Why do E strings whisper?

September 10, 2005 at 12:53 PM · It's not the string--it's the violin. This is not something that's easy to adjust out, either.

September 10, 2005 at 04:34 PM · I don't have too much whispering trouble with my E string...it likes to scream.

September 10, 2005 at 05:31 PM · Ah, the good old days, when grass was green, and none of the streets had potholes!

September 10, 2005 at 09:05 PM · I miss Clinton.

September 10, 2005 at 10:30 PM · yeah, P-Funk was a great band.

September 11, 2005 at 12:08 PM · I find my strings whisper when I have too much rosin on the bow, or the wrong type. I have some normal kind in a red cloth package (Hill?)...when I used it with Pirastro synthetics, I got some whisper. I got Pirastro Obligato rosin, and it works like a charm with Violino, Pirazzi, etc, strings. However then I switched to a Eudoxa and plain gut combination, and boy, you want to hear whispering...so I went back to the first rosin, and still got some. Then I cut the rosin quantity way down, and voila. Almost none.

Oh, you could also try wiping off your strings with a clean, dry cloth. (Some say use alcohol, but it is critical to avoid getting it on the varnish or you will damage the instrument, so I avoid alcohol string cleaners entirely, unless the string is off the instrument.)

One other thought...if it's more of a low-grade buzz or humm, and you have any fine tuners on your instrument (even on different strings), see if the little adjustment wheel turns freely. It may bevibrating, in which case you can just turn it in the tightening direction just a bit, till you feel resistance.