Pirastro *Obligato* Violin Strings

[dmiller]

Hey -- I have to give these strings a plug here. I've used many a different brand over the years, and have been (relatively) happy with them all.

Not that I really needed a new set of strings for the fiddle, but I found myself surfing the web for info on different brands the other day and found Pirastro Obligato's. I liked the description of them, so on a lark I went to the local violin shop (Christian Eggert Violins here in Duluth), and got a set.

Pricey -- at 60 bucks a set, and 5 (or so) bucks extra for a gold E string -- but worth it, as I was to find out. The G and the D strings are made of silver, the A is made of aluminium, and the E is made of steel, (and optional) it's made of gold.

Feeling a little guilty for having spent *so much* for 4 fiddle strings, I brought them home, and put them on my *second* fiddle, since my main one had fairly new strings. My *second* fiddle has always sounded brassy and shrill to me, regardless of the strings on it.

I put those babies on the second fiddle --- and the difference was incredible!!! No more brassy, tinny, raspy sound. Suddenly it had tone, resonance, a mellow sound, yet one that had power behind it. I was floored by the difference.

So --- today was payday -- and I went back to the shop for a second set, to put on my good fiddle (which I bought from Nu Dawg several years ago -- when he needed money for an overseas trip) that is a no-namer fiddle from Illinois that has great tone and resonance all on it's own.

Put the new Obligato strings on it tonight, and OMG --- What A Difference!!!

I don't know what kind of fiddle strings you all use, or what your preference is, but these here are definitely worth checking out.

They are Just-Plain-GOOD!!

[scrubber]

Thanks for the "plug" dmiller!

By coincidence, I was considering purchasing a set of these strings myself a few days ago. Part of my problem with strings is that I can't decide what kind of sound I want! I keep one fiddle on steel strings (D'addario Fiddle) and like the quality of those strings on that instrument, but I also like to have a deeper, darker, gutsier sound sometimes and keep other fiddles strung for that. So far, D'addario Zyex strings seem to do the trick, although I would like to have a darker sound on one of those fiddles -- It looks like these strings may give me the sound I'm after!

(BTW, has anyone tried the Infeld Red or Blue sets? They can be mixed to make individual strings brighter or darker while still keeping the overall set 'matched'...)

[dmiller]

Hey there Scrubber. Yes, I've used the Thomastik Infeld strings before as well. The red and blue sets were pretty good, but not as nice as the Dominants (for my fiddles at least). While I was looking at the Thomastik site, I saw a coupla sets that priced out at close to 100 bucks a set!

Too rich for my blood, though I'd love to hear how they sound. I'm really liking these Pirastro Obligatos. I can honestly say that these are the first set of *quality* strings I've gotten that make a noticeable difference in the sound and tone of the fiddles I have. If you decide to get a set, go for the gold E string. The guy at Christian Eggert Violins told me that it was more compatible sound-wise with the others-- not shrill or harsh like the steel E string tended to be.

In other words -- it meshes better with the overall sound of the set.
There's another forum I frequent where we are talking about (among other things) guitars and music in general. I mentioned to them that I got these strings, how good they were, and what they were made of.

One of the posters on that forum/thread is from Texas, and made a smart-a$$ comment rebuking me for using anything but cat-gut strings!!



I told him that we're in the 21st century now, NOT the dark ages!!

Anyhoo -- if you get a set, I hope they work as well for you as they do for me.

[scrubber]

Hey dm! (call me scrbr) !

I just ordered a set of 'Obligatos' and I'll let everyone know how they work out! I think "Tex" should have his head examined! Gut strings were passe' long before Bluegrass!

(Someday I'll have to let you kow why I feel E, contextually speaking, does not equal f-flat on non-fretted instruments).

[dmiller]

E (doesn't) = Fb???

My world is crumbling around me. Nothing is absolute, anymore.

[grassyfiddle]

Thanks for the tips on strings......

If I really thought that different strings would make my sound better, I'd spend the bucks.... however, I'm afraid my only hope is more time in the woodshed. My fundamentals and technics are screwed up enough, don't
know that I could ever get that full, rich sound. However, I keep sawing away!

