Michael Explains it All - Larsen Il Cannone

Larsen Il Cannone Soloist violin strings pack a serious punch!
They're brilliant, focused and powerful.
Pickup a set for yourself here:
fiddlershop.com/products/il-c...
The Fiddlerman Artist Violin:
fiddlershop.com/products/fidd...
Table of Contents:
Demonstration: 7:15
Thoughts: 8:45
Comparison to Evah Pirazzi and Warchal Amber: 12:57
Holstein 2-star bow:
fiddlershop.com/products/hols...
#MichaelExplainsitAll #LarsenIlCannone, #Fiddlershop,

[@gabetafoya3936]

These are my absolute favorite violin strings ever! I’ve tried so many different kinds: dominants, infeld red and blue, obligatos, evah pirazzis, other Larsen strings, olivs, etc. The only strings that I like more than these are the passione solo strings, but I gig outdoors a lot and the tuning instability is a major issue. These are hands down my favorite violin strings! Amazing sound and tuning stability. I’ve played mariachi professionally for 10 years and I’m currently pursuing my master’s degree in string pedagogy, so I’m playing lots of difficult solo repertoire. These meet all of those demands and then some! Very powerful though, so not good for orchestral playing as much as solo work.

[@joset.8847]

I play mariachi as well for over 8 years now and I'm needing new strings...I think your feedback helped me make my finally decision on this soloist set!

[@sofiasanchez8375]

How long did your strings take to be broken into their true sound?

[@gabetafoya3936]

@@sofiasanchez8375 not long. About a week or so.

[@sofiasanchez8375]

@@gabetafoya3936 Ah ok, because I installed mine on Monday. They sound hollow under my ear.

[@rolingstongomes3914]

Hi Michael, thank you so much for your time and Investment in making these helpful videos.. We really appreciate them from the bottom of our hearts! hope you will continue doing the good job.. God bless you... I really like the jokes you make during your video it makes more fun to watch... If you can please try to make some videos on warm violin strings once again thank you so much thanks a lot!!! Don't worry we are always here to support you and fiddlerman..

[@joshgibson3618]

Thank you for comparing the different violin strings, it's really helpful!! I hope to see more of this.

[@Fiddlershop]

Thanks for watching, Josh!

[@janmiranda01]

I love Michael. Even if you don't understand the science of the beast. He is a happy entertaining guy, very approachable and a pretty darn good violinist to boot. Great job Michael.

[@Fiddlershop]

Thanks so much! That warms my heart 😍

[@tevvvy687]

Good you described so much yet fun to hear what you have said....your talkings....😊😉👍

[@Fiddlershop]

Thanks so much!

[@chips6448]

Thank you ! This is very helpful !

[@Fiddlershop]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching :)

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

Im a believer in your channel; only my 2nd viewing & my impressions have totally been changed to 100% positive! Rare. Very valuable details and not lacking anywhere. Only a handful get my full recommendation.

[@Fiddlershop]

Awww, thanks Steve! This means a lot! Thanks for watching and take care 🤗

[@doodlefondue]

Please do this kind of explanation for other strings of Larsen and other brands.

[@Brandon_501]

Hmm listening back to back, i really like the Warchal Ambers. Super warm and luscious. But i can see other people liking the more direct and straightforward sound that the evah pirazzis offer.

[@austinjohnson3686]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THEM!! Thank you!

[@Fiddlershop]

You are so welcome! Happy you love them!! ❤️

[@laralovesviolins6510]

These are the strings that I finally tried on my darker, warmer Guarneri model. I think they are perfect for it. I had the Pirastro Evah Perazzi Green on it before, and I thought they were a little too muddy for it. I think next time I may try the PI strings, but these are sounding very nice to my ear.

[@EudoraPrice]

Great Combination Artist Violin with these Strings 💖👍

[@EudoraPrice]

Love the G string! And E !

[@Fiddlershop]

Happy to hear! Thanks for watching, Eudora 😍

[@b03tz]

Goes to play some casual Tchaikovsky! I'm impressed, well done. Just bought these strings and found a good violinist as well! Thanks for the review.

[@Fiddlershop]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@shkedov.b]

I think I liked these the most soundwise, need to try them for myself

[@Fiddlershop]

Go for it!

[@Wilantonjakov]

My favourite strings

[@Fiddlershop]

Thanks for watching 🤩

[@chahboune100]

It sounds very good. What brand is it?

