@@badiarov Synthetic Strings do last longer than gut strings yes, but I just wish there were Synethic Strings that sound like Gut Strings. I'd like to get something like a Violoncello da Spalla cause I wanted to do "Violin Concertos on Violoncello da Spalla". Why can't you play Bach's Violin Sonatas and partitas on Violoncello da Spalla?
They just made a complement and never said anything about them looking identical, at all. I agree a bit, he does remind me a bit of L.V. Beethoven(i.e. the hair).
I am 66 years of age. I grew up playing trumpet and I was also a 'guitar banger.' I played the trumpet into my late 20's. I had teeth problems and got very discourage. I quit the trumpet. When in my 30's, I lived in Berkeley, California. I found a 'cellist who was willing to teach me. Excitedly, I purchase a 'cello. My teacher was Richard Anastasio. He was a wonderful man. Those lessons were wonderful. Later, after several moves and a decision to go to graduate school to get a doctorate in psychology at age 39, I gave my 'cello to my niece who wanted a 'cello. Eventually, I began to purchase violas and violins. That said, I miss the 'cello. Now, after many years, I play violins (an violas). I have bought and sold them 'on the cheap' to be able to afford them... and in playing them I have stood in many string shops for hours at a time just to play them. I recently purchased a turn-of-the century violin that came with gut stings on it. I was immediately 'captured' by the sound. I had heard this sound before on a 'treble gamba' I had once played. I since have purchase two 18th century violins (not on the cheap) and play them with guts. To the point, the timbre and the sonority of gut strings is like not other. They have a richness unlike modern strings (opinion). I now play many hours a day. I love music. I have always loved music. I so appreciate the work of Dimtry Badiarov and his 'cello d' spalla' instruments. They are too expensive for me. I have mimicked the technique on instruments... and love it. This video by Dimtry Badiarov... and so many of his other videos are such a gift. Thank you Dimtry! Alan
I never knew what I missing out on when it comes to gut strings that the violin was originally designed for. It fits the nature of the instrument so well and it sounds beautiful
This very intriguing! I love how the gut sounded its so beautiful, warmer, a bit darker and more subtle while synthetic core has excellent projection, clarity, and more brighter. Honestly this is what i hear they're both sound beautiful!!!
Warchal Ambers are great for Baroque players who double on a Modern instrument cause they're a tad bit thicker than the gut strings so they feel very close. They've put a lot of thought into making such a string set that sounds and feels the same as Gut strings but lasts many times as long, holds tune longer, and is easier to play.
Greetings from Connecticut, USA. I am a beginning violinist and I wanted to hear the difference between gut and synthetic strings. Thanks for the the upload, and sharing your beautiful work!
You play so beautifully and your violins are magnificent. I recently purchased a Venetian violin by Anselmo Bellosio from 1783 and it is set up with Larsen Il Canone. I want to switch the strings to something else, and now you have given me an idea to try some gut strings with the Warshal E. thanks for your videos. I love them
The Warchal Ambers are designed to feel like Gut Strings but they're many times as durable they last many times as long & take a fraction of the time to break in
Hello from Malta, I am 54 years old. Began learning how to play the violin at age 50. Really wish I started before. The spiral E seems brighter to me. I like the warmth of the synthetic strings.
Hello from St. Petersburg, Florida (USA)! Thank you very much for comparing the Pirastro Eudoxa and the Warchal Amber violin strings. I was a long-time user of Thomastik Dominant strings and decided, after extensive research, to try the Warchal Amber strings. I was very impressed and vowed never to go back to the Dominants. I found the Warchal Amber strings to be more complex and multidimensional than the Dominants. They are perhaps the best synthetic violin strings in the market today. I am very happy with them, but I am now curious about going back to the strings of my youth, namely the Pirastro Eudoxa strings. I have matured as a player (45 years playing the violin!) and now want to see how the Eudoxa strings compare with the Warchal Amber strings. It seems they don’t differ by much. And I would assume that the synthetic Amber strings don’t lose their pitch as easily as the gut Eudoxa strings and they may possibly last longer too. I very much appreciate your efforts in sharing your thoughts and showing us this comparison. Thank you Sir!!
