Strings – all you need to know about choosing strings

General information about gut strings, stell strings plastic strings and synthetic strings:

Gut strings: Gut strings are traditionally made from the intestines of ungulates. They have a distinctive sound that is very similar to the human voice. Plain gut strings are mostly used for baroque instruments. The covered violin string made of gut has a powerful and noble tone, combined with charm and richness. But the sensitivity to humidity and temperature changes must be also mentioned.

Steel strings: Steel strings are characterized by their robust insensitivity to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. They are usually wound. At the cello strings made of steelthere is a wide range of strings, from students to soloist play.

Plastic strings: For plastic strings materials such as nylon, nylon or polyester are used. For braiding usually wire made of stainless steel or aluminum but also of tungsten or gold is used. Tonally the viola strings made of plastics are very similar to the gut strings with their soft, harmonious sound. They are extremely resistant to negative climatic effects.

Synthetic strings: The tuning stable synthetic strings are made from modern plastics, which were originally developed for the extreme conditions in aviation. The gut-like sound is brilliant and powerful.

Today you have the opportunity to choose from a very sophisticated range of many companies:

Pirastro has a wide range of strings for bowed instruments:

Gut strings:

Pirastro Chorda: plain gut string for baroque instruments for violin, viola, cello

Pirastro Eudoxa: covered gut string for all ranges, for violin, viola, cello, double bass

Pirastro Gold: inexpensive gut strings for violin, viola

Pirastro Passione: modern, reliable gut strings, for violin, viola, cello

Pirastro Passione solo: gut strings for the soloistic play for violin

Steel strings:

Pirastro Chromchor: steel strings with bright sound, fpr violin, viola, cello

Pirastro Original-Flat-Chrome: steel strings with powerful, dark sound, for double bass

Pirastro Flexocor: steel strings with warm, round sound volume, for violin, cello, double bass

Pirastro Original Flexocor: steel strings for double bass

Plastic strings:

Pirastro Aricore: plastic strings with dark timbre and warm sound, for violin, viola, cello

Pirastro Synoxa: plastic strings with warm, bright sound, for violin, viola

Pirastro Tonica: plastic strings with brilliant sound, for violin, viola

Synthetic strings:

Pirastro Evah Pirazzi: power-strings with powerful, brilliant sound, for violin, viola, cello

Pirastro Obligato: synthetic strings with beautiful, warm sound, for violin, viola, cello, double bass

Pirastro Violino: very good student strings, for violin

Thomastik has a wide range of strings for bowed stringed instruments:

Steel strings:

Thomastik Spirocore: steel strings with homogenous, powerful sound, for violin, viola, cello, double bass

Thomastik Belcanto: high quality allround strings, for viola, cello, double bass

Plastic strings:

Thomastik Dominant: plastic strings with round, soft, bright sound, for violin, viola, cello

Thomastik Infeld red: plastic strings which reinforce the dark sound of the instrument, for violin

Thomastik Infeld blue: plastic strings which underline the brilliant sound of the instrument, for violin

Thomastik Peter Infeld: plastic strings with especially powerful sound, for violin

Synthetic strings:

Thomastik Vision: synthetic strings with powerful, brilliant sound, for violin, viola

Thomastik Vision Titanium: synthetic strings with powerful, soft sound, for violin

The brand Corelli is part of the French company Savarez:

Plastic strings:

Corelli Crystal: plastic strings, high quality student string, for violin, viola

Synthetic strings:

Corelli Alliance Vivace: synthetic strings with excellent sound volume, for violin, viola

The company D´Addario has its headquarters in New York and is one of the largest string producers:

Steel strings:

D´Addario Helicore : steel strings with a clear and warm sound, for violin, viola, cello, double bass

D´Addario Prelude: steel strings, warm sound, for violin, viola, cello, double bass

D´Addario NS Electric: steel strings for Electric Violin and Electric Cello

Synthetic strings:

D´Addario Zyex: synthetic strings with warm and soft sound, for violin, viola, double bass

The US company Damian Dlugolecki is in demand worldwide as a developer and manufacturer of gut strings. The plain gut strings are of the highest quality and are in high demand for instruments from the Renaissance, the Baroque and Classical periods.

Gut strings:

Damian Dlugolecki: gut strings with classical sound, for violin, viola, cello

The string manufacturer William E. Hill & Sons is based in London, England.

Steel strings:

Hill violin string E: steel string for violin

The Copenhagen-based family Jargar produces strings of world-class quality:

Steel strings:

Jargar strings: steel strings with soft sound, for violin, viola, cello and double bass

Since 1981 Kaplan belongs to the company D´Addario:

Gut strings:

Kaplan Golden Spiral Solo: gut strings for violin

Steel strings:

Kaplan Solutions: violin string E

Kaplan Gold: violin string E

Kaplan Golden Spiral Solo: steel string for violin

Kaplan Solutions: viola string A

Kaplan Viola A: viola string

Kaplan cello strings: steel strings with powerful sound

Larsen Strings A/S is a Danish company which specialized in the production of strings for bowed stringed instruments:

Steel strings:

Larsen violin string E: steel string

Larsen viola string A: steel string

Larsen cello sring: steel string with full sound

Synthetic strings:

Larsen violin strings: tonally get amazingly close to the gut strings, for violin and viola

Larsen Tsigane: synthetic strings, the sound carries far into the room, for violin

The company Lenzner Music Strings produces strings for bowed stringed instruments in Markneukirch:

Steel strings:

Lenzner Goldbrokat: steel strings for violin

The company Pyramid string and pitch pipes factory produces steel strings, nylon strings and gut strings:

Steel strings: Pyramid strings: steel strings with balanced sound, for violin and cello

Westminster:

Steel strings:

Westminster strings: steel string E with great sound volume, for violin

Paganino Special strings:

Steel strings:

Paganino Special: steel strings

mixed: Larsen A + D, Spirocore G + C, for Cello

The Swedish company Prim produces steel strings for bowed stringed instruments:

Steel strings:

Prim cello strings: steel strings, for cello