[@mitka_akkoyun]

Il cannone, tzigane or evah pirazzi? Which string should i buy? I want loud bright sound but not so harsh

[@vanessaebony529]

Thank you Michael for these reviews! I'm a violinist and a music teacher, I am one of those who hate EvahPirazzi because if you practice for 4-6 hours a day after a month they loose their fizz then at 2.5 months start unraveling. EP are $90. The Larsen Soloist and Virtuoso are great alternatives. The soloist are just a touch like barely lower than EP while the Virtuoso are louder with more projection than EP. I hope one day you do a comparison video on Cannone and Evah Pirazzi

[@Fiddlershop]

Thanks Vanessa! Yes, that was my experience as well. I hope to keep making these comparisons and have a super collection of sound comparisons on every string set.

[@vanessaebony529]

@@Fiddlershop Also the D'Addario Vivo they are MUCH LOUDER than Evah's so if you need something loud for those concert halls they will be ringing the whole room!

[@TheChickwithguns]

I concur. My Evahs are shot, and I’ve only had them for a few months…no four hour practice here, but still…three months? I paid 140 dollars for strings that sound like moose farts in different octaves after a few months. Not fun.

[@fredericgrolleauditkendall9719]

Hi Michael, could you do, either in a small addition to this video or in a small independent video, a comparison between the original "Direct & Focused" A string and the other "Warm & Broad" A string? To hear the differences between the two versions of this A string, alone first then also how each fits and sounds in the complete set with the other strings. I think that would be very interesting, at least for people to make a more informed choice. Personally, I haven't tried the A "Warm & Broad", although I should, but I have an intuition that it should fit in better with the other strings, that it should give a better homogeneity to the set. Nevertheless, I could be wrong.

[@tanoshi9969]

Hi Michael I love the Larsen Tzigane G, D, and maybe A strings. But, I don't like the sound of the E. Do you have any combination suggestions?

[@ivaj4281]

How does the string feel under the fingers? Is a E soloist a higher tension string ?

[@catherineclarke8706]

Thank you, some good info there. , I’m trying the A at the moment, it is louder and a clear sound. But as I go higher in positions it saturates, compared to other strings. It might just need a few days to settle, or it’s just too much for my violin which is very ancient.

[@WarlockUberElite]

You should try the medium version, in a video I saw suits better for ancient violins (Like yours) Hope this helps. I leave the link to the mentioned video.kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooiwdJ-PYrKAarc

[@marcio7686]

Ótima corda

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

They have 2 types of A Strings Direct & Focused, as well as Warm & Broad

[@danielcabreraloa5191]

Please do the pi thomastik-infeld review Oh please!!!

[@gerrit555]

I like Larsen Strings a lot. Would be nice to hear the difference between the Soloist and the Medium. For the Cello I always prefered the higher strings in normal Larsen, not the Soloist. Would like to know if its same here.

[@Fiddlershop]

Yes, I wish I had made a comparison of regular to soloists. When I get to the regular's I'll edit in the soloists to compare. Thanks for watching also!

[@lechenfeng8993]

hi Michael ,thanks for this super good Video! I use Peter Infeld right now, and want to try new strings. I would like to ask which Cannone Soloist habe you played ? thanks. From website there are two Different cannone Soloist, warm and Broad,direct and Focussed .From your Videos, different from Peter Infeld and cannone sounds about Volume and Warm. that sounds cannone hat more colour than Peter Infeld.

[@Fiddlershop]

My pleasure, Lechen! Yeah, so I have really only played the "Il Cannone-Soloist" tension. I believe there are two versions of Larsen's "Il Cannone" strings: Regular or Soloist. And the Soloists are just a heavier tension version (like what Thomastik calls "Stark")

[@lechenfeng8993]

@@Fiddlershop Thanks for your writing ,from your other comment i have knew Cannone Soloist is warmer than Peter Infeld ,that is what i need . Today is first day used Cannone Soloist , warmer brighter and more power , i liked Peter Infeld, more gentle and more Volume, but i play brahms right now, maybe Cannone is a better Choice, i am looking forward the good change from Cannone. Have a nice day :)

[@davidezanattathanhha]

What is the different between the Capriccio Solist and this chord?

[@Fiddlershop]

That's also a good question. I'll put the capriccio soloist in the queue, but I haven't had any exposure with these strings yet.