The Warchal Ambers are a tad bit thicker than the Gut Strings so they feel remarkably identical, they're suitable for Baroque players who double on a Modern instrument & also a fantastic Alternative to the Gut Strings cause they hold tune better.
You have made such an amazing violin, that every string basks in it's reflected glory and they all sound great. But overall I'm convinced that my poor violin of unknown provenience would be happiest with the Warchal strings; all of them. I have dominant strings on her now but I like the ones you demonstrated best, even if they will not sound the same as one of your wonderful violins, Thanks for the demonstration. You have been very generous and helpful!
Warchal said that their Synthetic Core strings have the same sound as Gut Strings but they last longer. D'addario Helicore Strings sound the same as Gut Strings because their core is multiple strands of steel.
Sydney Australia, I play on a french violin made by Jenney Bailey (Daughter of Paul Bailey, apprentice at Villaume workshop). I haven't tried gut strings extensively, but I think it's based on the type of instrument so much more than personal preference. My violin simply whispers with gut strings, while my teacher's instrument is far more synergetic with gut strings.
I far prefer the setup with the Synthetic A, from 11:35 on. Somehow, the other two setups sound unmatched and I'm listening to each note rather than the music, if that makes any sense. They just don't blend to my ear.
New strings are very different from strings that have been on the violin for a while. A more interesting test would be among strings that have been played for a month or so.
i love the gut strings on the two bottom strings, the fat gut a string is very bright which i did not expect. Im a violist so i wont comment on the e. i do think Warchal are very good, but i'm going through experimental phase on my viola. I'm looking forward to the arrival of my pirastiro passione. I've been using olbligato and it sounds the best, but i'm changing as a violist as i reach my mid 40s. i used to use only spiracore- very tense power strings. but i'm sold my kundert viola for an Ovington, now I play on an ann Cole. The Bow I use changes everything too. I have a modern Kanestrom, an old w.e. hill bow but I'm finding my Garner Wilson is working best for my viola (its gold mounted and Tourtise shell-does that mean anything??) anyway, Thank you for the demos. its very helpful. ps- i invented the Wrist Rascal. haha. just for beginners-i'll send you a free one if you want!!
Hiya. Talking from London but was born in Brazil. I am biologist but and passioneted violinist also. I got here because I was wondering to change my Evah Pirazzi set up for gut string and you helped a lot. Thanks for this extremaly instructive video. You got a new follower.
Badiarov, I'am from Brazil! Please make videos about differences between bows like sartory vs peccate vs tourte and etc... Thank you for your videos is really helpfull!!
Hi Dimitri, from Rhenen (province utrecht). I like your video's. I use gut strings on my antique baroque violin. I use 4 etirely gut strings. For the low g string I use a string made of 3 strands of gut (called triple gut from pure corde) to make the string more flexible. For me this works really great on violin, it also works very great (good response) on the g string of my small 5-string 1/2 sized cello, and it might be even working for the low C string on the large 'cello' (although I learned from you that this was not called cello, but 'violon' during the baroque, because with violoncello they meant the schoulder instrument). I especially became convinced that wound gut strings were only for special instruments during the baroque (for example the viola da spalla), because Leopold Mozart in his book 'Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule' describes very specific that the deeper playing strings of the viola d'amore were 'übersponnen'. This, with the consideration that the viola d'amore has very low playing strings for the string lenght (compared to other string instruments, especially viola da gamba's), seems to suggest that 'normal' instruments from the violin and viola da gamba family were entirely strung with unwound gut strings, like the triple gut from pure corde. Of course nobel people might have used wound gut also on violin and cello and viola da gamba, but poorer musicians too? wound strings are quite fragile and expensive, and although my triple gut strings were also expensive, I get the impression that they will last very long. I think wound strings might even have been more expensive during the baroque era. In any case: for me triple strings are very great. What I like about gut strings in general is the 'kind' sound. It gives the instrument a more 'folk' sound. I like playing baroque music as musical art that is naturally flowing from us (how it is meant to be) and not as an aristocratic kind of alienating art. I think especially children will feel they love gut strings more. There is another advantage. Because gut strings have a greater flexibility it is easier to change tuning without breaking the string (althought we still have to be carefull with the e-string). But changing tune from 415 hz to 460 is, in principle, possible, although there is always be an optimum thickness for the string at a certain tone height.
