Carolyn, your advice about cleaning the strings is excellent - I've found that wiping the strings BEFORE you install them with a paper towel and a LITTLE bit of 99% Isopropyl alcohol (dries in a heartbeat) really does a great job on the WHOLE length and CIRCUMFERENCE of the string - after wiping we will see that the strings really DID NEED to shed their factory protective coating of machining oil. First timers have to be careful NOT to get alcohol on the silk (or coloured part of the string) ends however. BTW, my luthier has actually seen strings wound on top of themselves which is a REAL no-no ! : ) He also suggested that it's better if one can keep the string from actually touching the edge of the peg box. I forgot to ask him why! LOL. I've heard GREAT things about the Versum Solos but I was a wee bit afraid of a "brilliant" string on my relatively new cello so I went for a 4/4 set of Larsen Magnacore Arioso strings - like your Versums, criminally expensive but sweet and powerful and rock solid tuning stability after one day - the D is to Die for : ) I'm looking forward to joining your student ranks for your excellent on line cello courses! Thanks as always for your great and helpful videos and your wonderful performances. (sorry for this BOOK of a post! : )
Great point, David. Thank you! I've never cleaned them BEFORE I put them on the string. I'm curious if it would really get the strings as thoroughly clean without the full tension on them? And I agree with the isopropyl alcohol. TOTALLY cleans up a dirty string - gets rid of the unwanted rosin dust as well. But I always place a towel under on the body before I wipe the strings with alcohol - just to be extra careful of the varnish. Thanks for your comment.
oops... I just noticed there was more to your post! The Versum solos... wow. Game changer for me. They are brilliant but not harsh at all. But the downside is that I don't think they last as long as the Larsens. But...worth it for me. I just try to catch the sale at Shar to get the best deal.
As a newbie I did the unthinkable, instead of using the fine tuner, I touched the peg to tune my A string!😱 And it unwound on me, so I consulted UA-cam. After many attempts (I'd go too far and it would unwind again) I FINALLY got it tuned. I will NEVER touch the pegs again unless I change the strings, but I might have the music store I purchased my cello from do it.😂
I got a question. When I was changing my new string back to an older one that sounded better. The old D string snapped when it was at a C3 pitch. Did I put the string in wrong, or was it just going to happen anyways
How often do you need to change your strings in average? Every couple of years or more often than that? How long should your cello string brand strings sound really good? And could you do a before and after video of how the old strings sound versus the new strings after a couple of days when you change your strings the next time? Just to hear the comparison (if the mic can record it that clearly)? That'd be great.
Hi Carter- I try to change mine three times a year but it often ends up only being twice a year. And the life of the string really depends on which brand you buy. Unfortunately, the brand which sounds amazing on my cello (Versum Solo) happens to be one of the most expensive strings on the market - but the lifespan of the strings is definitely shorter than some of the others I have purchased in the past, unfortunately. I can try to make a before and after recording of the strings. Projection and clarity are the two distinct characteristics I hear with a new set of strings. If the mic can pick it up correctly I'll post it.
@@cellodiscovery Firstly: Thanks for your answer :) Didn't expect that many string changes, every six months or even more often.. That sounds expensive if the strings cost multiple hundred dollars/euros. (I'm from Austria, there we have euros) Secondly: Thanks, that'd be awesome if you could do that! ☺️
@@cellodiscovery How much do you practice and play each day? I guess you'll play almost every day then, because otherwise it wouldn't be necessary to change your strings that often, would it?
@@cartersessal4551 - Some days I don't play any, but on many days I am playing anywhere from 1-3 hours. If you don't play much you can easily get away with once a year.
Please tell me what to do if my string is full size while my cello is 1/2. Because I don't get a specific sized string here. And I don't even have any music shops here, so I will have to do everything myself. Please help!
Sorry I missed this! You can't use full sized strings on a 1/2 size cello. You'll need to order 1/2 size strings which are available at most reputable string shops.
Maybe you cover this in another video, but inspecting the bridge after changing strings is necessary. Some strings do not slide easily over the bridge and it gets pulled over and the feet of the bridge come off at an angle to the cello body. This affects the sound.
Omg I friggin hate this cello I want to put my head in an oven. I figured out the problem with the strings unwinding was because the peg wasn't pushed all the way thru to the other side. Yay Full steam ahead. No. Every time I get the strings close to tune the bridge goes flying and the strings snap. WTF and why is the bridge not permanently connected? That's RIDICULOUS! Ive played instruments all my life and I've never heard of a bridge that is literally just hanging there by the grace of God with no stability and 30 pounds of tension pulling it in 4 directions. I made sure it's flat. In the right spot. Straight. It keeps on going flying. IS THERE A TRICK TO IT? I've taught myself how to play guitar, piano, drums, violin, I've never had a problem. This is killing me. And Im emotionally having a hard time so I really need this to just be easy. Lol
Carolyn, your advice about cleaning the strings is excellent - I've found that wiping the strings BEFORE you install them with a paper towel and a LITTLE bit of 99% Isopropyl alcohol (dries in a heartbeat) really does a great job on the WHOLE length and CIRCUMFERENCE of the string - after wiping we will see that the strings really DID NEED to shed their factory protective coating of machining oil. First timers have to be careful NOT to get alcohol on the silk (or coloured part of the string) ends however.
