Would really appreciate some advice. The other day the E string on my violin starting sounding really funny and flat and then I noticed that the outer coating on the string had started to come off and was down to the wire. All my strings are currently Dominants but a while ago, I decided to buy some Obligatos (because they were on offer somewhere).

Anyway, I decided to change the E string and put the Obligato one on and the sound difference is incredible, now I'm in a dilemma. Do I keep a mixture of Dominants and the Obligato on as there is nothing currently wrong with the other strings or do I change the whole lot to Obligatos for the difference in the sound? Also, do Dominants have a habit of just going or could I have just had the odd duff string? The strings would have been on for about 5 months.

Any advice gratefully received.

Hi,

I used to use Dominants until about a year and a half ago when i decided i wanted a warmer sound so i switched to Obligatos and I think they're great, they seem to give a lot more depth to the sound.

Although there's nothing wrong with having a different E string personally i'd change the whole lot over because I think you'll get a better overall sound.

Dominant E strings are notoriously awful, and many dominant users throw the e's away and use an alternative (eg Hill).
Same is true for the A string in Dominant viola sets.

It depends what kind of sound you want, if you want to change it then you should. If you change your strings, you can keep the old Dominant strings as spare. I currently use Dominants on my violin and got a Tonica E string cos my Dominant E broke after 2.5 months. I didn't particulary like the Dominant E, it sounded squeaky. I don't think they last very long, my teacher never uses a Dominant E string.

Personally I would stick to the dominants until they break but that's cos I can't afford a set of strings! If I wanted to experiment with strings, I would just get an A or D string and see how it sounds on my violin. I brought a set of helicore strings for my violin and they sounded terrible on my violin, so I wouldn't risk buying a full set of violin strings again! If only I was rich...

I tried a set of Obligatos and personally wasn't happy with them. At first I thought they sounded great but after a couple of weeks with them I began to dislike the sound - there was a sort of edgy metallic feeling, and they seemed to have an uncomfortably high tension. I've gone back to Dominants as they have a good tone in my view and are extremely reliable: ie you get a 'warning' before they break. I used to use Pirastros years ago - Eudoxas and Gold Label - and sometimes they'd suddenly snap a few months in without any warning - very disconcerting indeed.

By a 'warning' I mean the string starts to fray a tiny bit before they ever snap.

On the other hand, different strings suit different violins - it's just a shame it's so expensive to chop and change.

Yes, why are violin strings SO expensive?

I'm sure the average D string doesn't cost more than a few pounds to make given the sheer amount of strings being made (which brings down the cost of raw materials) so why are string companies so grabby about vast profit margins when they cost over £10 to buy (on average).

There isn't a government tax on steel that I'm missing is there?

I've read all the posts to this topic and would say that string choice is a very personal thing. I use Obligato strings and like them. They also suit my 200 year old violin. Dominant strings are ok, but not on all instruments and they don't suit my vioin at all.

If anything, I've found Dominant to be the strings that sound edgy and metallic, but that's just my own opinion.

Best advice is to go with the sound you are happy with.

Quality strings, certainly in the case of Pirastro (I'm not certain about Dominant's manufacturing process), each string is hand made, not produced on a machine. People need to be paid a wage, while a machine just needs to be maintained and can mass-produce 24/7 if necessary. Cheap strings - of the far eastern variety - which generally have all the attributes of cheese-wire and nothing else, are factory made on a machine. You pays your money, you takes your choice.......

I agree that strings are a personal choice - there's your own personal preference (tension, string diameter, response etc) then (even more important) your fiddle's preference. I have an old French violin and was convinced that gut would sound good - it does, but it doesn't respond quickly enough for the music I play (Irish Trad) so the faster ornaments were out of the question and, on my fiddle, it got muffled as I went up in the positions. I tried Obligatos - NOPE! Didn't work. Same experience as Violinia. Tried Dominants, ok ish, but a bit metallic, fast response though and very durable. Same muffled problem higher up (which wasn't there with the obligatos) - I eventually, much to my luthier's horror, put helicores on it and it sounds fantastic in all positions and has no metallic edge, sounds warmer than ever and still retains brilliance higher up - I couldn't be happier. Even when I go back to the dark side (classical) now and then, the helicores hold their own in the duo I play in. (The fact that I play without a chin rest or shoulder rest usually gets some funny looks though!).

Like Amanda and Violinia say - it really is horses for courses.

I'd advise visiting a good luthier and asking to try different strings - you'll be able to find the brand (or combination of brands) that works best for you and your instrument.

Have fun!

I did think all synthetic/steel strings were machine-made and only the gut strings made by hand. That does explain the cost - I just hope the people who make them are paid a living wage given the market price.

Pirastro and Dominant (Thomastik) are made in Germany and Austria respectively. I think that Jargar and Larson strings are also hand-made, many of the workers work from home too. I'm sure Western European workers would demand a living wage - although the definition of the term 'living wage' is relative to your life-style and circumstances.

That's interesting, I didn't know that some strings are hand made!




Does anyone know if any violin shops in London/Surrey offer that service? I never knew you could do that. Most of the violin shops I've been too are scary...the people are a bit snobbish and unhelpful unless you're buying an expensive violin!