Great input! Thanks!! So, we are neighbours. I am in The Hague! Welcome to visit me whenever you need anything for your instruments. "aristocratic kind of alienating art" Haha... To the point! Yes, gut strings have an impressive latitude, you can tune them to lots of different pitches without loss of quality. To the point again!
Thank you for making this from Salt Lake City, UT. I am here just to show my husband some violin strings are made from the gut. The difference I heard, pls keep in mind I have an untrained ear, is the synthetic string has a deeper more clear sound.
Those gut strings sounded AMAZING! Thanks for making this video! Definitely trying a set on my 1912 Chenantais-Kaul which "isn't very fond" of modern steel strings.
Варшалл звучит более певуче, громче, тембровее. Жильные струны звучат потише, но очень четко и напоминают звучание старых скрипок. Варшалл усиливает резонанс звучания до сольного. Определенно стоит попробовать их и сравнить с Евой золотой, Облигато и Иль Кэнноном Солистом. Спасибо за обзор, очень приятно смотреть вас и слушать замечательное звучание из прекрасной скрипки под руководством талантливого Маэстро!!!
Modern Violin Strings are Flatwound, that is the Wrap Wire was flattened before it was wound around the core. Flatwound Strings were invented as early as 1874 by Hamilton (not to be confused with Alexander Hamilton) and were originally designed to replace the Gut strings cause they last many times as long, cost less, and the flat surface makes bowing on the strings easier.
I have a goldbrokat gold e, pirastro naked gut a and d, along with a pirastro silver on gut g string on my violin. I have used this for years after switching from the dominant set. Strangely enough I use a passione c, naked gut g, d and a on my viola And I am here in nyc
Howdy from America. Jr. High and Highschool bass player. bagpiper. I wanted to learn to play the cello from elementary school, but my mother was into Bluegrass music and thus the bass. I prefer gut strings to steel. I tend to play oddball instruments and set up bagpipes that are not supposed to be playable. You play beautifully, thanks for posting !
Greetings from the United States. I am very much a beginner violinist but I really do enjoy your channel and your outlook on life. I have only ever used synthetic strings, but I would love to try gut some day just to see how they would sound on my violin. I was very pleasantly surprised with that e string. So very beautiful and warm for a steel e. I loved the naked a string as well. That blended rather nicely with the Goldbrokat e. I didn't much care for the Eudopsa d. I can't really explain it, but it sounded a bit metalic and flat to me. Not in pitch, but in tone, in color. It just didn't blend well to me. I did like the Eudopsa g, however. It was not quite so glaring a difference as the d was. Thank you so much for this video. I find your channel so educational and informative. I always know that there will be something good to watch here.
Hey! I'm from Austria (Europe) and I'm a Violinist and Violist... In my opinion the instrument decides wheter the gut or the synthetic strings are better... I've gat an old violin (about 1850) which does not like any gut strings (I've tried all of Pirastro Repertoire) - but with Synthetic strings it sounds great (full and rich). The other violin (1950) is the complete opposite...It accepst only gut strings, otherwise it sounds metallic and it kind of "screams"... My viola again likes synthetic core strings...
Hi Mastro :) I am from Germany (I play violin in my free time for myself) and I loved both strings sets equally. Can not really say which is better...I guess they have to be tested in a concert hall or something to have a final verdict :) by the way your instrument sounds great! Goed gedan :))
Thanks Saeid! Appreciate your input! yes, both sets are good. Depends on what the player wants. Generally, good response and higher overtones (what is extremely present in the naked A string) carry very well in a hall. Even if the gut sounds less loud, possibly.
