What Violin Strings to Buy

In this video, Joel Kennedy gives an explanation on which are the best strings to buy for your violin as a beginning, intermediate and advanced player.
Strings mentioned in the video:
D’Addario Pro Art: kennedyviolins...
D’Addario Helicore: kennedyviolins...
D’Addario Zyex: kennedyviolins...
D’Addario Prelude: kennedyviolins...
Pirastro Chromcor: kennedyviolins...
Pirastro Obligato: kennedyviolins...
Pirastro Evah Pirazzi: kennedyviolins...
Thomastik Infeld: kennedyviolins...
Thomastik Peter Infeld: kennedyviolins...
Thomastik Dominant: kennedyviolins...
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[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Helicore Strings are the only steel core strings that have the sound of a Synthetic Core (or Gut core) String because it's a stranded steel core.

[@johnmac8084]

Clearest explanation I've seen. Cleared up a lot of confusion here, thanks

[@KennedyViolins]

Cool, glad to help!

[@EnKay0000]

Excellent point to point explanation ❤ My first 🎻 when I was in the USA in 2019 was your Bunnel Pupil outfit, it is a great way to start the 🎻 journey 👌🏼👌🏼 - An ex-customer from Ohio (in 2019).

[@KennedyViolins]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for being a customer BTW!!

[@williamtong9819]

Good explanation! Recommended for other violin student parents when coming to source new strings for the kid. Thanks.

[@KennedyViolins]

Cool. Thanks!

[@williambradford3627]

I like the ProArte string very much.

[@KennedyViolins]

Ya, great string for the price!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Helicore Strings have a Stranded Steel Core rather than a Solid Steel Core so it produces a sound that matches that of Synthetic Core Strings (the modern equivalent of Gut). Steel Core strings have gone under alot of improvements.

[@ohnothingspecial]

Personally love the pirastro flexicors as a steel string!

[@KennedyViolins]

Ya, those are good.

[@sirspongadoodle]

Experimenting with your e string is a really cheap way to see what you like aswell since its the cheapest string…

[@KennedyViolins]

Haha, well that's one way to think about it! Those poor poor E strings..... 🤪

[@hamedahmadpoor1196]

thanks very much mate..best video in this field

[@KennedyViolins]

Thanks for the compliment and glad to help!

[@thetoaster6413]

I never realized that I was using synthetic strings this past year until one of my strings broke. I then replaced it with the cheapest string I could find (because I didn't know any better) and the difference in sound quality and tone was jarring. My teacher had to buy a new new set of strings for me to replace the one I had bought. And she suggested I try Dominant this time (previously it was Pirastro Tonica).

[@KennedyViolins]

Yes, some steel core strings are better than others. If you bought the "cheapest you could find", I'm sure it was super nasty. There are some bad ones out there. 😳

[@user-wc7qq9bt9v]

دوست عزیز.شما کدام مدل سیم ویلن را پیشنهاد میکنید ما بخریم👍

[@richardgodlove9662]

As an intermediate player I'm looking for a warmer sound out of my viola. I literally HATE it when I play on my A string, it's so bright it makes me cringe. What brand would you suggest I try for this?

[@KennedyViolins]

A lot of professionals use a Larson A. A common string combination is Helicore C,G,D and Larson A. That's what I personally prefer. Old school strings like Dominants will have a warmer sound but not be nearly as responsive or loud. Another A that is very popular is a Jarger A and it's often used with Dominants. A lot of pros use Evahs as well but they are pretty expensive and don't last very long. It's hard to recommend something because I don't know what you're used to but if you haven't tried a Larson or Jarger A, I'd try them out and see what you think. 😉

[@amindaou5711]

I always use thomastic super flexible it's best strings . But now I need brighter strings set I am thinking in helicor or prazision 🤔 which is brightest ( helicore or prazision ? ! Because my violin a little bit dark sound.

[@KennedyViolins]

Helicore strings are definitely more "in your face". They are louder and a bit brighter. I'm not personally familiar with Prazision strings but perhaps somebody else is!