[@andruska4]

Sounds Cool to try...Tzigane What do you think of these strings...? I tried a set a while back...A bit warmer and darker tones...We should do a violin string trading club somehow...

[@Fiddlershop]

I like Tzigane a lot. I've thought about a way to try strings out, but it's very challenging, it'd have to be "in-store" only, and you'd have to switch them all yourself, and only have like a 15min time limit or something like that so that the strings don't get worn out. Tricky.

[@wailengcheang9404]

@@Fiddlershop ,

[@rafaelmarzagao3813]

What is this string compared to Peter Infeld and Evah Pirazzi Gold?

[@Fiddlershop]

Oooh. Good questions-these are all three fabulous strings-I don't think you'd be upset with any. But, from my experience, in order from bright to warm, I think it's: PI, Il Cannone Soloist, Evah Gold. They're all pretty similar in response and longevity, but PI's might just seem more powerful because they're brighter than the Larsen or Pirastro's. But I'm curious if anyone else would agree or disagree.

[@colinwrubleski7627]

This has happened on other websites---> the photo of the composer shown does NOT portray Johann Pachelbel, but rather violinist-conposer Arcangelo Corelli. Weird how that mixup is being widely circulated...

[@Fiddlershop]

True, there are not actually any pictures of Paganini. So for the sake of my lame Dad-joke, I decided to use this one even though it's sort a Loch-Ness monster representation. I think other times when it happens, it's just because people Google image search "Pachelbel" and a website that has both Pachelbel, and Corelli on it pops up first, and people don't really dig any deeper.

[@fredericgrolleauditkendall9719]

The Soloist set is hard tension, on an old good or very good violin so much tension is not always good for the instrument and even can damage it. And good and very good violins often need less tension for having a good vibration. Even the PI are medium and have less tension than the Larsen Il Cannone Soloist version. Mine, a Joseph Hel 1894 need medium tension, hard is too much and also could damage it (seen also with my luthier) Currently I use PI for A-D-G and Larsen Tzigane Strong for E. About mixing sets, several soloists make that. Renaud Capuçon uses D-A-E Larsen Il Cannone Medium (Direct & Focused version for A) and for G Larsen Il Cannone Soloist. Rusanda Panfili uses for E Larsen Il Cannone Soloist and for A-D-G Larsen Il Cannone Medium (Warm & Broad version for A, I guess, but I'm not absolute sure) Zhi-Jong Wang uses for E Larsen Il Cannone Soloist and for A-D-G Larsen Il Cannone Medium (Direct & Focused version for A) Also, several soloists use the complete set of Medium like Benny Kim, Sándor Jávorka, Josef Špaček... All or almost with the Direct & Focused version of A. In fact, Medium is about the same tension as PI when Soloist is much more.

[@Fiddlershop]

Fantastic stuff! Thanks so much for sharing.

[@fredericgrolleauditkendall9719]

@@Fiddlershop You're welcome. :) I'm a professional violinist and professor in a musical school in France (yes, I'm French) and as I said, currently I use PI for A-D-G and Larsen Tzigane Strong for E and I'm happy with them. I like Tzigane E Strong very much and it mixes very well with PI. In January I will probably try the following mix : Il Cannone Medium for A-D-G and Il Cannone Soloist for E. But I wonder, and would be very interested to know, if the Tzigane Strong E could mix well with A-D-G Il Cannone Medium... ? Do you have an opinion on this ? About the A string, there are two versions now : 'Direct & Focused' and 'Warm & Broad'. It would be interesting if you could test and make a video with a comparison between these two versions. I found this one : kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKPEoGCGfrijpNE where we can hear the two A string versions but it's extremely short and not very representative. But despite this we can hear a clear difference and the Warm & Broad version sounds very good in this video. Seems a very good A version. An also good presentation of these strings from Rusanda Panfili is here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqq6imBjrtRmobs Another here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooiwdJ-PYrKAarc "Soloist for modern violin but probably Medium rather for old/antique violin because the tension" ;)

[@jonathancollins9057]

I love it, "YOU CAN'T HAVE IT ALL!!!" I should have said that to customers when working at a music shop when they complained about their tone and the way their instruments played.