I'm watching from Roseville, California which is Northern California. I love music and really enjoy your videos. My Golden Retriever Beau listens to you play. 🥰
I'm from Cambridge, England and had my violin converted for gut string playing (baroque) - although I mostly play at 440Hz. Some years ago I was caught without a spare gut E string in a draughty hall where the humidity was changing quickly and I sensed that it could not be tuned up without breaking. So I temporarily borrowed a string from the harp player, who gave me a length of nylon string of a similar diameter, which I fitted. I am still paying on that E string 15 years later!! I think it works better now than at the beginning because the action of the bow and rosin has roughened up the surface.
Have you thought of doing a complete swap to harp strings? I mean I guess it will take another 15 years to cure those other 3 strings but hey. 4 Strings for life? Not bad
Well, the plain a gut, d g ( gut wounded) and steel e may refer to the Heifetz setup although he was playing plain gut d and g aswell (tricolore strings) I do like that setup you have there although was wondering why not using olivs. I think they would be more powerful and even more round. The synthetic ones sound great too bc they resonate very well and are slightly brighter. Hard to say... I personally use oliv d silver and g steif in combination with vision solo a and a kaplan e steel on a grancino which goes very well for my 1900 type setup 😉 Thanx for sharing!
Thanks for the video. I am playing Persian and Turkish traditional instruments and am considering using gut or silk strings since I am not fully satisfied with the synthetic strings. In Turkey the only instrument played with gut strings is the "klasik kemençe", other instruments don't use any more gut or silk strings. In Iran, târ, setâr, and santur use steel and copper strings and sound great with them, but oud players are all using synthetic strings. So I am looking for experiences from western instruments....
Hi! Are violin strings always the same gauge (thickness)? On guitar we have quite large differences in the thickness... An E string for instance is available in at least 6 different thicknesses!
Hello, there are usually 3 types of gauges. There's light, medium, and thick. Usually, there are more specific terms and types, but those are considered the common phrase. Also, many violinists usually use a medium tension gauge and it is consider a standard in the orchestral string family.
Gut string sounds AMAZING but most are unstable for a few weeks, but ultimately they break in. The Passiones are the most stable of all. If your house temperature stay constant, the pitch fluctuations should be fine. Who was your teacher?
I am an American living in Serbia. I play ukulele, guitar, piano, but am primarily a classical singer and composer. I am very interested in playing in Pythagorean tuning on an instrument to accompany my singing and for my songs. I am interested in getting a violin or viola, not to bow at all, but only to pluck and strum to accompany my singing. I also really love gut strings which I had on my fretless ukulele. Because I live deep in the middle of nowhere, I need to get an instrument that is already set up with gut strings, or get gut strings separately and restring it myself. I cannot go to a violin shop. While I have restrung many guitars and ukuleles, I have never done so with a violin or viola. I also would like a really good sounding instrument for plucking and strumming without spending ridiculous amounts of money. I need the instrument to project acoustically so that I can hear it while I sing, enough to intonate the chords properly. I would consider a fretless mandolin or mandola, but I do not wish to deal with custom instruments, as that has been a fruitless and costly endeavor so far. I just want something that I can buy and it will work for strumming chords, including full barres and partial barres of the neck to reach different chords in different keys. The high string I would want to be thick enough to give a full tone/ I do not need a bow, but like I said, I would prefer gut strings, but I do not know if they can just be put on any modern violin or viola without tweaking the instrument. Any suggestions for what I am looking for?
