Fiddle String Reviews
Off and on I have tried many different fiddle strings. I have found some I like and would stick with them for a year or two and then try a different brand. Also the same strings on different fiddle/violins will have different results. Here are strings that I have personally used or tried through the years and these are my opinions...
My current set up on my main fiddle is a vision solo G and D, a dominant A and a gold label E. Im sold on the A and E set up. Im flexible on the G and D strings. I also like the Evah pirazzi Pirastro G and D with dominant A and gold label E. (12/27/2018)
The D’Addario Helicore- a great all around string, has good tone and great focus and response. This is a great go to string that I have always used and would use again.
D'Addario Zyex (new 2017) -Ive tried all of the Zyex strings through the years. This one is very responsive string for a synthetic. I do like this string however it is a bit bright or harsh at times. This could be a good string on the right instrument. I do prefer to support an american string maker and they do pretty darn good.
D'Addario Pro Arte- Decent all around string and fairly inexpensive. Maybe the best value as far as tone/price/playability I think. I can say I do like the tone of this string but it lacks focus. I prefer the focus I would get out of the helicores.
D'Addario Kaplan Amo: This is a very high quality and textured string. I like the general tone. Great for waltzes or slower songs but the responsiveness is a little slow for me. I think the vivo is more responsive but I have not tried that one yet.
Thomastik-Infeld Spirocore- I prefer a more mellow tone but a good string.
Superflexible ropecore- I just didn’t like them. Too thin for my taste.
SuperSensitive Red Label- I tried these years ago just because they are inexpensive. They are durable and a great student string. It is what it is.
SuperSensitive Octavia- These strings have a lot of tone. However, every note is like a big splash. Responsive but not focused. They could be good on the right fiddle. They do stretch.
Thomastik Vision solo- this is a quality string with good tone and response. I do like this one.
Thomastik Dominants- A great sounding string. Sounds good on most fiddles. Not very durable and have gotten a little pricy. But still always a good sounding set and safe choice. My complaints: not durable and over time they do not seem focused enough to suit my playing. Perhaps they seem to not be quick to the ear when playing faster tunes. Through the year I have grown to love the A string and dislike the G string.
Prim- A good string I used for years. I started using them because they were $18 bucks and I was wearing out a set of dominants every two months. I used them because they were comparable to the Dominants but cheaper and more durable. They are clean and perhaps a little less complex than the dominants so they were quicker to respond to the ear but not too far off in the complexity or color of the dominants. I would say these are a less colorful and more durable replacement for dominants.
Jargar- Medium: Good strings. Good strong tone, especially for a steel string. Definitely on the bright side but still not overly bright. I may go with the light and see how they work for me. I would say this is a great string if they are not too bright for the instrument. That could be a draw back on these.
Forte: I tried the heavy set thinking the set would really be rich sounding. They were rich but the lack of response was to frustrating and unpleasing.
Infeld Blue- Wow, these are the brightest strings I’ve played on. They were so bright I had to put them on my most mellow fiddle. I didn’t buy a second set, but it is a quality string. These were too bright for my taste.
Thomastik Vision: 2009-Good strings here, quality tone however they are on the bright side. If you have a bright instrument these may not work for you. 2016- I bought another set and put them on a different violin. These are too bright and harsh. I also noticed that after a couple weeks of playing the focus wasn’t quite what I needed. It just seemed to splashy for my ears. Playing faster passages just seemed to difficult to play in tune in comparison to some other strings. I would say I will not go back to this string.
Evah parazzi: Great strong tone but too bright and unpleasing harsh tone overall. The upfront tone is usually impressive but playing on them for a bit it becomes unbearable and begins to get on your nerves. A darker violin would probably work well here but not for mine. High tension is also an issue here. Especially if you play a lot.
Violisimo: student string, overpriced in my opinion. Response is lacking and I just couldn’t keep them on my instrument.
John Pearse: Great string for the money, $25 bucks you won’t find better for the money. Good tone, great response. I don’t feel like they had the quality tone that I get out of dominants but if I were a budget player I’d go for these or the pro Arte. These J pearse strings don’t have the warmth of pro arte and I thought they are more neutral in tone.
E strings:
Gold Label E (Pirastro): Best E string I have played on.
Westminster- decent but nothing wonderful
Helicore (wound E): Pretty solid and comes with the set. Nothing bad about it. It works.
Evah- the gold plated string is pretty sweet.
Infield Red- gold plated also and sounds good. Not that good though.
Hill- sweet sounding e string but not strong.
Prim Lisa: Best sounding to my ears, this is the one I use. I’ve use other entire sets and always put this one back on. Sets I’ve tried since using this e string. Dominant reds, vision solo, thomastik dominants, eva parazzi, jargar (forte), John pearse, helicores. But most of the e strings in these sets did not match the Lisa. I always put the ‘Lisa’ back on and was pleased when I did.
Jargar (forte): Good but seemed to be average and perhaps a little harsh for my taste. It worked much better on an older darker fiddle I had.
Rosin: This is often an overlooked subject but it does make a big difference. If you are not happy with your strings you should think about the rosin that you are using as well. If you are looking for a “gritty” tone you need to use an aggressive rosin. If you are looking for a cleaner tone you should use a lighter rosin. Softer rosin is more sticky and more aggressive. Violinist can use a cello rosin even though it is softer. I use it because I like that is is more tacky than violin rosin. It is what I am using these days and I mix it with a French violin rosin if it does get too sticky. There is something to like about different rosins. Rosin does matter…
Off and on I have tried many different fiddle strings. I have found some I like and would stick with them for a year or two and then try a different brand. Also the same strings on different fiddle/violins will have different results. Here are strings that I have personally used or tried through the years and these are my opinions...
