compared to the helicores.
On the other hand, if your fiddle has a deeper, darker sound, then brighter, harsher strings might actually work nicely on it.
# Posted on August 17th 2011 by Georgi
Re: Fiddlers: Helicore heavies vs Prims
Thanks for the advice Georgi. Mine is newish. German made,2009. Im thinking it may be best to stick with the Helicore heavys. Prims were suggested to me , but I think my best bet is to stay with the heli's. online they are about the same price as the Prims. Helicores at the local store are $45 compared to the Prims at $32. So I guess I'll be ordering and staying with the Helis, Thank you everyone for your time in helping me decide.
# Posted on August 18th 2011 by Barry1963
Re: Fiddlers: Helicore heavies vs Prims
Of course, it wouldn't do any damage to *try* the Prims.
The dampening resin in helicores does dull the sound of the string a bit, and if theys bothers you, then Prim (or Jargar, or Spirocore) strings might be the way to go...
# Posted on August 20th 2011 by Georgi