I'm a novice coming along getting 0.01% better each day. I've noticed my bow slips more on my E string, up and down the string. I don't want to prescribe to using equipment to fix technique. But I'm wondering if I just make like the feel of a wound E-String. I currently have Prim metal core strings on my fiddle. I though it might be worth $11 to try a wound E just to see how I liked it.
-Ken
Wound E strings are thicker and they lack the tonal complexity of a plain steel E. They’re often used as a bandaid fix for a whistling E.
If the bow is slipping, check technique first by having someone knowledgeable watch you play. If technique isn’t the issue, check the setup. Your problem can easily be caused by a poorly curved bridge, by strings that have worn into the grooves too deeply or unevenly, or by strings that are poorly spaced.
Edited by - The Violin Beautiful on 11/03/2026 18:06:46
Something else is that rosin maybe building up on that E string. Clean it with an alcohol wile.
Ken - Many players don't care for the Prim E string that comes with the set. You could try a different plain string like the Prim Lisa or Goldbrokat (my choice). Cleaning the string is a good suggestion - be careful of the finish.
I find when my E is squeaky, it's based on my technique. And the rosin build up. It's only a couple tunes I get that annoying sound. Then if I slow it down and concentrate, I can fix it!
I like the Helicore wound E. A nearby fiddle guru who fixes up old factory violins uses the Helicore medium set with wound E on about everything.
Cleaning strings with alcohol is not good for them. It dilutes the rosin and soaks it into the core, contaminating it. Alcohol is a desiccant, so it makes the core more brittle. It can also speed up tarnish on the metal winding.
A dry cloth is best. If there is buildup, it can be scraped off with a credit card.
Rich - There is no core in a plain steel E string, which is what Ken is complaining about.
quote:
Originally posted by DougDRich - There is no core in a plain steel E string, which is what Ken is complaining about.
Yes, I'm aware. My point was that cleaning strings with alcohol is not a good idea. That applies to single strand steel just as much.
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