wrench13 - Posted - 03/25/2024:  05:56:47

I needed new strings for my main fiddle, a Scott Cao Signature copy of the Hellier Strad. It came with Dominants, which sounded very good, but not as responsive as I like. So for the last 2+ years, i had been using my usual strings, Supersensitive Red Label mediums. Yes, THOSE strings. Cheap, steel core and widely available. But loud, and very responsive. Reading about these new Dynamo strings from Thomastic, i decided I would give them a try, after all, I knew synthetic core strings would not give me the response I was used to but all the claims say these are very responsive, due to some new technology (?).

What they right out of the box, is expensive! At $135 or so, they are the most money I've ever spent on fiddle strings! Put them on last night. I noticed how much thicker the lower 3 are from the steel cores I took off. Almost like I put on a G string instead of the D (but I did put them on right). Put in 3 hours playing on them. At first it was hard to get them to play fast passages, to voice each note cleanly, which improved the more I played. Once they did voice however, the tone was richer and fuller then the steel cores. I also noticed that they had different voicings depending on distance from the bridge. The steel cores pretty much have the same voice no matter when they were bowed; these got louder and more sonorous the closer to the bridge I played. The Dynamo's are also stretchy compared to the steel cores, SO i have to watch for the 'death grip' on the lower strings' the extra stretchy feel makes me want to use too much finger strength in the left hand.

I'll have a better feel for these after tomorrow night's 5 hour jam session. See if they cut through the din of 10+ instruments.

DougD - Posted - 03/25/2024:  09:00:43

Well, good luck with your new strings. I might add that if you like the direct sound, response and feel of steel strings, there are probably better options than Red Label. Solid core, a variety of stranded core ideas, winding materials, and priced from about $35 to close to the cost of the Dynamos. You jumped from one of the cheapest sets in one style to one of the most expensive in another - there are lots of other choices out there!

Edited by - DougD on 03/25/2024 09:05:16

RobBob - Posted - 03/26/2024:  07:35:40

I am back to using Jargar strings, the steel core ones not the fancy synthetic ones. I never cared for any synthetic string not matter how much I wanted to. Jargars at $50 are a major improvement over Red Labels, made now by D'Addario to sound like they did when made by Supersensitive.  Even Preludes are better strings IMHO at less than $20.

DougBrock - Posted - 03/26/2024:  15:13:40

I’ve been using a set of Dynamos for a few months and they are the best strings I’ve ever used. However, I’ve about decided to standardize on Helicore. Good enough tone, long life, quick to settle for alternate tunings, and a lot cheaper. And I have six violins to string, lol. I might end up with Dynamo on ONE fiddle but am going to try to use only Helicore. (By the way, I currently have six different kinds of strings on the six fiddles- all are more expensive than Helicore, except for the Helicores of course. Yes, I’ve been exploring.)

boxbow - Posted - 03/26/2024:  16:24:17

Thomastik Visions with a Pirastro Gold E. It's difficult to describe them and maintain a PG rating. I really like them. However, they are on a recent acquisition that sounded great and sounded better freshly back from the luthier who, among other things, mounted those strings. I'm at the point now where so much of the settling in period is just me the operator trying to get the hang of it. Too many variables to separate for cause and effect. I think possibly my intonation issues have to do with the stretchiness of the strings. It's good to finally have something to blame that on.

pete_fiddle - Posted - 03/26/2024:  16:43:39

I'm at the stage now where i just try to get the best sound i can from the cheapest strings possible (within reason). i know it is probably a c*ap

sound, but i also know that if i spend about 20 times as much money on some strings i might (maybe not), sound twice as good (tone wise) ...And they will not not last as long as the cheapo's...So it's a no brainer ..I carry on with cheapest strings....Been there done it, with the string thing. They are great, but do i need em?...Can i justify em?...Mnahh...

wilford - Posted - 03/26/2024:  17:59:19

I'm a Helicore medium user. Have been for probably around ten years now. I slipped a couple of sets of Zyex in there but too long a break in.