[@amindaou5711]

@KennedyViolins so maybe I try helicore 👍. Thanks for help 🙏

[@Adrian_AdamViolonDiGerma-tm3nq]

Love the Opening Concept 🤭🍒💐🌹🧡🧡🤓

[@KennedyViolins]

I have no idea what you are talking about but you said the word "love", so that's good enough for me. 🤪

[@RosinaAndrix]

I was looking at the Prelude strings on Amazon and there is light and medium tensions. I'm a beginner, which one should I be getting??

[@KennedyViolins]

As a beginner, I would recommend just always sticking with the middle on every string. Is not necessary to get fancy pants on any strings right now and it probably wouldn't make that much difference. As soon as you start getting away from the medium tensions strings then it's going to require to some extent more effort one way or the other two compensate for the fact the strings are a bit different and may make your instrument more unbalanced. Anyway, people don't usually start messing around with that until much later in their violin career after they've got much more ability.

[@NobodyLast]

Can you or do you have a video about gut strings, I want to buy some.

[@KennedyViolins]

While we don't have specific video about gut strings yet, I can recommend trying Eudoxa or Oliv first. They're Pirastro strings that have gut cores but are wound on the outside with metal so they're a bit easier to bow while giving you the gut sound. Gamut strings are also nice but the G is wound and the D and A are pure gut, and the E on all these sets are still steel. It's always fun to try gut strings and some players love them still!

[@NobodyLast]

@@KennedyViolins thanks for the info!

[@KennedyViolins]

@@NobodyLast Always glad to help of course!

[@NobodyLast]

@@KennedyViolins I have an old violin that saids "Antonio Stradivarius Cremonensis, made in Chechosiovakia" I don't think it is the original version, because of the more modern shape, but the previous owner of the violin was a famous northern Thai violinist and teacher, but the sticker in the violin is really old and hard to read, so I will post the photos of it on my channel so you can see it. If you will like, could you see how old it is. And what is the stile. Thanks.

[@KennedyViolins]

@@NobodyLast Well, I've never been accused of being an "old violin" expert, so I don't know how valuable my opinion is but I do know that these kinds of labels are pretty common for violins made in the early and mid-20th century. If you really want to know more about your violin origins etc, the best thing to do is take it to a reputable violin shop (which will probably be in a larger city) and they'll not only have a lot more knowledge but they'll possess books that will probably contain quite a bit of historical info on the maker. A lot of the time, these books are pretty expensive, so you usually only see them owned by true violin history aficionados.

[@malo5833]

Is there a difference between 1/2 and 4/4 strings? Does 1/2 violin strings exist?

[@KennedyViolins]

Yes, most manufacturers will specifically make strings for smaller violins. If you buy a set of strings from D'addario for example that are meant for quarter size violin, they will be quite a bit shorter than the strings for the full size. Not only are the strings shorter but they also wrap the strings with the threading differently, so they work properly with your pegs when you insert the strings.

[@malo5833]

@@KennedyViolins thank you so much for you quick answer and the explanation :) you're the best

[@KennedyViolins]

Your welcome. Anytime!

[@kenz5469]

Any thoughts on Prim strings?

[@KennedyViolins]

Personally, I don't have a lot of experience with PRIM strings. Most all the people I've spoken to, prefer them because they are fiddlers and they like a "harder" sound that more easily cuts through any other instruments that they may be playing with. I'm assuming because of their steel core, that the strings are probably more responsive, have higher tension, last longer, and stay in tune better but won't have the subtle tonal characteristics you can get from a synthetic core string. The most comparable strings are probably going to be D'Addario Helicores, which are very popular amongst fiddlers as well as violists.

[@oybekkozimov]

any thougt on Thomastik Superflexible strings?

[@KennedyViolins]

I haven't tried them actually. 😳

[@amindaou5711]

I always use thomastic super flexible it's best strings and quality 👌. But now I need brighter strings set I am thinking in helicor or prazision 🤔 which is brightest ! Because my violin a little bit dark sound

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

#32_GeneralBriefOverview_Honest🇺🇸🇮🇱✝️