The very first setup (no Warchals) is pleasant to my ears. I prefer the Goldbrokat over the Warchal E string because it is not too bright and it blends perfectly with the bare gut A string. The sound of the D and G strings though are too mellow for the bare A. I would like to hear Warchal G, Warchal D, bare gut A, and Goldbrokat E setup if those would blend well. If not, maybe another G and D strings that sounds not too mellow as the first setup and not too bright as the Warchal G and D. By the way, where can I buy a bare A string like that?
hi Gabriel from NYC I did a video about gut string setup . I love gut strings if you want to explain the right way about what is the difference this how I wold explain . It's like compering drums heads what's better synthetic or real animal skin .well if you ever touch and animal skin drum u know that it's much more reactive then synthetic skin .it reacts to any touch unlike synthetic just a finger rub will create sound .it's the same with gut strings .as far as the different strings in the setup . One must understand and feel the difference in the bowing reaction to a different string on the violin .it's about the stroks what works for one player would not work for the other . example I like the E And the A strings to be a gut and the D and G to be synthetic wound strings .why because if use unwound gut string on the D and the G strings the tension would not be strong to get a loud sound but by wounding the strings there is more tension and more bass but the sensitivity gos away . So wether using wound gut string or synthetic wound gut stings would not make so much difference.
I’m from the USA I play the piano I can compose music but I’m not at the level to express it on the piano and I do not understand the pitch of the piano to understand what notes I think of
I must say that I did not like gut strings when I tried them. I felt they did not accept enough bow pressure to get the "real" ringing and singing sound out of my violin. So I will continue using synthetic strings but I understand why some people like gut.
Wow. Very impressed by both your violin and your playing skill. What a combination, which I don’t quite notice from other luthiers. It is to my belief that one need to actually play well enough to build great violins, cause the nuances of playing is so intricate
Spiral e sound sticks out next to naked a rather than the first e you used. G and d covered guts sound bland next to naked a gut. If use spiral I would reccomend using the last set up you used.
I think the comparison is not fair. You compared aged gut strings with already damped sound with brand new synthetic. My experience with Warchal Amber (of course great strings), the sound’s power decrease after about one or two weeks and then they start a slow decline till they are not usable after 6 months. I think you should compare something like Pirastro Oliv with PI both already broken in.
The sound of your violin is so charming: warm,sweet and yet full! Which were the Aquila gut strings exactly ? Where should I look for them in Belgium ?
So the gut strings sounded mellower but only in comparison to the intensity bright sound of the modern strings. Thank you for making this video. I do prefer the modern strings now that I've heard them side by side.
Greetings from this "Canadian-in-exile" in Bangko; currently a tutti violist in the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as a violin and viola teacher at a school in downtown BKK. If i may say, none of my orchestral colleagues use gut, and heaven forbid that we have our students use them. Heat and humidity issues (perversely, overly air-conditioned studios and concert venues are as much or more of an issue than heat and humidity as one would expect [rare outdoor concerts being an utter disaster for our instrument varnishes...]. Steel and synthetic are almost compulsory here--- though i must confess that a friend, a virtuoso violinist from Australia, insisted upon / persisted in his beloved Eudoxas. He did have to tune his axe more often than i did in our violin-viola duo and string quartet recitals...^^ P.S. The pursuit of the ideal string combo for my instruments seems ever elusive, 9 years plus on, but at present, the viola seems to like the newer Jargar Superior C and G, an Optima (formerly Lenzner) steel / aluminium D, and a stark Pirastro Permanent A. Most durable set of anything i have tried thus far for the three violas i have had (now settled upon a Boris Gortschkov, anno Moskva 1974)...
@@colinwrubleski7627 How is it in Bangkok for musicians, apart from heat and humidity? Thanks for sharing your insights on the ideal string sets. I guess, it's a very personal matter for every musician?
