Strings for Gypsy Jazz

September 12, 2008 at 11:55 AM · In my experience, I used Thomastic Kunsler Steil-saten strings for many years. The strings themselves are relativly inexpensive, depending on where you purchase them. They are amazingly good, reliable and powerfully toned strings of flat wound, rope core steel,except the E sting, which is plain steel that is flat wound, which all hold their tunings equally in the most rigourous of playing techniques and extremes of temperatures. They hold their playability for an amazingly long time, as well. I would confidently venture to say that they are comparable to gut, both in tone and feel, but that is a personal opinion. It would be more safer to say they are a great substitute for gut. I hope I am not found guilty of spamming here, but for educational and research purposes, I found that the International Violin Company offers them at a discount price (if you register with them you can buy them at wholesale if you request their catalogue) and at the time I used them, they cost about $11.00. Believe it or not. This was many years ago, and I've noted that today they run $31.50 (retail price) if you purchase them online, which, I suspect, is to defray the cost of online marketing, so it will may be to your best interest to order their catalogue and purchase them from there at a wholesale price, which is what luthiers do, and you can too. Good bargains are out there, but it takes a little research and work to find them. And then a little acoustic experimentation to finalize one's choice at what works for them as an individual player. I found them very useful for electric violin, a Zeta, as well as acoustic. Thomastic has even got on the band wagon and are offering a set for 5 string violinists. Oftentimes I've noticed that some of the more expensive strings are not always the best in the long haul. Gut strings are great for certain applications, and are essential to a fine violin, but do not last long for someone who plays a great deal or aggressivly. With gut strings, this can become unnecessarly expensive in the long run, but this depends on ones' application and budget. Keep experimenting and you will find the strings that will satisfy both you and your working requirements. I hope I was of some help.

Jerald Franklin Archer

September 15, 2008 at 03:28 AM · Thanks for the response...I hadn't read about those yet. has anyone else tryed them?

September 15, 2008 at 01:45 PM · Hi,

According to their website, Roby Lakatos uses Pirastro's Flexocor-Permanent string, and he focuses on repertoire similar to the one you do, so that might be something to try. It is a steel-core string, quite stable, fairly bright but with quality.

If you are using the instrument only for this, then you can set it up with steel strings.

If you are using it for classical also though, then something else might work. Dominants can work on many instruments because by choosing an E that works with your instrument and the right D (silver or aluminium) you get a lot of possibilities.

If you liked Evahs and Tziganes and want that kind of synthetic string, then the Warchal Brilliant might be a choice for you. They work well on Guarneri model violins, sound somewhere between the above two and seem to last longer than Larsen or Pirastro.

In terms of volume, it also depends what you use to mic your instrument. So, you may want to explore in this avenue as well.

Hope this helps - cheers!

September 16, 2008 at 04:52 AM · I don't mic up...i'm usually busking or just playing with friends. I don't play classical...and i'm mostly playing swing jazz right now.

thanks for the advice..i'll look into those.

I haven't read anything about the Warchals yet.