A Comparison of Thomastik Versum, Versum Solo, and Rondo cello strings

[@nicolasrahnama6333]

thank you for very informative videos .

[@cellodave]

Took my cello into Giancarlo Arcieri for an adjustment last month, didn't tell him I had put the new Rondos on, or that I had changed strings at all. Played it a bit for him and unprompted he said wow this cello sounds even better than I remember it, and he knows my cello well (had Versum Solos on before). This blind assessment iced it for me, as his talent for sound I believe surpasses even his legendary father.

[@enzocypriani5055]

Thanks so much!

[@marclanglet414]

Merci pour ce travail de comparaison !

[@titoaraujo8876]

Muito obrigado!

[@s.l5787]

The order is a bit messed up on the Rondos, like at 7:27 for example.

[@iadriani2105]

Somehow I like the Versum Solo A more than the Rondo A. I have the feeling that Versum Solo has a bit more brilliance that the Rondo. Rondo is more warm. Maybe it is just because it sounds a bit more similar to the Larsen Solo A, which I am more used to.

[@cellokoen]

Hi Clay, I’m cogitating over strings to try on my teacher’s (partial) Testore and considering Rondos, this video made it very clear to me. I’m going to compare with Magnacore Ariosos unless you have a video that convinces me not to 😆 Thanks!

[@APinchofCello]

I just changed to full set of rondo . I come from larsen spiracore then all magnacore but im really loving the rondo

[@taylorered6874]

I love rondo's in person

[@nicolasrahnama6333]

Hi Clay! what is your opinion on II cannone worm & broad over versum solo ? which one would you chuse choose.?or do u have any video on them.?

[@nycellist]

I’m sorry, I’ve never tried them, as I’m selling the cello on which i did these demos, I won’t be making any more comparisons.

[@jondesouza1296]

I think I like Rondo more than Versum Also, regular Versum more than Sol Though it’s hard to really know the sound listening from iPhone

[@ErikDansen]

Thanks for the extensive comparison! Great to be able to judge for yourself. I think I'll get the rondo's or the perpetuals. Now I have magna core arioso c,g I also noticed a lower tension Rondo A will be released. The marketing is confusing though, they call it 'experience'

[@nycellist]

Thank, Erik! I think that the marketing terms used for this stuff is so much BS, that’s why I started doing these demos, no opinion from me, just the closest possible audio comparison I could make. I had not heard of a lower tension version. BTW, the Rondo A is exactly the same tension as the Arioso A. I think tension is not a really good indicator of a strings quality or character. For me, a “high tension” string’s flexibility is a better guide to playability. In that measure the Rondo is superb, the response is super fast, and it feels incredibly smooth under the finger pads, and it’s flexibility makes it feel less hard than a pure gut A. I put together an article on strings a couple of years ago (so it’s not “up to the minute,” but you might find it useful nycellist.com/archives/217

[@ESKARGAMES]

So Clay, having also played both the Rondos and the Versum Solo now, I was wondering if after all this time you went back to Versum Solo or have stuck with Rondo? I’ve been after a particular sound for a long time and Versum Solo was the closest I got so far. I loved the Rondo A and G, by far my favorites of those strings, but I hated the C and D. The D had a really weak fourth position for me and was too mellow compared to the brilliant A, but was also too weak to match the powerful and noble G. it was like it was mismatched to both the A and G and drove me nuts. The C was difficult as well, and even after taming the carelessness aspect, I found it too airy for my liking. I wish I could try a pairing that had a better complement to the Rondo A and G. I’ve thought I substituting both with Versum Solo D and C and was wondering what you thought that might be like. I don’t want to substitute the Rondo C for a Spirrocore C because I don’t like the gravelly tone, I love the clarity though. I just want a C with an non-gravelly edge. I am curious if a Versum Solo C will fit that bill for me. I am more worried about trying to park the Versum Solo D with the Rondo A. I guess I’m just a picky customer.

[@LuisRamirez-es7zu]

I love how lower Versum Solo and Rondo sound. I can't decide which strings I would buy for my lowers, so I though about mixing them (Rondo G and Versum Solo C) Do you think is this a good idea? I did that with a Larsen Soloist A and a Magnacore D, and they did work for me

[@tigereyes5652]

What I've heard is the rondos are a bit higher tension than the versum, and the solo c is a thicker string if that makes any difference to you

[@canalparfum7840]

Rondo getting your cello to two level up. Amazing. How you feel with Rondo have better projection then Versus and V solo?

[@nycellist]

I really like all of them, but I have stayed with the Rondo for now. The Rondo may have a slight edge in projection, but that might be due to the fact that you can push them pretty hard

[@constantinotechno3449]

You newer mentioned Eva Pirazzi Gold. You think those are any good?

[@nycellist]

@@constantinotechno3449 Hi, Constantinople, I have demoed all of the Pirastro Perpetual strings, and I played the Regular Evahs for a couple of years and really liked them. I have never tried the golds, and the focus of this demo project was to let people have a chance to hear new strings on the market and decide for themselves if they want to try them. As this is a very expensive thing to do, which produces no income, there are limits, so my limit is new products.

[@canalparfum7840]

Clay Ruede yes. I understand its very expensive thing to do. By the way my professor told me Gold one its better the Evah original. But thanks for all video what you’ve made. I watched them all. Including enjoyed a lot with tailpieces

[@Kwert]

@@canalparfum7840 I don't know if "better" is correct, but they're certainly quite different from regular Evahs or Evah Soloist

[@titoaraujo8876]

Isso foi com o mesmo instrumento?

[@SevenAllTheMarbles]

That Rondo D is substantially brighter than even the Versum Solo, and I heard they fixed the "hollowness" issue. It's probably impossible for two string brands to have the same intonation... right? I will probably pay to find out.

[@davidp.4177]

Searched for a suitable D string to match the excellent A Larsen Soloist. D Soloist is not so radiant as the A on my cello, tried Magnacore which worked somewhat in the 1st position but was overall a bit hollow and edgy and took very long to break to sound decent, Spirocore seemed too narrow, buzzing although the volume improved. Rondo right from the start seems to beat them all, the projection is superb and it matches well the A Soloist. Haven't tried any of the Versum though yet.

[@teom3711]

Hello Maestro Reude and thanks for your interesting and very well played review about some strings!! Can I ask you please if you know ''Passione'' strings (for cello obviously)? I need a very dull or matt A string and someone tell me that the Passione is good for this, do you know one other with this mood? thank you

[@nycellist]

Hello, Teo Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate that!I have never tried Passione, unfortunately, so I really can’t offer an opinion. I know there are people who really love them, so it seems very much worth a try. Good luck!

[@teom3711]

@@nycellist thanks anyway, very kind of you!!

[@JakeTheCellist]

What was your experience in terms of the flexibility/pliability of the rondos? Were they stiffer/harder to depress than the Versum solos? Also, how would you characterize the responsiveness of the strings?

[@nycellist]

I don’t think they were really harder to depress, as there is little difference in the gauge of the strings or in the tension. The C string in particular is a bit less forgiving of any carelessness with the bow than the Versums, so playing it requires a bit more vigilance. Hope that helps, Jake!

[@stevenj9970]

Are Rondos available in the USA?

[@nycellist]

Yes, you can get them from Connolly Music, and celos2go. Some people have got them in Europe for less and had them shipped. There was recent discussion on the Internet Cello Society boards at Tapatalk.

[@canalparfum7840]

And Pizz sounds round with Rondo