BTW, my luthier has actually seen strings wound on top of themselves which is a REAL no-no ! : ) He also suggested that it's better if one can keep the string from actually touching the edge of the peg box. I forgot to ask him why! LOL. I've heard GREAT things about the Versum Solos but I was a wee bit afraid of a "brilliant" string on my relatively new cello so I went for a 4/4 set of Larsen Magnacore Arioso strings - like your Versums, criminally expensive but sweet and powerful and rock solid tuning stability after one day - the D is to Die for : ) I'm looking forward to joining your student ranks for your excellent on line cello courses! Thanks as always for your great and helpful videos and your wonderful performances. (sorry for this BOOK of a post! : )
Great point, David. Thank you! I've never cleaned them BEFORE I put them on the string. I'm curious if it would really get the strings as thoroughly clean without the full tension on them? And I agree with the isopropyl alcohol. TOTALLY cleans up a dirty string - gets rid of the unwanted rosin dust as well. But I always place a towel under on the body before I wipe the strings with alcohol - just to be extra careful of the varnish. Thanks for your comment.
oops... I just noticed there was more to your post! The Versum solos... wow. Game changer for me. They are brilliant but not harsh at all. But the downside is that I don't think they last as long as the Larsens. But...worth it for me. I just try to catch the sale at Shar to get the best deal.
Quick heads up that is Jargar, and absolutely agree. They are the gold standard of affordable strings.
As a newbie I did the unthinkable, instead of using the fine tuner, I touched the peg to tune my A string!😱 And it unwound on me, so I consulted UA-cam. After many attempts (I'd go too far and it would unwind again) I FINALLY got it tuned. I will NEVER touch the pegs again unless I change the strings, but I might have the music store I purchased my cello from do it.😂
I do the same thing with my viola.
Very useful guide - interesting tips especially how to detect if changes are needed.
Thank you.
I got a question. When I was changing my new string back to an older one that sounded better. The old D string snapped when it was at a C3 pitch. Did I put the string in wrong, or was it just going to happen anyways
Thank you, just what I needed! This was very helpful.
Thank you
You are welcome. :)
How often do you need to change your strings in average? Every couple of years or more often than that? How long should your cello string brand strings sound really good?
And could you do a before and after video of how the old strings sound versus the new strings after a couple of days when you change your strings the next time? Just to hear the comparison (if the mic can record it that clearly)? That'd be great.
Hi Carter-
I try to change mine three times a year but it often ends up only being twice a year. And the life of the string really depends on which brand you buy. Unfortunately, the brand which sounds amazing on my cello (Versum Solo) happens to be one of the most expensive strings on the market - but the lifespan of the strings is definitely shorter than some of the others I have purchased in the past, unfortunately.
I can try to make a before and after recording of the strings. Projection and clarity are the two distinct characteristics I hear with a new set of strings. If the mic can pick it up correctly I'll post it.
@@cellodiscovery Firstly: Thanks for your answer :) Didn't expect that many string changes, every six months or even more often.. That sounds expensive if the strings cost multiple hundred dollars/euros. (I'm from Austria, there we have euros) Secondly: Thanks, that'd be awesome if you could do that! ☺️
@@cellodiscovery How much do you practice and play each day? I guess you'll play almost every day then, because otherwise it wouldn't be necessary to change your strings that often, would it?
@@cartersessal4551 - Some days I don't play any, but on many days I am playing anywhere from 1-3 hours. If you don't play much you can easily get away with once a year.
Seems straightforward, are D'Addario strings decent?
They are pretty good in the electric world.
Please tell me what to do if my string is full size while my cello is 1/2. Because I don't get a specific sized string here. And I don't even have any music shops here, so I will have to do everything myself.
Please help!
Sorry I missed this! You can't use full sized strings on a 1/2 size cello. You'll need to order 1/2 size strings which are available at most reputable string shops.
Thank you for this teaching God bless you Amen.
Maybe you cover this in another video, but inspecting the bridge after changing strings is necessary. Some strings do not slide easily over the bridge and it gets pulled over and the feet of the bridge come off at an angle to the cello body. This affects the sound.
HOLY SHIT!
QUITE EXPENSIVE, INDEED
THATS PRACTICALLY HALF THE CELLO PRICE
Haha! Yup. Crazy, right??
Omg I friggin hate this cello I want to put my head in an oven.
I figured out the problem with the strings unwinding was because the peg wasn't pushed all the way thru to the other side.
Yay
Full steam ahead.
No.
Every time I get the strings close to tune the bridge goes flying and the strings snap.
WTF
and why is the bridge not permanently connected?
That's RIDICULOUS!
Ive played instruments all my life and I've never heard of a bridge that is literally just hanging there by the grace of God with no stability and 30 pounds of tension pulling it in 4 directions.
I made sure it's flat.
In the right spot.
Straight.
It keeps on going flying.
IS THERE A TRICK TO IT?
I've taught myself how to play guitar, piano, drums, violin, I've never had a problem. This is killing me. And
Im emotionally having a hard time so I really need this to just be easy. Lol