Currently using Prim steel strings due to durability.

Scrubber, by the way, finally made it to the Far East. I'm currently in
Singapore and going to China end of next week. Haven't found any bluegrass music over here......however, brought my own stash of CDs with me.

[scrubber]

If I really thought that different strings would make my sound better, I'd spend the bucks.... don't
know that I could ever get that full, rich sound.

What you need, grassyfiddle, are more celebrity autographs on your instrument!

(And maybe some travel stickers reading "China" and "Singapore" on your case?)

[dmiller]

grassyfiddle -- I hear ya about *time in the woodshed*.

I don't do enough practicing myself (these days).

So -- I figure I can *cut my losses*, by getting better *stuff* on occassion.
Like the Obligato strings. They (on my fiddles), sit up and TALK.
I also bought one of those Coda bows, from Lloyd LaPlant --
and it works better than the others I have here at the house.

But regardless of how much *quality* extraneous paraphenalia one purchases --
practice is the ultimate key (like you mentioned).

But (imo) it doesn't hurt to have a little extra help, along the way.

[scrubber]

It looks like we're all in agreement here: ultimately, it's the person wielding the instrument that determines the sound that is produced. That being a difficult task on the fiddle, however, means that we can use all the help we can get!

The type (and quality) of bow, strings and instrument all contribute to this....

[dmiller]

Sure wish some other fiddlers would chime in here about strings they use and like.

(But meebe y'all are too busy picking. In which case --you're forgiven!!)

[leroyleroux]

I guess I use the helicores. On some of my fiddles, they aren't the bees knees, but they work well with my main one.

It's a hand made job from a guy in SD made out of cherry and with a bigger bottom curve than most, and the helicores really help bring out the bass and give it a warm tone.

[dmiller]

I guess I use the helicores. On some of my fiddles, they aren't the bees knees, but they work well with my main one.

It's a hand made job from a guy in SD made out of cherry and with a bigger bottom curve than most, and the helicores really help bring out the bass and give it a warm tone.

Leroyleroux -- I hear that!:D

Dang tempermental fiddles anyhoo ----
Takes money, patience, and fortitude to get them sounding like they should.

(but it's worth it in the end).

[scrubber]

Hey There!

I promised to get back to y'all when I gave the Obligatos a try, so now I'm fulfilling my "obligation"

I tried 'em on three fiddles: two I like and consider 'primary' instruments, and a 'second' that doesn't see much action because I don't like the tone. The volume and response increased on all three instruments, but in the case of the 'second' that only made it more disagreeable. The improved sound on the other two is wonderful -- you'll have to check it out at the Winter Weekend...

[dmiller]

Hey Scrubber --- Good stuff!! Glad you like them (overall).

And ---I just figured out how to post personal pics here.
Here's a shot of the back of one of mine.
It doesn't sound as good as the best one I have,
but it's sure prettier to look at.

[Ponyfiddle]

I used Obligatos a while ago on a fiddle I gave my sis, and liked them very much. Last fall I acquired a fiddle with an "edgy" sound. Maybe Obligato's would mellow it out a bit? As I recall, they have a quick response. I've used Zyex's on it for a while, and they're okay, but I'm thinking Obligato might be the right string for that fiddle. A soothing influence.

A deep-toned fiddle that I purchased in early February came strung with Evah Pirazzi's. And they were excellent at first, but they are notoriously short-lived strings. I dont' know how long they'd been on it, but they were yellowed like they'd been there a while. They peaked pretty quickly and gradually the sound became muddy, and this is NOT a fuzzy-toned fiddle. The response got slower in that time, too. As of three days ago (early April) I'm trying Warchal Brilliants on it, and I like 'em. Fast response, and almost shimmery on the top end, even on this fiddle that thinks it's a cello. The Warchal Brilliants are supposed to last a long time, and I usually burn thru a set of strings about every eight weeks, so a little extra playing time would be sweet.

Okay, okay, I'm done buying fiddles.