Any strings to tame a cheap violin?
Hi. I own a Yamaha violín worth less than €400. It doesn’t sound bad for what it is, but I find the sound shrill, loud and not really pleasant. I’m very prone to get headaches, and the shrillness of the violin triggers them more often than I’d like. I know I should upgrade the violin, but I want to achieve some base technique before doing so (I’m currently studying double stops and 2nd position).I’ve tried different sets of strings on that violin: the prelude strings that the violín came with were just unbearable. I changed them for dominants, which were harsh and really improved their sound with a pirastro wondertone E instead of their original E string. I also tried Tziganes, which hace left me with mixed feelings: On one side, I like their G and D strings and they ring beautifully. But the violin has been loud with them (even louder than before) and the A and D strings broke. The A strong got unwinded and the D strong broke in a strange way.
So I need some suggestions on what strings could I try next to achieve a calmer sound. I’ve read Violinos can be a good option for cheap violins like mine and I’m inclined to try them. What can you recommend me?
Thank you very much.
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Replies (24)
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Christopher: I’m also intrigued by the Obligatos. But I can get the violinos for half the price of Obligatos, which are expensive, and I’m not completely sure if they’re worth on my violin.
Paul: I love the piano!! In fact, I play the piano way more than the violin (the comparison is not fair: I can play some serious Bach at the piano, while I’m still learning the basics of the violin). I use to play the violin with my left ear plugged, and I can stand it if I have no sign of incoming headache. But if I have a bare sign, the violin definitely makes it start or worsen. In such situations the piano is a better instrument to play.
Janice: I’ll have a look at it. Thank you.
Else you could try garden twine and cheese wire... oh, and unravel an old printer cable for the G string...
Also, which kind of tailpiece did your Yamaha come with? The wood tailpiece with the metal lever fine tuners, or the Wittner-style composite with built-in fine tuners?
Thierno Diallo: I use a musicians earplug when I play the unmuted violin. It helps a bit. Practicing with a mute is almost my only option. Under recommendation of my teacher I got a very nice practice mute called wmute that is expensive but produces a much more pleasant sound.
Gene Wie: I’ll have a look at these strings. I didn’t really know about them. My violin is a Yamaha v5 with gray metallic finetuners.
I agree with the others about the less expensive nylon or synthetic core strings. Pirastro Aricore or Violino, Warchal Karneol, also Corelli Crystal, D'Addario Pro-Arte. If you want steel strings (for amplified or folk fiddling) try the D'Addario Helicore or the more mellow, all-steel version; NS-Electric. Also buy all three gauges of the very cheap Goldbrokat E, and see which one your violin prefers. I also do most of my practicing with either a mute or an ear-plug.
At various times I tried my used but not dead obligatos and warchals (which did tone them down sounded dull and somewhat lifeless). I've come to the conclusion that cheap violins are not made to pick up the over tones of good strings.
If the violin came (new?) from a standard music shop, it absolutely needs settling up. Do you have a teacher? They should be able to check (and fix) things like whether the bridge and pegs fit and if the nut is too high. Fine tuning sound, though needs a luthier.
One other thing, is it the e-string mostly giving you headaches? Are you (pause for dramatic horrified face!) really a viola player?
I vote for Dominants and save for the next fiddle. The set-up and the strings go hand in hand and you shouldn't expect a great change with just one or the other.
But before investing in strings, I'd take the violin to a luthier to look at bridge and soundpost. A good luthier can often fine-tune a setup to take some of the edge off the high and and give you a stronger low end if that's what you desire.
Choose your strings in consultation with the luthier who is making the adjustment -- he/she will probably have some ideas. If you have the setup changed to favor a darker sound, maybe the right strings are brighter higher-projection strings -- like Vision Solos.
For a generally decent sound for a little less money you can't go wrong with Dominants or Pirastro Tonicas. The Fiddlershop in Florida sells a cheap private label string "Fiddlerman" strings -- for $25 a set that has been well reviewed -- maybe comparable to Dominants.
Also I agree with getting the setup looked at.
I think he has had the violin for 5 years but never played it. He is a pro musician - song writer, vocal, plucked instruments and keyboard. At least he spent 5 years between 2 stretches of college earning his living as a performing and recording musician. His acoustic guitars typically cost about 100 times what you would expect to pay for a Skylark violin. I suspect the violinist from his former band (violin-performance degree) helped him select this fiddle, because violins of this genre don't typically come with these qualities.
Perhaps its worth working out how much money youve spent
trying different (sets) of strings,and maybe consider upgrading to
a used older violin.There are thousands out there to try.I have found that even if a violin has not been played for many years,it will soon
start sounding better.It will take some time to get 'educated' about
buying second-hand violins,but there is plenty of expertise out there.
Cheers,
Malcolm
I’ve used during this last months a set of Tziganes. They sound good, especially in the low registers, but they are excessively loud for my violin. But what has made me angry is that the A string broke just after putting it on. My teacher just made a knot at it and I’ve been able to use it. But some time after that, when I opened my case on a random day, the D string had snapped and was completely broken. Maybe I got a bad batch, but I’ve been disappointed with these strings.
Malcolm... I have no idea of old (or new) violins. I think I know the kind of “sound signature” I like. But I can’t buy another violin until I get this one to sound good. That means, I’ll keep this one until I get an intermediate technical level. Plus, it holds sentimental value, since it was a gift. That’s another reason I want to prolong its life and make it sound as good as I can, although I know it’s just an €300 instrument.