To be honest, 2+ years on, i cannot recall typing the long initial comment about grievances with gut. The previous comments / criticisms about their unsuitability for fluctuating heat and humidity still seem to hold true, methinks. Right now, as Thailand seems struck with paranoia about SARS-Cov-2, it is NOT a propitious time to be a musician in the Bangkok area; the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra in which i play viola has performed exactly 4 concerts this season, instead of the scheduled 40 (20 programs played twice each), and the last one was in mid-March. Sucky... In regards to Warchal, anecdotal evidence from both personal experience and from colleagues here would suggest that their quality and popularity go down as the size of the instrument increases.^^ That is, the spiralled violin E can work very well, their Russian-style violin A and spiralled-A (violin) seem fine, most people dislike the options available for Warchal viola (except for Martin Swan, at www.martinswanviolins.com, who loves the Karneol viola set), and the only 'cellist i know who tried Warchal for 'cello positively detested them. When asked for his feedback, he gave a prolonged "Bronx cheer" (the raspberry of rejection). Sorry to have to report that, but those seem to be the facts. I wish Bohdan Warchal well, and i admire his resourcefulness, customer service, and efforts at innovation (including the Warchal string recycling program), but the verdict is in, at least in regards to my admittedly-small sample size; the lower the pitch of their strings, the worse they sound. Pity, that...
Beautifull sound!! I like it both but my ears prefer the naked gut to be more beautiful But of course it also depends on the person playing it.. The effect of it I think also depend on if your violin is old or new.
Just discovered this video, excellent watch and a fantastic demonstration of the subtle timbral differences existing between different string types! I hadn't realized the relative brightness of synthetic strings was quite so noticeable before. Thank you for your efforts!
Hi Dmitry. Super cool videos you make! Really interesting. I never tried gut strings! Would be interesting. But since my violin is already very soft I bought Pirazzi Gold. This really gives a brilliant, broad and still warm sound. I used to have the Warchall you just put on. Which also gave a beautiful, rounded sound, but they didn't bring out that extra brilliance. And my e-string broke at a certain point. Maybe because of the circular wiring that this is a bit of a weak spot of the Warchalls?
Thanks Christiaan, I'd say, just give your experiment a bit longer to develop. Stick with a set maybe for couple of months, 2-3 months, then switch to another top favourite. See how that makes you feel. Naked gut strings give max high overtones, that silvery shine in the sound. It cannot be replicated in metal strings.
Just a music lover from America...You could just make videos of you playing and I would be happy. I MUCH preferred the first combination, the sound was much more rich and full. After hearing that hearing the full steel strings sounded metallic.
Slovenia, violinist here: Nice, powerful violin there. Slightly boxy (probbably due to room accoustics) on D/A, but warm and full of texture. Gut wins every time sound wise, but for tuning stability I still go for plastic/wound.
Thanks Toni! I appreciate your engagement. Do you like my channel? Feel free to check out my website too badiarovviolins.com There are also some awesome free downloads, "how to distinguish between fine violins and violin shaped objects and never pay more than it is worth" for example. As well as my cd download. Retails at €25, you get it for free. Good deal?
Spookily, the UA-cam algo showed me this video on the very day I'm trying the Warchal Spiral E against my usual Goldbrokat medium guage. Sadly, my initial impression of the Warchal isn't very positive - it's very sweet sounding but on my fiddle it lacks power and doesn't seem to have a solid core to the sound. My £2 Goldbrokat works much better. I guess if it was good enough for Heifetz, it should be good enough for me :-) As for the gut issue, my personal view is that it does sound a little richer and more nuanced. But it's marginal, and the Warchals sound good too - just in a slightly different way. For most working pros, including leading soloists, it seems that the more stable tuning of the modern strings outweighs the slightly superior sound of the guts. I'm old enough to remember when the Dominants were released, and we all switched with a sigh of relief. This was in Scotland, where the weather changes from hour to hour and gut strings were very temperamental...
With geared pegs you can eliminate fine tuners from the Tailpiece (wittner makes tailpieces that don't have fine tuners) so the top will vibrate more freely. Thomastik made Spoon shaped versions of those fine tuning tailpieces.
I am wondering the difference in sound of steel vs synthetic core strings. I assume the metal string tension increases tension, a lot more volume, I suspect the wood overtones are still there but drowned out because they are subtle to start with. The overtone you hear from metal is from the string and less from the wood.
