E strings

May 9, 2023, 7:47 AM · I usually use Goldbrokat. They are good and cheap!

Edited: May 9, 2023, 5:38 PM · A vote for Pirastro's "No.1": wound and warm.
(But then I am a violist..)

May 9, 2023, 4:43 PM · Pirastro Gold E.

May 9, 2023, 5:18 PM · The high tension may be a clue. Some like that because it forces the bridge to stop flexing around so much when you play on the G.

Many brands have different gauges-- Goldbrokat has 27 and even 28 if you look around.

May 24, 2023, 11:00 AM · Can anyone beat a Warchal Amber E string?

May 24, 2023, 1:52 PM · Another happy Goldbrokat user here.

May 24, 2023, 2:01 PM · Goldbrokats are great in my opinion. Make sure to experiment with different gauges to see what your instrument favors.

May 24, 2023, 3:40 PM · After trying a bunch of E-strings including the Goldbrokat, Warchal Amber, Evah gold, etc. I ended up back with the good ol' Westminster 27. It has just a bit of "hair" on the sound, not too clean, and not too thin under the fingers. For whatever reason, works well on my violin.

May 25, 2023, 10:32 AM · Warchal Amber E works well on my violins.

May 25, 2023, 3:34 PM · Same here: Warchal Amber E. I love the sound and it seems to blend well with the section, though at least four others are using Warchal Es. Maybe that's why.

May 25, 2023, 4:14 PM · Pirastro's gold label E works great for me! Make sure that you get the right end. (Ball-end vs. removable ball-end).

May 26, 2023, 1:24 PM · Pirastro Gold on most violins I played,and Peter Infeld platin on my favorite, which is a little weak on the E string (but great in the lower register).

May 26, 2023, 4:22 PM · i was told by Metzler Violin shop that Warchal amber e might not whistle but it doesn't sound as good as Goldbrokat

May 26, 2023, 4:25 PM · I haven’t tried Goldbrokat. Maybe next time I need to change an E.

May 26, 2023, 4:46 PM · I installed an Amber medium tension E string in a friend's violin.
I'm not impressed at all, and himself (after 2-3 weeks) does not like it.

We'll try a Goldbrokat.

May 26, 2023, 5:22 PM · The Amber E is great on bright and/or brittle sounding violins. A number of my orchestra students with sub-2k violins have found them really nice.

Personally, I love the basic Goldbrokat steel E. It's consistent, reliable, sounds great, and is under $2 each. Can't really go wrong with it.

May 26, 2023, 5:24 PM · My experience is that the only reasonable advice is from an experienced person ("expert"?) who has also had a chance to put your instrument through its paces using strings with which they are familiar.

I have learned to not trust even my own advice to myself when transferring string advice from one of my instruments to another.

May 26, 2023, 8:03 PM · I tied both medium and heavy ambers and
disliked both. Weak as water.

May 27, 2023, 10:32 AM · And now for something completely different: pure gut. Or wrapped Eudoxa. You never know until you try.

May 27, 2023, 10:36 AM · I was unimpressed with the Amber E string on my violin. Did not whistle but felt funny. Hard to describe but kinda fuzzy. Took some advice from this thread and got the Goldbrokat E medium gauge. Sounds better

Edited: May 27, 2023, 6:16 PM · @Andrew - Amen. Different strings sound different on different violins. For me, the primary criterion is whether an E whistles. After that, you just have to see what works on your instrument.

May 28, 2023, 8:44 AM · I did not hate the Warchal Amber E that I tried, but quickly figured out it wasn't meant for me. Switched it out almost right away, noticing a big difference (not an attack on the Warchal brand!) Definitely better than some other "whistle free" strings, not bad, but once you are used to certain brilliance and high frequencies, it's harder to get accustomed to it.

(Not too dark, but leaning warm. A bit too gentle for *me*.)

Can happily use Goldbrokat, Hill, Oliv, Westminster E, Perpetual Platinum-plated E, Perpetual Cadenza, though all at 8kp or less (mittel or less) as I no longer favor thick Es-though it may work in reverse for many of you or your violins.

May 28, 2023, 9:45 AM · As I posted several times previously, I have not had an E string whistle since I started to twist them as a semi-final step of installation. I twist them 360 or 720 degrees (one or two turns counterclockwise) as seen from the tailpiece) - hasn't failed yet.

I do not do this with the Warchal strings that I consider to be pre-twisted.

Edited: May 28, 2023, 4:31 PM · The tension of the E string affects the sound of the whole violin and he playability of the G string in high positions a lot.