Thomastik Dominant string problems (?)
Tho X. Bui
Both of my violins are recently restrung with Dominants, and both of the
A strings broke after a few weeks. I usually use the perlon core
Pirastro, which lasted for about a year on average.
Is this a common problem or am I just unlucky?
Also, the Dominant string seems to (for lack of better words) "crunch"
easily near the bridge. By that I mean the sound start to degrade into
a grinding sound. All strings, I suppose, do this, but the dominant
seems to do it much more readily, say, 1/2 " from the bridge vs. 1/4"
from the bridge as in the case with the Pirastro set. Does it go away
with more break in?
Thanks,
Tho
Jennifer Grucza
them since I started, 13 years ago. They hardly ever break on me.
Jennifer
Ed Bridge
wrote:
>Hi there.
>
>Both of my violins are recently restrung with Dominants, and both of the
>A strings broke after a few weeks. I usually use the perlon core
>Pirastro, which lasted for about a year on average.
>
>Is this a common problem or am I just unlucky?
>
>Also, the Dominant string seems to (for lack of better words) "crunch"
>easily near the bridge. By that I mean the sound start to degrade into
>a grinding sound. All strings, I suppose, do this, but the dominant
>seems to do it much more readily, say, 1/2 " from the bridge vs. 1/4"
>from the bridge as in the case with the Pirastro set. Does it go away
>with more break in?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Tho
I only had a couple of Dominants break in about 6 years of using
Dominants. I tend to think it was more due to worn peg holes etc. I do
like Pirastro Obligatos better. They are more expensive. You might
want to have your violin maker check the points at which your violin
might wear out your strings. Putting some soft pencil lead in the nut
grooves and bridge grooves seems to help too.
MK
my fingers (they get very black with Dominants) and/or finger nail nicks on
the wrap. I like D's but gave them up because they are too expensive a
habit.
Tho X. Bui <bl...@prodigy.net> wrote in message
news:379BA7...@prodigy.net...
Tho X. Bui
>
> I, too, have a problem with Dominants. My guess is a chemical reaction with
> my fingers (they get very black with Dominants) and/or finger nail nicks on
> the wrap. I like D's but gave them up because they are too expensive a
> habit.
I think the black residue is aluminum rubbing off of the surface
(anybody knows?). I fixed the breaks by tying the string back into
knots. One of the A string has gone through 3 breaks now.
Tho
Sourifa
> (anybody knows?). I fixed the breaks by tying the string back into
> knots. One of the A string has gone through 3 breaks now.
>
> Tho
I never had so black fingers as when I played with the Pirastro Synoxa.
These strings sound real good but they are aluminium wound I suppose and
that wears off. The Thomastik Dominant strings have a more "organic" sound.
I didn't have any breaks with them and fingers aren't so black as before.
Yumbeme
a v shape. Secondly, Take a $2 lead pencil and lead in each of the string
grooves at the nut and bridge. Check that the bridge has not been dressed too
thinly at the top. .5 to .65 mm would be about right. Be sure the groove
radius's are not smaller than the radius ( 1/2 dia ) of the new strings. It
is possible that the violin was originally set up with string grooves that
would only accomodate smaller dia. strings. dominant are pretty good general
purpose strings on the whole and I'm surprised that you are having trouble with
them. The problem is more likely to be the violin and not the strings.
Todd S Lovas: Violin Maker
R Lamparter
>> Also, the Dominant string seems to (for lack of better words) "crunch"
>> easily near the bridge. By that I mean the sound start to degrade into
>> a grinding sound. All strings, I suppose, do this, but the dominant
>> seems to do it much more readily, say, 1/2 " from the bridge vs. 1/4"
>> from the bridge as in the case with the Pirastro set. Does it go away
>> with more break in?
My teacher recently pointed out that crunching sound to me. It's
particularly noticeable on the D string of my violin. She said that
she uses Pirastro (Aricores?) which are also a synthetic core and that
crunching sound doesn't occur close to the bridge with Pirastros. She
mentioned that she didn't think that the Pirastros were quite as loud
as the Dominants, but that suited her fine since she mainly does
quartet work and doesn't need the volume that an orchestra player
needs.
I have not experienced the string breakage that you have described
with Thomastik Dominants.
Bob
Tony Varga
They have a warm sound. I have had several of my violin students use them too
and they seem to be consistent in their tone quality. The bad part? Late this
spring during that nasty unstable temperature period when we all worry about
the changes that our instruments are undergoing, my A string snapped. I've
since then become a little gun shy about their endurance. My repair guy
recommends to treat them like real gut and detune them a semitone when your
finished playing. I don't know if this advice is just good for the larger
instruments or if it is prudent for violins and violas too. So far so good, no
more broken strings. Let me tell you, breaking an A string on a bass is a
pretty good wake up call. Good luck
Pauline Lerner
Yumbeme <yum...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990801231344...@ng-fo1.aol.com...
That's very good advice. The lead pencil is also good for pegs which slip
or stick too much.
Pauline
>
ash...@my-deja.com
it'll be great if there's a way to possbily lower the sound of my
violin beside using the mute...
. She
> mentioned that she didn't think that the Pirastros were quite as loud
> as the Dominants, but that suited her fine since she mainly does
> quartet work and doesn't need the volume that an orchestra player
> needs.
>
> I have not experienced the string breakage that you have described
> with Thomastik Dominants.
>
> Bob
>
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