Strings
So, my first of two chamber music concerts is coming up this Saturday. I haven’t been satisfied with the sound of my viola lately, so I’ve decided at the very least I should try a new set of strings. There are other things I really need to get done too, like rehairing my bow (it’s been a year and a half since its last rehair), but I don’t have time to get that done before the concert.
The strings I’ve used most often since I began playing the viola at the age of nine are Thomastik Dominants. They sound pretty good on my viola, but you never know if there might be another kind that sounds better, so it’s good to experiment. I think the last set I had on were Pirastro Obligatos, which seem ok, but I think I have a slight preference for the Dominants. I’ve also tried D’Addario Zyex strings, but I don’t think those worked that well on my viola.
Of course, when I speak here of the sets, I’m not including the A string. The A string is a special thing on a viola, and often requires special treatment. Previously, I had been using Jargar A strings with Dominants on the other strings, but recently when I’ve tried to order Jargar strings from Shar, they’ve always been backordered and they end up cancelling that part of my order. So now I’m on a quest to find a new A string.
I tried the Larsen A, recommended by some violists, but didn’t really like it as much as the Jargar. Yesterday I restrung my viola with Dominants and a Corelli Alliance A string (which I also heard recommended by some violists). I think I like this even less. It seems like the tension is extremely high, even though I got the medium tension version. It’s ok in first position, but around fifth position the sound gets really bad, and the bow seems to want to slide around on the string without producing much sound. Hopefully breaking in the string over the next couple of days will help, but at this point, I don’t think I’ll buy any more Corelli Alliance A strings again. Luckily the Mendelssohn Octet has hardly any high notes in the viola parts.
I also had the choice of restringing with a set of D’Addario Helicores (including the A), since I had also heard these recommended and had therefore ordered from Shar at the same time as the Dominants and Corelli Alliance. But given the short amount of time until the concert, I figured it was better to go with the tried-and-true Dominants, since I know how these sound on my viola. You see, Helicores, unlike the other non-A strings mentioned above, are all steel core. I am only used to synthetic core strings, so I’m afraid steel core ones might sound too bright or metallic. Though I know some violists swear by them. Perhaps they balance nicely with the naturally dark and warm sound of the viola. Either way, I will save trying those until next time.
My teacher recently has been trying a gut A string with his normal synthetic-core D, G, and C. He likes the evenness of tone color across all strings, and says it really makes the whole instrument sing. Of course, the downsides to gut strings are that they go out of tune much more easily, and the A string tends to squeak occasionally. I’m not sure if I’m ready to try gut anyway–somehow it seems like such a drastic change!
Anyway, probably nobody has read this far. Those that have are probably either string players or my parents. If you are one of the former, do you have any string suggestions? What are your favorite strings?
April 22nd, 2004 at 5:08 pm
I think that string choices sound much more drastic under your ear than they do to the listener. Nevertheless (funny word, that), you have to listen to it more than anyone else! The problem with experimenting is they’ve gotten so damn expensive, it’s why I gave up using the Pirastro Eudoxa gut strings (they use sheep gut, not cat, Yoyo will approve), the Dominants last way longer, though they take a week to break in right.
I rarely mixed different brand A’s, I think that’s how you get the most uneven sound of all!
You didn’t mention different gauge strings, don’t the Doms come in medium, heavy, light? I’d mess with that for the A string first…my 2 cents.
April 22nd, 2004 at 5:25 pm
Well, I used Dominant A’s when I was younger, but they sounded too weak or flabby on my viola, I think. I was using a Jargar D in addition to a Jargar A for a while.
What I really need is a new viola! And a new bow! Those would make the biggest difference. Though that’s even more expensive than experimenting with strings.
I haven’t really experimented with different gauges before - I’ve just sort of stuck to medium. Though actually now that I think of it, I did try a lighter/softer gauge of Jargar D and A at one point. I don’t remember if it made much difference.
I think probably medium for Dominants is best anyway. I imagine I’d overpower the light strings trying to get enough power out of them (ending up with crunching and growling noises), and that it would take way to much effort to get a good response from the heavy gauge (my viola isn’t that responsive to begin with).
Oh wait, now I also remember trying a heavier gauge for Dominant G and C, too. It just ended up sounding very fuzzy.
April 23rd, 2004 at 10:47 am
Good luck with the Mendelssohn! My wife just played that with other members of the Western New York Chamber Orchestra a month ago…it’s a tough piece! It didn’t help that they brought in another concertmaster because the regular guy couldn’t do the concert. The new guy was from Juilliard, but he had serious timing problems and really wasn’t that great, in my opinion. He had never played the piece before, and it was sort of on the edge of falling apart the entire concert.
My wife loves Obligato’s for the violin… interesting that you find Dominants to be better for viola.
Have fun with the concert - it looks like a good program.
April 23rd, 2004 at 2:09 pm
Thanks Eric! It is a really hard piece–there are so many people it makes it harder to hear and see everyone. And that third movement has to be so light and precise! I think it’s inevitable that it’s going to sound messy (we are, after all, just amateurs–with the exception of Marcus).
Too bad your wife’s group got stuck with a less-than-stellar first violinist. It’s kind of surprising he had never played the Mendelssohn before–it’s such a popular piece. It seems like I sightread it for fun at least once every two or three years. But I guess conservatories aren’t really known for concentrating on chamber music, which is quite a shame.
I found the Obligatos to be relatively similar to the Dominants and my preference for the latter is not huge. But Dominants are cheaper, which makes me prefer them even more.
April 23rd, 2004 at 8:30 pm
You don’t want suggestions from parents?!?! Being the person who found your viola for you in the first place, I should think my opinion would count! (My opinion is that you have always questioned your strings too closely to concerts and ended up not having enough time to get the new ones played-in before the concert and then complained about them going out of tune.} I am sorry that we couldn’t afford the better viola that the dealer had way back then–who know what might have happened? . . . . Hass, Meghan’s (Jennifer’s younger sister and roommate} violin has always REQUIRED a different e string for an even sound. And we have always used mixed strings on Jordan’s {little brother} cello. Of course, neither vioin nor cello produce sound in their cases. (Hint, hint, to Meghan and Jordan.}
April 24th, 2004 at 10:31 am
Ouch, Mom get’s snubbed! Kids today have no gratitude!
Break a leg tonight Jennifer.
April 26th, 2004 at 10:58 am
Hey, how did it go? Smooth sailing? Crash and burn? You don’t remember ‘cause the after-party was so crazy?
April 27th, 2004 at 12:57 am
Well, Mom, I didn’t think you could really come up with any new brands of strings I hadn’t tried before or anything, which is why I didn’t include you - sorry! (Sheesh silly Mom.) Anyway, I got the strings plenty broken in for the concert. They did not go out of tune.
And I’m not complaining about you buying my viola then–it’s just about time I got a new one for myself! After all, the viola was better than I was when we got it.
And I don’t think Meghan ever reads this anyway, but she has played once or twice recently. Too bad she won’t let me play with it–violins are fun, like little toy violas.
April 27th, 2004 at 12:59 am
Hmm, not a terribly crazy after-party, I’m afraid. Just a little reception on the stage, of all places. Cheese, veggies, fruit, the usual catered stuff. I just posted about the concert itself. Didn’t go too badly.