Opinions on Zyex violin strings??
Hello,
I just bought some Zyex composite violin strings, but I am using an Oliv E. I've heard that the Zyex E can be quite tinny. I absoloutley love them, but I've heard other people saying that their dynamics are just loud and louder! I don't find that.
So I'm just looking for some other opinions on these strings!
Replies (22)
I like them. Much less tension than the previous 'medium' set, and better modulation. Warm sounding and powerful with a decent amount of edge. They're well worth trying.
I wonder if "loud and louder" referred to the previous (not "Composite") set.
If anyone is wondering about Zyex viola strings, I'd point out that the medium C is quite light in comparison to say the Spirocore Wolfram. I've found the Zyex C Heavy to be a good cost-effective alternative in this case, and I use it alongside Zyex medium G & D with kaplan medium A.
I would appreciate reading a full review of the Zyex composite strings.
Zyex was reformulated in a significant way in 2008. Ignore any commentary from before that, as it does not apply to the new strings.
I like them very much. They sound wonderful on every violin I have tried them on. They sound like a gut string to me, which is a good thing.
Fred
> Zyex was reformulated in a significant way in 2008
Interesting to read that. I tried them before that and i did not find them special.
Has anyone reviewed the pre-2008 and post-2008 versions? How are they different?
I was playing on Eudoxa G, D, and E with Obligato A for a while. My choices were based on tone, tension, and responsiveness. These strings are so beautiful. After breaking in the Eudoxa, I fell in love with the sound. I had not been able to find anything else out there that would come even close. The Obligatos are easier to work in for the A string and have just as good a tone.
I think I'm pretty objective when it comes to sound. I'm not one to go around buying products just because it's celebrity endorsed but Alexander Markov seemed really enthusiastic about Zyex and after trying them for a few months, I can hear why. If you want a complex sound I think you can get a full range of power from these strings with dynamic tonality-- staying in the upper register of "high projection and reverberation" even on the G while maintaining variety throughout. It's great for playing very quick pieces. I thought the responsiveness was very good. Actually, VERY good. I tried playing a few of the Red Violin caprices on the Zyex. They had better responsiveness than the Obligatos and Eudoxas. The sound is so complex.... It carries a lot of emotion. What a beautiful tone. It just tugs at you. Unlike many other strings I've tried, Zyex requires less breaking in.
I agree with the previous poster-- Different strings work for different violins (AND bows). Also keep in mind that we're all going for a different sound here. I am partial to complex and warm while others may have a preference for bright! Subjectivity is a pain but in the end, it's what works for you, your instrument, and what you are trying to achieve. My older violin (made early 1900) sounds incredible with Eudoxas but the tone dies a little on my K. Kelly, on which I now only use Zyex composite. =)
Based upon these reviews, I bought a set of mediums, new version.
My experience is dead opposite to the reviews. These strings are absolutely dreadful on my violin. Literally half the volume and projection of Dominants. Lousy in upper positions - dead tone. High tension, so very difficult to tune with pegs, and stress on fingers during play. Very low bow response. The G string cracks when played vigorously. Tuning stability?- none noted, must retune every 5 min.
These might work for an overly bright student violin to smooth the tone.
Truly, I wish these strings had a positive aspect for me. Simply the worst strings I have tried.
Ron, they've worked very well (good volume, good response, warm and resonant sound, very stable) on a few good violins that I've tried them on. Not sure why you're having tuning issues, but otherwise, sounds like they're just not compatible with your violin.
I've tried Zyex strings also and they were awful on my instrument as well. They were so very metallic sounding it made playing the violin extremely unpleasant. I only kept them on for a few days but I don't recall having tuning issues. Could it have been the weather?
I try not to change strings in the fall of the year because the weather changes daily from warm and mild to cool and damp to warm again to freezing overnight. It's hard for new strings to settle in properly.
Forgot to mention that the Zyex strings were definitely loud...as in screaming loud. My violin is loud to begin with and those strings were not a good marriage. Opposites attract.
Tess, did you try the old Zyex strings or the updated "Zyex Composite" strings?
I had a similar experience as tess. I asked my luthier a couple months ago to put on new strings, and he said he thought I'd like Zyex (I assume the composite, simply because it was not too long ago). They sounded metallicy and I asked him to take them off. Granted, my opinion was based off of only a minute or two with new strings.
He then put on passione's, which I liked much better.
Keep in mind that there are still a lot of old Zyex strings sitting around...
I'd play them in too.
I also don't like the new Zylex strings. They sounded so plain compare to Gut strings and that thought kept me from keeping them on my violin for the entire week. I like how they were loud tho and pierce threw the violin section but I got some stares after awhile.
This string set hits the box of spares in my drawer.
Oh thank god some people here have mentioned the obvious - that strings sound different on different instruments!! Too many violinists i talk to are obsessed with what strings someone uses and not actually listening to how they sound (I was guilty of this until a year ago).
That being said, I was a pirastro obligato user for some time. I had a new fiddle made for me by a wonderful Luthier in Brisbane, Australia - Lance Scott. He strung it up with Zyex. I liked the sound but insisted i put obligatos on. After a month of playing i went back to the Zyex and haven't tried anything else since. Maybe i should try something different, but i am very happy with the sound i am getting right now.
Also - Zyex are so much cheaper than the pirastro's i was using earlier in my career (in Australia anyway)
Cheers,
Luke
I can't say too much about the Brand as I only use one of their strings. I have never tried a full set. However I use the Gold Olive on my e and Eudoxa for the D&A string with the zyex on the G. The reason for this is that I find that the Zyex will give that Gut sound but you can really get a nice deep tone from the G without it rattling through the finger board. The issue is that not all string sound good on all violins. I have a cheaper Violin and that is running cheaper strings and produces a nice sound. I am thinking of giving that Violin a full ZYEX set and seeing how that goes.
But I am biased to using Olive E's as that is all I have ever used and never had an issue with them.
I hope that this helps.
Sheldon, you're like 8 years late, my friend. The party is over, hahahahaha.
I tried these once and they initially sounded good, but they lost their sound after about two weeks.
Cheers Carlo
Deleting my post from just now - I see I already replied 8 years ago.
I have found them tight and harsh.
They are good on silent violins... Usually they are standards for Yamaha. For acoustic violins, not that much.
I prefer Eva Parazi
I have an acoustic violin and I like them so much more than my previous Tonicas and Dominants. I'll keep trying new sets as time goes by.
I think they go well when you're seeking powerful loud strings but this does not necessarily mean they have no dynamics and that you can't create colors and textures with them. It's D'Addario, these are not chinese metal threads.
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September 2, 2009 at 06:13 PM ·
I've used them, but they are not my favorite. The problem with your questions is that different strings sound different on different violins. What works for you may or may not work for me. If you love them, keep using them. If you want to try something else, take your violin to your luthier with the Zyex on, explain what sort of sound you are looking for, and ask for a recommendation. Your luthier can hear your violin with the strings and make an educated recommendation.