Being in the experimental mood, I'm planning on trying a new set of strings. And yes, I know, strings are always different on different fiddles but that's ok.
I just need people's opinions and reviews etc..
Helicore LIGHT
Infeld Red Violin Strings
Zyex
Or can anyone suggest strings that are DARK and WARM?
Infeld Reds were HORRIBLE on my fiddle, I hated them! But then again, each fiddle is different... I really like the Obligatos, you might consider trying them. They're kind of expensive, but they've got a great tone.
I have been using obligatos for a few years and absolutely love them! They have a lovely warm tone especially on the lower strings and while the result does change from fiddle to fiddle i have heard that they are "warm sounding" on most instruments, just to varying degrees.
However, they are slightly costly. But i always buy my strings off the net because they are SO much cheaper! A good site is: http://www.swstrings.com/Store/Shopping.jsp?Category=Strings&SubCategory=Violin&Group=504S
I'm based in Australia and buying a set of obligatos costs AUS$120 locally but off the above website it costs US$42 which translates to roughly AUS$60 with the current exchange rate. Postage is very little because they weigh next to nothing! So i don't know if the situation would be the same for wherever you are based but it is worth checking out.
Another good site to look at is: http://www.quinnviolins.com/qv_obligatoviolin.shtml. While their strings are a little more expensive (at the moment anyway!), they have some good info on the different types of strings available.
I love the Evahs - but they are so expensive over here. Luckily a member of this forum from across the pond is acting as an agent for me!! The strings and oboe reeds are half the price.
Evah, Evah, Evah, Evah, Evah, etc, etc,
Obligato's made my fiddle sound dull, and Infeld Red's didn't sound anything like as good as the Blues.
Pirazzi's are the best string i've come across so far.
Got D'Addarios on my Yamaha electric fiddle because the Evahs were not hard enough wearing for this fiddle - they actually went black after only 3-4 gigs!!
I've tried Evahs and yes, they were great - brilliant tone. Didn't last terribly long though - some unwinding made me change them and I tried Obligatos and really like them - slightly less tension, more forgiving - take a little more time to settle. They seem to be lasting well. I would say that they meet Armand's requirements for dark and warm. I'll get them again for that particular fiddle (it's a large-bodied Maggini copy). I've got Infield Reds on a different fiddle and they are very robust - seem to last for ever. They're fine and I'd get them again, but maybe I'll give the blues a try looking at riverrunner's comment. I find with the reds that the gold E seems loud, but that may be the fault of the fiddle - or it may be just me. It sounds great when someone else plays it. Perhaps the Infield Blue E would be better. I tried a Kaplan non-whistling wound E recently and took it off almost immediately - too heavy.
On my 200-year old fiddle I'm currently using Zyex G/D and an Obligato A (mislaid the Zyex A!). There's not a lot of difference between the Obligato A and the Zyex. The Obligato's a bit warmer. When played in they're both very stable. On my 4-year old Jay Haide it's Zyex G/D/A. I'm using Eudoxa Gold E on both.
I've realised over time that steel core strings (Helicore and Spirocore) don't really work on either fiddle for me. It's mainly a reduction in resonance in both cases, which affects the response of the E-string. Notes played on the E will pick up harmonics from good resonant lower strings, and for me these are strings with a synthetic core (or gut, if ever I try that). The Helicores are too quiet for my old fiddle which tends to need powerful strings - hence the Zyex and Obligato.
I've tried Infeld Reds, and although they're powerful enough, stable and long-lasting, I've found the tone a bit too hard for my liking, so I've stopped using them. Perhaps ok for general orchestral work, but I don't do that with the fiddle anyway.
Curiously enough, the best strings I've ever had on my cello in a lifetime of playing are the steel-cored Spirocores I'm currently using. They have warmth, resonance, power and response. It just goes to show that what works well on a cello may not necessarily work well for me on a fiddle, and vice versa.
I am still enjoying the Heliocores...stable, long lasting, little to no break-in time and good tone for my fiddle. I have some Tonicas on deck and will try them out next.
I used to use zyex all the time, but have moved back to helicore. zyex are one of the best for volume and tone, but are a bit slow to respond. When i worked at a fiddle shop, we put zyex on all the lower priced fiddles and olive label on all the top end ones, people paying a lot of money still wanted to see gut on the instruments. I have also tried many other brands but have found the helicore good for tone on a powerful fiddle that doesn't need extra volume. I find the crisper the sound the better and a sloppy tone won't do any good for your technique, just like putting a mute on won't help you when going out playing with other people and trying to play at full volume.
The Zyex are great if you're short on money, as they seem to last very long. The obligato's sound good on both of my fiddles, one being very bright and the other very dark, but I cant seem to fathom the cost of replacing them as often as they need to be. I've yet to try the evah's
It's that time again: String Shopping!
It's that time again: String Shopping!
Being in the experimental mood, I'm planning on trying a new set of strings. And yes, I know, strings are always different on different fiddles but that's ok.
I just need people's opinions and reviews etc..
Helicore LIGHT
Infeld Red Violin Strings
Zyex
Or can anyone suggest strings that are DARK and WARM?
THANK.. YOU..
CHEERS,
ArmAND.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by fiddlinviolinin
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
Obligato are the warmest I know of but you will pay...
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by Farr
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
Infeld Reds were HORRIBLE on my fiddle, I hated them! But then again, each fiddle is different... I really like the Obligatos, you might consider trying them. They're kind of expensive, but they've got a great tone.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by Fiddlekit
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
I love Helicore lights with a Kaplan nonwhislting E. My fiddle is on the dark side, but not terribly.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by ariesfiddler
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
I have a quite a young (1 yr.), bright fiddle that needed some dark and warm. I'm really liking this combo:
G/D: Zyex
A:Vision Titanium Orch.
