Hi, I am new on the forum but have been reading lots of threads that's posted here. I have gotten lots of helpful advices from them, so THANK YA'LL very much.

I am a adult beginner viola player, started my first lesson back in October'06. I started with a 16" Otto Glassel with Dominant strings, then had to switch to a 15" Gliga Gama (because of very short chubby little finger ) with D'Addario Zyex strings. Then I just bought a Chinese violin from Muse Instruments on E-bay to play along when my 9 yr-old (also a beginner) practice. This new violin came with steel strings.

I am in U.S. and stereo-typically, these instruments I have are LOUD. The problem I have with all these strings is that beside the loudness, they are bright -- TOOOO bright for my sensitive ears (I have very, very good hearing, especially picking up high-pitches and hummings) that when learning the 4th positions, some notes are worse than electric saw stucked when cutting a hardwood, or even worse, the after effects of someone dropped the electric guitar while the ampifer on full blast! So while I am searching for the replacement strings for the violin (I am not a big fan of steel strings), I came across this new brand, Warchal strings, www.WarchalStrings.com. I did contact their US distributer and found out that Warchal had just recently begin selling the viola strings in their Karneol line.

So, has anyone tried these Warchal strings at all, violin or viola? Any thoughts on them will be appreciated. and if anyone have any thought or advice on my little issue with the screeching ringing (side effect of my playing ), please feel free to post them as well.

Thanx a bunch!!

We trried the violin ones. I didn't like them enough to re-order.

Gama violas are not known for loudness, but Zyex strings are. But they are also dark, though with "space age" overtones (don't know how else to describe them). The best strings I found for Gama violas, honestly, are Dominants. If you want darker than that, you could try Pirastro Obligato perhaps.

Chinese instruments are another matter. Try Daddario Pro-arte or Corelli Crystal to darken and soften the tone.

Liz

I haven't tried Warchal strings so can't comment on them, however, you might find this list of the tonal properties of strings useful.

You could also try sending an email to a few string manufacturers explaining your problem to see what they recommend from their own range of strings. I know that, for example, Pirastro recommend their Violino strings for bright sounding/student instruments. They describe them as having a very warm sound and pure tone (although rather soft). I have found string manufacturers to be fairly helpful in the past.

I own a 15" Gliga Gama viola, so exactly what you have, and I've found the Dominants it's strung with to be really nice, and definitely not loud, brassy, or electric-saw-like. Quite warm, and while not incredibly dark, definitely on the mellow side. They're also not too expensive, which is a bonus! So I absolutely second Liz's advice

I also own a 15" Gliga Gama viola, which is strung with Dominants. Wouldn't consider changing to another string as I think they suit the instrument extremely well.

Thank ya'll for your suggestions. I bought some Dominant spare strings when I was playing the 16; so I will put them on the 15' and see how they work out. I didn't try that before b/c I had the same issue with the 16'... but that could be mostly due to my "skinning the cat" bowing. Can't wait for the day when I stop making those screeching noises... My poor hubby is a saint, he has to put up with mine & our son's Jungle Monkey's rendition of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" over and over and over... (sreech, screech, Scream, screech, screech, Scream, ARGGHHH, WHY CAN'T I bow stright!!?? )

Anyway, thanks again for all your replies.