Testing Larsen Strings on a Vuillaume Violin!

In this video, Nikolai Tunkowitsch from Larsen Strings and MyLuthier co-founder Ariel Lang test Il Cannone Gold violin strings on a 1855 violin by J. B. Vuillaume.
It's always interesting to compare what a difference the right set of strings and tensions can make on your instrument!

[@jonathanparle8429]

It's amazing what is around these days compared to my student days. The difference was obvious and it would have been even more so from the player perspective. I really miss the old days when string tensions were much lower, the strings were much more pliable and as a result, players did not have to "dig in" to the instrument like they do these days. These days it all seems to be about volume. Loud and really loud. In the old days it was all about constantly changing the quality of the sound and the strings back then facilitated bringing out nuances. I tried Larsen once and found they were an interesting compromise between old school and modern school but my skin acid did not seem to agree with the winding material!

[@bennyblanko3]

That was really interesting! Thanks for sharing. I've never tried these strings on any of my violins. I tried them on a friends fiddle, and they sounded great. Maybe I'll need to pick up a couple sets and try them out. Dang, good violin strings are so expensive. One thing about strings, is that the start sounding better after a bit of playing, and even a day or two to settle in, and smooth out. We are lucky to be alive now, with all these great strings. We used to only have gut (Olive's and Gold) and Dominant. Now, if someone could make some inexpensive strings that sound like the good ones that cost a lot. I run Evah's usually, and for fiddle or electric use Helicore.

[@finemasterviolins]

Im interested in which rosin he was using on the bow. Rosin match with strings is pretty important. Grainy “G” is sometimes a characteristic of some violins (even genuine Strad’s) but some strings minimise it a bit. The varnish composition that a violin maker uses can alter that resonance or graininess. The art & science of violin making 😊

[@jonathanparle8429]

My pet peeve has always been people who use too much rosin. It creates a very hard, dry, grainy and stiffled sound with the string vibration actually being hampered by far too tight a "grip" on the strings. I used to know a re-hairer who would put so much rosin on a newly re-haired bow that you would literally either need a gas mask or there would be a heck of a lot of coughing. I ended up taking the bow outdoors and carefully flicking all the excess rosin off.

[@jonhh6918]

Personally I would look for a different g string but all the other strings are pretty lively

[@robotnik77]

Yes; the G sounded dead - but when you're with someone who wants you to try their strings, sometimes it's difficult to be objective. I agree with your assessment.

[@renshimarek]

Too high a price disqualifies these strings and puts them in a row with cheap ones that no one buys

[@adelkharisov]

The demand for Larsen Gold D and G is very high. I have to wait for a week to buy them in the end of April for my mom. Have not tried yet. But a lot of people are interested in them. I did not bought A, because we prefer chrome wounded steel core A strings. Chrome do not corrode like aluminum, and finger slide (glide) easier, especially in summer, when it is hot and humid outside. On gold wounding finger tip glide easier than on silver or aluminum, but still not as easy as on chrome. Unfortunately, there are no chrome wounded synthetic core D and G strings on the market. They may be affordable an affordable option!