E:pirastro alum.wound.
Hated the Infeld Reds.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by ratbiscuit
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
I have been using obligatos for a few years and absolutely love them! They have a lovely warm tone especially on the lower strings and while the result does change from fiddle to fiddle i have heard that they are "warm sounding" on most instruments, just to varying degrees.
However, they are slightly costly. But i always buy my strings off the net because they are SO much cheaper! A good site is:
http://www.swstrings.com/Store/Shopping.jsp?Category=Strings&SubCategory=Violin&Group=504S
I'm based in Australia and buying a set of obligatos costs AUS$120 locally but off the above website it costs US$42 which translates to roughly AUS$60 with the current exchange rate. Postage is very little because they weigh next to nothing! So i don't know if the situation would be the same for wherever you are based but it is worth checking out.
Another good site to look at is: http://www.quinnviolins.com/qv_obligatoviolin.shtml. While their strings are a little more expensive (at the moment anyway!), they have some good info on the different types of strings available.
Good luck!
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by guadagnini
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
I love the Evahs - but they are so expensive over here. Luckily a member of this forum from across the pond is acting as an agent for me!! The strings and oboe reeds are half the price.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by Tarrantella
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
Evah, Evah, Evah, Evah, Evah, etc, etc,
Obligato's made my fiddle sound dull, and Infeld Red's didn't sound anything like as good as the Blues.
Pirazzi's are the best string i've come across so far.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by riverrunner
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
Does anyone have any experience of D'Arrio Pro Arte strings? I have been given a set , but haven't tried them yet.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by calum's van
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
sorry - that should be D'Addario (it's a bit too early in the morning!)
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by calum's van
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
Got D'Addarios on my Yamaha electric fiddle because the Evahs were not hard enough wearing for this fiddle - they actually went black after only 3-4 gigs!!
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by Tarrantella
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
I've tried Evahs and yes, they were great - brilliant tone. Didn't last terribly long though - some unwinding made me change them and I tried Obligatos and really like them - slightly less tension, more forgiving - take a little more time to settle. They seem to be lasting well. I would say that they meet Armand's requirements for dark and warm. I'll get them again for that particular fiddle (it's a large-bodied Maggini copy). I've got Infield Reds on a different fiddle and they are very robust - seem to last for ever. They're fine and I'd get them again, but maybe I'll give the blues a try looking at riverrunner's comment. I find with the reds that the gold E seems loud, but that may be the fault of the fiddle - or it may be just me. It sounds great when someone else plays it. Perhaps the Infield Blue E would be better. I tried a Kaplan non-whistling wound E recently and took it off almost immediately - too heavy.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by RichardB
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
try the Vision (regular, not Titanium) Stark..they should fit the bill.
Another less expensive option is Dominants with a Silver D and Jargar Forte...my favorite set-up!
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by Sunnybear
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
On my 200-year old fiddle I'm currently using Zyex G/D and an Obligato A (mislaid the Zyex A!). There's not a lot of difference between the Obligato A and the Zyex. The Obligato's a bit warmer. When played in they're both very stable. On my 4-year old Jay Haide it's Zyex G/D/A. I'm using Eudoxa Gold E on both.
I've realised over time that steel core strings (Helicore and Spirocore) don't really work on either fiddle for me. It's mainly a reduction in resonance in both cases, which affects the response of the E-string. Notes played on the E will pick up harmonics from good resonant lower strings, and for me these are strings with a synthetic core (or gut, if ever I try that). The Helicores are too quiet for my old fiddle which tends to need powerful strings - hence the Zyex and Obligato.
I've tried Infeld Reds, and although they're powerful enough, stable and long-lasting, I've found the tone a bit too hard for my liking, so I've stopped using them. Perhaps ok for general orchestral work, but I don't do that with the fiddle anyway.
Curiously enough, the best strings I've ever had on my cello in a lifetime of playing are the steel-cored Spirocores I'm currently using. They have warmth, resonance, power and response. It just goes to show that what works well on a cello may not necessarily work well for me on a fiddle, and vice versa.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by lazyhound
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
I am still enjoying the Heliocores...stable, long lasting, little to no break-in time and good tone for my fiddle. I have some Tonicas on deck and will try them out next.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by Jode
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
I used to use zyex all the time, but have moved back to helicore. zyex are one of the best for volume and tone, but are a bit slow to respond. When i worked at a fiddle shop, we put zyex on all the lower priced fiddles and olive label on all the top end ones, people paying a lot of money still wanted to see gut on the instruments. I have also tried many other brands but have found the helicore good for tone on a powerful fiddle that doesn't need extra volume. I find the crisper the sound the better and a sloppy tone won't do any good for your technique, just like putting a mute on won't help you when going out playing with other people and trying to play at full volume.
# Posted on March 28th 2006 by tlittlewazzock
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
There is an interesting review of thirty brands of strings at :
http://www.stringsmagazine.com/issues/Strings95/coverstory.shtml
# Posted on March 29th 2006 by ratbiscuit
Re: It's that time again: String Shopping!
The Zyex are great if you're short on money, as they seem to last very long. The obligato's sound good on both of my fiddles, one being very bright and the other very dark, but I cant seem to fathom the cost of replacing them as often as they need to be. I've yet to try the evah's
# Posted on March 29th 2006 by Splendid Isolation