My current set up on my main fiddle is a vision solo G and D, a dominant A and a gold label E. Im sold on the A and E set up. Im flexible on the G and D strings. I also like the Evah pirazzi Pirastro G and D with dominant A and gold label E. (12/27/2018)
The D’Addario Helicore- a great all around string, has good tone and great focus and response. This is a great go to string that I have always used and would use again.
D'Addario Zyex (new 2017) -Ive tried all of the Zyex strings through the years. This one is very responsive string for a synthetic. I do like this string however it is a bit bright or harsh at times. This could be a good string on the right instrument. I do prefer to support an american string maker and they do pretty darn good.
D'Addario Pro Arte- Decent all around string and fairly inexpensive. Maybe the best value as far as tone/price/playability I think. I can say I do like the tone of this string but it lacks focus. I prefer the focus I would get out of the helicores.
D'Addario Kaplan Amo: This is a very high quality and textured string. I like the general tone. Great for waltzes or slower songs but the responsiveness is a little slow for me. I think the vivo is more responsive but I have not tried that one yet.
Thomastik-Infeld Spirocore- I prefer a more mellow tone but a good string.
Superflexible ropecore- I just didn’t like them. Too thin for my taste.
SuperSensitive Red Label- I tried these years ago just because they are inexpensive. They are durable and a great student string. It is what it is.
SuperSensitive Octavia- These strings have a lot of tone. However, every note is like a big splash. Responsive but not focused. They could be good on the right fiddle. They do stretch.
Thomastik Vision solo- this is a quality string with good tone and response. I do like this one.
Thomastik Dominants- A great sounding string. Sounds good on most fiddles. Not very durable and have gotten a little pricy. But still always a good sounding set and safe choice. My complaints: not durable and over time they do not seem focused enough to suit my playing. Perhaps they seem to not be quick to the ear when playing faster tunes. Through the year I have grown to love the A string and dislike the G string.
Prim- A good string I used for years. I started using them because they were $18 bucks and I was wearing out a set of dominants every two months. I used them because they were comparable to the Dominants but cheaper and more durable. They are clean and perhaps a little less complex than the dominants so they were quicker to respond to the ear but not too far off in the complexity or color of the dominants. I would say these are a less colorful and more durable replacement for dominants.
Jargar- Medium: Good strings. Good strong tone, especially for a steel string. Definitely on the bright side but still not overly bright. I may go with the light and see how they work for me. I would say this is a great string if they are not too bright for the instrument. That could be a draw back on these.
Forte: I tried the heavy set thinking the set would really be rich sounding. They were rich but the lack of response was to frustrating and unpleasing.
Infeld Blue- Wow, these are the brightest strings I’ve played on. They were so bright I had to put them on my most mellow fiddle. I didn’t buy a second set, but it is a quality string. These were too bright for my taste.
Thomastik Vision: 2009-Good strings here, quality tone however they are on the bright side. If you have a bright instrument these may not work for you. 2016- I bought another set and put them on a different violin. These are too bright and harsh. I also noticed that after a couple weeks of playing the focus wasn’t quite what I needed. It just seemed to splashy for my ears. Playing faster passages just seemed to difficult to play in tune in comparison to some other strings. I would say I will not go back to this string.
Evah parazzi: Great strong tone but too bright and unpleasing harsh tone overall. The upfront tone is usually impressive but playing on them for a bit it becomes unbearable and begins to get on your nerves. A darker violin would probably work well here but not for mine. High tension is also an issue here. Especially if you play a lot.
Violisimo: student string, overpriced in my opinion. Response is lacking and I just couldn’t keep them on my instrument.
John Pearse: Great string for the money, $25 bucks you won’t find better for the money. Good tone, great response. I don’t feel like they had the quality tone that I get out of dominants but if I were a budget player I’d go for these or the pro Arte. These J pearse strings don’t have the warmth of pro arte and I thought they are more neutral in tone.
E strings:
Gold Label E (Pirastro): Best E string I have played on.
Westminster- decent but nothing wonderful
Helicore (wound E): Pretty solid and comes with the set. Nothing bad about it. It works.
Evah- the gold plated string is pretty sweet.
Infield Red- gold plated also and sounds good. Not that good though.
Hill- sweet sounding e string but not strong.
Prim Lisa: Best sounding to my ears, this is the one I use. I’ve use other entire sets and always put this one back on. Sets I’ve tried since using this e string. Dominant reds, vision solo, thomastik dominants, eva parazzi, jargar (forte), John pearse, helicores. But most of the e strings in these sets did not match the Lisa. I always put the ‘Lisa’ back on and was pleased when I did.
Jargar (forte): Good but seemed to be average and perhaps a little harsh for my taste. It worked much better on an older darker fiddle I had.
Rosin: This is often an overlooked subject but it does make a big difference. If you are not happy with your strings you should think about the rosin that you are using as well. If you are looking for a “gritty” tone you need to use an aggressive rosin. If you are looking for a cleaner tone you should use a lighter rosin. Softer rosin is more sticky and more aggressive. Violinist can use a cello rosin even though it is softer. I use it because I like that is is more tacky than violin rosin. It is what I am using these days and I mix it with a French violin rosin if it does get too sticky. There is something to like about different rosins. Rosin does matter…