Try going to an actual maker rather than a posh shop - it's sadly true that some of these places are staffed by people who have a problem with actually having to provide a service (because they secretly believe themselves to be far above working in a shop... sad really, it''s a great job working in a fiddle shop), they resent having to serve people who aren't spending a fortune and can make a frosty reception. This isn't true of all violin shops mind you, but it's less likely to happen if you can visit a proper luthier's workshop, where they are still producing fiddles as well as selling.

Perhaps it's cultural difference, but where I live, we don't have big posh shops, only workshops of actual fiddle makers who also sell all the other stuff - they're very helpful and always willing to have coffee and chat.

I used to use Dominants and hated them, then i changed to Obligato and love them - and i would highly reccomend buying the Gold E string set as the E is very pure sounding and bright and not so twangy sounding.

Violin111, you could try contacting David Hume on 020 8941 3974. He's based in East Molesey, near Hampton Court. He's an ex-LSO violist who now spends much of his time maintaining and repairing violins, violas and cellos. He's also luthier to the RCM. As far as I'm aware he offers a string trial service at the RCM, but I'm sure he'd be happy to accomodate private customers at his own (home) workshop as well.

I've just put Obligatos on my violin - the winding was coming off my Evah Pirazzi and I've had them for about a year so it was time for a change.

What a difference the Obligatos make and it's wonderful. Where the Evah Pirazzi were loud and 'in-your-face', the Obligatos are soft, singing, subtle and just sound wonderful on my hand-made violin. I'm a happy convert

i would say that the e string is possibly one of the most personal choices you make regarding your instrument. i use all thomastik doms on the 3 bottom ones, but picked out a gold e specially. i'd say it's worth investing time and a bit of money on which configurations work best for you. i'd also recommend not having a mixture of strings on the bottom, as it can feel weird.
however, if you want TRUE quality, go for the Larsens - sorry that wasn't helpful.. but they're REALLY GOOD!

I used to use dominant, but didnt like the sound they made when i got a new violin. Now i use the Pirastro Synoxa A,D,G which are GREAT and the Kaplan non whistling e, and they sound really good on my violin. have no experience of the obligato ones though.

Very much horses for courses. You wouldn't run a chaser in the Derby, any more than you'd run a Derby winner in the Grand National.

While there are some pretty much 'all purpose' strings out there, the perfect strings for one person and their violin, aren't necessarily so for another. Be guided by your ear and your own tonal preferences. Be aware that strings like the Pirastro Evah Pirazzi (or similar by other makes) are very much aimed at the soloist and very high tension strings are not liked by the average violin for everyday playing.

I'm surprised that Violinia found Obligato too high tensioned. I've never had any issues with them and they string my 200 year old violin without any tension problems whatsoever.

My perfect string is the Eudoxa, but I don't like the tuning issues associated with gut core strings. Has anyone tried the Pirastro Passione gut core strings? They are supposed to be almost unaffected by temperature or humidity changes. I gather they must have treated the gut with something that seals out atmospheric changes, or at least stabilises the tendancy for it to stretch and contract so much.

I've not found anyone yet who likes Dominant E strings.

i really honestly cannot tell the difference between pirastro guts and normal synthetics. Aparantly the eudoxas are supposed to behave themselves after a while, but i don't really see the point of guts anyway. as for high tensioned obligatos. WHAT?! they have a really nice warm sound - but im not really a fan of pirastro - EScEPECIALLY the squeek of an Evah Pirazzi
i haven't really played on dominant e's for ages, 'cause i have a loop e precision, but i remember it as being rather...
who else get's REALLY intimidated by putting on new strings? i use all the techniques such as warming up the strings, putting lead on the bridge/scroll bit, and it still goes eek
anyway, back to the obligato/dominant argument - if you want to change because of a ###### dominant e, keep the dominant sets, and change the e, it's really common for concert violinists to pick out e strings specially. fact is, dominants are very good, and unless you have surplus cash, i don't think it's worth obligatoing. unless of course, the obligatos really show love for your violin
mmm Larsens

Might be worth bearing in mind that Larsen have temporarily stopped producing violin strings - availability will depend on what people still have in stock.

Wound gut (and even plain gut) will never 'speak' quite as quickly as a synthetic cored string - although I have read reports that the new Pirastro Passione gut cored strings do. Strings like Eudoxa and even Oliv, need to be coaxed with the right amount of bow pressure and speed, hence why they are not recommended for the inexperienced player. Gut cored do tend to last longer than the comparatively rapid decline of synthetic and they can really open out the dynamic range and tone of old (150 years+) instruments.

I also question the sometimes ridiculously high speeds at which (some) modern violinists play baroque music on modern violins with synthetic strings. If they were playing on gut (and even a baroque violin), the strings and the instrument simply wouldn't respond properly. Much of it would come out as squeaks and grunts.

Have they said why? perhaps lack of demand? I use a Larson A and D on my cello, but honestly don't know anyone personally who uses Larson violin strings.

Son Viohazard did try a Larsen A, trying to get a bit more edge and volume to balance other strings, but wasn't really happy with it - on HIS violin, that is (new rather than old instrument).

You could hear the edge, and it was "quick" and clean, but the sound seemed thin rather than complex...could be the operator rather than the tools of course, and he IS having trouble finding an A string that bridges the sweetness of the E and the power of the D and G strings...and sounds good for more than a fortnight.