Aricore Pirastro Strings?

March 3, 2004 at 07:07 AM · I think they're supposed to sound warmer than Obligato. But, for my money, I'd place it on Obligato before Aricore. After all, especially if I've never tried Aricore, I'd go for a product that has been tried, tested, and well received.

March 3, 2004 at 11:10 AM · Greetings,

the point that I think all the string discussions tend to make on this list is that it depends on the player and the instrument.

However, I would ask what did you use before Dominant? And, although I personal dislike -all- synthetic strings, Dominant are a quality product used bymany of the best players in the world. Changing to them from gut can be quite radical so you you may need more time to adjust your bowing a litlte. Alsowhen I used them I found it took a lot longer to play them in that it was generally assumed,

Cheers,

Buri

March 4, 2004 at 04:41 AM · I've actually ALWAYS used Dominants, however I've been very dissapointed with this set, the e string constantly whistles and they sound extremely tinny, which is quite unusual for Dominant strings, I've never had that problem before.

March 4, 2004 at 05:03 AM · Greetings,

take it back to the shop?

You know, that i9s one thing that really bugs me at times. Everytime I go to a new violin shop I have to explain really slowly and carefully (without punching anyone) that I hav ehad enough professional experience to know they sold me a piece of junk for $100 and just becuase they are at the mercy of the manufacturer doesn`t mean they can get away with not giving me a replacement. I do after all, donate most of my salary to their business one way or another...

By the way, why don`t you give the Goldbrokat e a try. It is steel but a very fine string and no tendency to whistle (except at pretty girls)

Cheers,

Buri

March 4, 2004 at 06:00 AM · Hi Jen,

The Aricore was actually Pirastro's first synthetic string, so although they remain in production the design is more than a couple of decades old now. Materials have improved since then and so has the technology. I'm not neccessarily suggesting the latest is the greatest, but I'm not sure I'd be using Aricore strings unless I specifically found I did not like the Obligato, Evah Pizarri or Violino strings.

As for tone colour, the Aricore is probably the warmest and softest sounding synthetic string on the market. The tone is the sonic equivalent of a photographic "soft focus". On a lot of instruments this would actually translate into the violin sounding quite "dead" with them. On the other hand, some older instruments really like them. I would not call the tone colour of the aricore complex - it certainly isn't in the class of the Obligatos in this respect, let alone something like Eudoxa or Olive.

As for the Obligatos, they feel very much more "alive" and focussed than the aricore and have a very nice silvery, but warm "bite" to them. They certainly aren't too bright or obtrusive by any stretch of the imagination. They just seem to be a very good synthetic alternative to something like the Eudoxa gut line of strings. Obligatos are currently my favourite, although I have an Evah Pizarri "A" on order just to see what it's like (and since everyone raves about them).

March 5, 2004 at 01:23 AM · Thank you very much Jonathan for your in depth explanation, it is greatly appriciated! What I'm going to do is just get the Obligato Pirastro strings first, and try them out. Would you say they are an improvement from the dominant strings, or do they have roughly the same tinny quality to them? Thanks!

March 5, 2004 at 02:11 AM · Hi Jen,

My opinion is obviously very subjective, but I think the Obligatos sound far better than the Dominants. The Obligatos have at least as good response (if not even better response), have less surface noise under the ear, and have a warmer, less abrasive and more complex sound.

March 5, 2004 at 05:44 AM · Jen, if the E is what bothers you, I would recommend trying the Infeld Red E. It is gold plated and is probably the least shrill/tinny E I've used. Infeld Red is a warmer version of the Dominant by the same manufacturer.

March 5, 2004 at 02:16 PM · Actually I'm not so bothered by the e string's "shrilliness", it's just my e string keeps SQUEEKING...without any reason! There's nothing I can do to MAKE it happen, (that I know of) it just does it randomly, and quite frequently actually. Most of the time it continues until i pick up my bow, or else it would continue the whole bow length!

March 5, 2004 at 10:33 PM · Greetings,

the squeeking is often caused by the left index finger accidently brushing the string a -microscopic - amount,

Cheers,

Buri

Or you may have Mattias" pet mouse in the violin.

March 6, 2004 at 02:21 AM · Maybe it really is a mouse afterall...I wonder if the whistle ever happened with my left hand away from the violin...I bet you're right about the index finger! How did you find that one out?!

Thank you everybody for all your extremely helpful commentary, it has been greatly appriciated!

December 4, 2011 at 05:48 PM · Hi,

Did you try since now 6 years!the Aricore strings?

Obligato I know they have a very good color,rather sweet,deep and the response is great also,but the g string was sounding little dizzing on my violin..Are the aricore of lower tension?

Kindly,Popi