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mikeyb2 - Posted - 02/25/2018: 12:51:49
Hi everyone, I've just joined the forum after buying my first violin a week ago. I live in the UK and started playing clawhammer banjo old time music about 3 or 4 years ago. I must add that I'm 68 years old, so learning won't be easy, but I'm now familiar with some old time fiddle tunes at least.
This has led to an interest in fiddle, and from what I've read this is not uncommon.
So I'm a complete beginner to the fiddle, and my first question is above. I've read that fiddlers generally prefer steel core strings such as Prim or Supersensitive red label, but others also use synthetic core strings such as Pirastro Tonica. It is also recommended that beginners may find synthetic strings more playable and forgiving.
Of course there may be nothing wrong with the strings that came on the violin, but most seem to agree that factory strings are terrible and should be replaced with decent ones. So to give myself the best possible start, should I change the strings and if so, which ones do you recommend?
The violin I bought is the Stentor Student 2, which is recommended over here in the UK, and many of you might not be familiar with it, but if you are, please chip in.
Thanks in advance. Mike
Lonesome Fiddler - Posted - 02/25/2018: 13:06:04
Try d'Addario Preludes. Cheap as heck. The best thing about them, though, is the ease with which they generate decent, listenable tone. It won't take long at all before you're enjoying your fiddling, not grimacing.
UsuallyPickin - Posted - 02/25/2018: 15:10:19
Try out different types and gauges of strings over the next few playing years. I will say that if you are going to be playing in cross tunings, which is common for OT players, you will want a metal core string. The set Lonesome Fiddler recommended is a metal core string. I prefer Prims myself , another metal core string. But the cost is about twice as much as Preludes. Enjoy the process .... buy a mute. Your house mates will thank you. R/
boxbow - Posted - 02/25/2018: 15:36:45
The Super Sensitive products got me through a period short on rations and long on time; time I applied to learning the fiddle. They took more effort to get good sound but they were cheap and available. I shrugged it off as good training. The d'Addario Preludes made me very happy in later, less impecunious times. I got better sound and it took less effort. I'm presently playing on Prims. They're easier still. My fiddles are unremarkable student fiddles. It's hard to judge your own results early on, but either Preludes or Prims would be excellent choices for a beginner so long as the budget allows. Other things to look at include a better bow (never stop shopping for a better bow!) and a good set-up on your instrument. After that, it's purely in the hands of the designated fiddler.
mikeyb2 - Posted - 02/26/2018: 08:12:19
Thanks for the replies. So far, it looks like we've settled on steel core strings, maybe Preludes of Prims, I like the idea also of them lasting longer than synthetics. Another question is what gauge, medium or light? At this stage I don't want volume and neither does my neighbour, and even with an Ultra mute it's still loud, so I'm thinking light strings will reduce volume slightly which might help, or would this compromise tone?
jasonwood - Posted - 02/26/2018: 08:39:43
In the US at least, the Stentor II model comes with Super Sensitive Red Label strings. That's what was on mine when I bought it a few years ago.
mikeyb2 - Posted - 02/26/2018: 09:41:26
quote:and were you happy with them or have you found better suited strings? The ones on mine appear to be synthetic core, and I don't know what they are. Thanks
Originally posted by jasonwood
In the US at least, the Stentor II model comes with Super Sensitive Red Label strings. That's what was on mine when I bought it a few years ago.
jasonwood - Posted - 02/26/2018: 09:59:12
They seemed decent enough that I just left them on there. I recently got a nicer instrument, but it's strung with synthetics. I'll probably trade those out for helicores soon. Incidentally, I thought the Stentor model was great for a student instrument, especially for what I paid for it. The tone difference between it and my new fiddle is quite noticeable, but the Stentor seemed well constructed and always stayed in tune really well.
mikeyb2 - Posted - 02/27/2018: 01:03:48
Thanks Jason, much appreciated.
illinoisfiddler - Posted - 02/27/2018: 02:03:12
Might want to look at Jargar blue and Helicore mediums. Not very expensive and work on my student instruments. Me, I'd take Pirastro Tonicas as an inexpensive string but I am partial to synthetic strings, going against the norm for many fiddlers.
mikeyb2 - Posted - 03/04/2018: 01:05:07
Thanks everyone, just ordered a set of Preludes.( they're almost half the price of Prims here in the UK). Fingers crossed.
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