[@Fiddlershop]

🤣🤣🤣

[@EudoraPrice]

🤣😍

[@MarjanJanczyk]

it would be nice if you would have some video about jazz-improvisation violinists an strings for them. i just bought il canone and will try them out on my upcoming gigs and will leave a review ))),

[@Fiddlershop]

Looking forward to it Marian, please let me know what you discover.

[@Jonny4384]

Here is my 3 cents...These strings are better than Dominate Classic but less than the Pro and PI 100..Thanks for the review!

[@fredericgrolleauditkendall9719]

Not at all ! They are largely as good as the Dominant Pro, if not better, and the PI. Even more durable than the PI which, in my experience, fade quite quickly (before testing Il Cannone I used PI for A-D-G and Larsen Tzigane Strong for E) They are great strings, but more for Pro or very advanced students. You need to have a good technique and level to play them properly and get the most out of them. A good or very good violin is also a plus.

[@adrianramirez6854]

THE TANK

[@MrBlackviolin1]

"ll Cannone" means "The Law" in Italian. This is what Paganini meant, not the weapon called a canon.

[@Fiddlershop]

That's an interesting interpretation, definitely not the forefront interpretation, but adds more color. I think it's quite possible that there are multiple meanings to the name, along with being part of "the canon" or the standard of what violins should sound like. So, thanks for sharing!

[@giuggiolassound1206]

As italian... I'm sorry, Cannone is the weapon. Because it sounded greatly and booming

[@longliveclassicmusic]

I just wasn't personally too happy with the Larsens and am madly in love with the Evah Pirazzis. Good lord I hate my Evah Pirazzi E string though. Omg. Listening to it even in your playing makes me hate it even more, and the Larsen isn't much better. But this video definitely confirmed what I already felt that I love my lower Evah strings very much the best. Though interestingly, I like the Il Cannone G string better in this video than the Evah G. I definitely prefer Evah D and A, which were my biggest gripes with the Il Cannone and felt like they were severely holding me back in learning to play, but I may put my Il Cannone G back on and try it with my Evah D and A and the other E string (Larsen Tzigane Strong) I have ordered to try… I haven't, however, disliked my Evah G in my own playing and have felt like it rings in higher positions a bit more easily, though with a bit lesser tone, so I may stick with it to avoid mixing too many string brands thus wasting money. Decisions, decisions… Thanks for such an uninterrupted, back and forth comparison! Super helpful.

[@Fiddlershop]

Glad that was helpful! Good for you for doing so much exploring and discovering what works for you and your instrument.

[@colinwrubleski7627]

PUNT aluminium-wound strings; corrosion city...^^ (at least for this nervous and acidic-perspiration Canadian dude)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Has anyone ever compared them to the Real Gut Strings? These sound exactly the same.

[@Mihalis_Vrettas]

Too much tension for the violin...I choose Il Canonne medium

[@vt4056]

Yeah, "the Tank" okaaay, in 19th century...

[@ivyssauro123]

don't expect this much historical knowledge from an American

[@ivyssauro123]

(also he was clearly joking, inbefore butthurt americans appear)

[@masterchief586]

Cannone means ( big gun ) Mike.

[@Fiddlershop]

For sure 🤩

[@felixtham9632]

The Warchal Ambers sounded so much better on your violin!!! Deep and rich

[@Fiddlershop]

Thanks for watching! I will let Michael know :)

[@WhiteDragon689]

Beautiful instruments. But Michael can make a cardboard box with rubber bands sound good...LOL

[@Fiddlershop]

That would be cool! But probably not true lol

[@chahboune100]

Is it a Chinese violin?

[@franciscocamacho82]

why try good strings on a low-quality violin?

[@Fiddlershop]

A lot of people like to experiment with different strings. The instrument does sound different depending on your string choice ;)

[@axeist92126]

@@Fiddlershop even with guitars, the right hardware and strings make a big difference. I put a Graph-Tech composite bridge on my D’Angelico Premier EXL-1. D’Addario Chrome XL .011-.050 flatwounds. “Pimp My Economy Jazz Box” is my project guitar sequel to “Pimp My Cheap Violin” I did in 2014. I saw Pierre’s video where he played a Cecilio CVN 100. I changed the pegs, bought a Fiddlerman bow, changed the tail piece to composite, did some setup and changed the strings to D’Addario Prelude. My granddaughter has a Scott Cao violin with Dominant strings.

[@duggiefresh8170]

IL Cannone = the law, not a cannon.