I don't play the violin, but the piano. I have no preference. For comparing loudspeakers, I use the AB test. I think the AB test would also be good for violins. Also, human bias will affect the listeners opinion. Have I made this clear? It is difficult to explain. Thanks, from USA
To my ear, the gut strings sound much more beautiful and complex! The synthetic strings dare I say..... sound loaded but a bit boring. The violin resonance is much more open with the gut strings. With the synthetic strings the sound is a bit choked which is probably due to the higher tension on the instrument. BTW I am a violinist. Thank you fir this wonderful video!
I am a treble viol player (amateur) so my viewpoint is completely biased. Obviously I only play with gut strings, and I believe that polyphony is the greatest achievement of Western music. So rather than the high pressure bravura style of romantic and post-romantic music, what I appreciate in an instrument is its ability to participate in polyphonic music, not its ability to dominate. And by the way, what is this annoying continuous vibrato for? Its like sitting on a jelly. So the ability to blend in with the other instruments when necessary for me is absolutely vital in an instrument.
Nothing sounds richer than gut. Obviously, I am biased after playing with some of the leading baroque ensembles for 12 years. The continuous vibrato is perhaps an equivalent of sugar many people consume in incredible quantities and it seems don't see why it might be an issue.
The chordal passages in the last excerpt seemed more easily played on the synthetic strings - that is, you were drawn to playing that excerpt and not the concerto extract in the 1st 2 examples. Maybe?
I'm in Canada, on the west coast. I'm not a player yet. But I am just beginning to learn. I'm interested in what strings will make my violin sound best. If I can't afford a really great violin; then how can I make my beginner's violin sound as wonderful as possible so as to make practicing most enjoyable. Thanks very Much for your help!
You play beautifully! Do you have tips for setting up the violin to be held comfortably? I have a shoulder rest but it still feels like I have to hold the violin up with my left hand and it hinders my playing.
Thank Greg. Viola pomposa is tuned an octave higher. This is a Violoncello (da spalla, viola da spalla), and it is tuned like the cello. Check this. ua-cam.com/video/ue0X3pqJciM/v-deo.html
Hello, I am a sixteen year old violininst from Australia and I'm wondering whether there are any other synthetic strings like this which are cheaper, or is Warchal the only brand which makes good synthetic strings?
I switched to gut on some of my violins and violas a few years ago. They're a nuisance but I prefer the sound. They sing. They have personality. They have character.
Agree. They have character and personality. Nuisance... yes, maybe, when you compare them with any modern sets, which you buy once, tune once and that's it (a bit exaggerating) for several seasons. Thank you for your comment.
I watched Hannibal and saw the episode where he shoved a violin neck down a guy's throat and used his exposed vocal chords as strings....which brought me here.
Setup explained 0:47
Naked gut A 4:20
Spiral E 7:10
Synthetic A 11:35
All synthetic 16:45
Bach Bminor sarabande 19:06
my hero
Amazing! Thanks!
What brand did you use in 16:45?
@@badiarov Synthetic Strings do last longer than gut strings yes, but I just wish there were Synethic Strings that sound like Gut Strings. I'd like to get something like a Violoncello da Spalla cause I wanted to do "Violin Concertos on Violoncello da Spalla". Why can't you play Bach's Violin Sonatas and partitas on Violoncello da Spalla?
Cheers
He be lookin like 21st Century Beethoven.
They just made a complement and never said anything about them looking identical, at all. I agree a bit, he does remind me a bit of L.V. Beethoven(i.e. the hair).
Yeah
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Ok
No you don't understand. The great violinist Toscha Seidel never died. This is him! :-)
I am 66 years of age. I grew up playing trumpet and I was also a 'guitar banger.' I played the trumpet into my late 20's. I had teeth problems and got very discourage. I quit the trumpet. When in my 30's, I lived in Berkeley, California. I found a 'cellist who was willing to teach me. Excitedly, I purchase a 'cello. My teacher was Richard Anastasio. He was a wonderful man. Those lessons were wonderful. Later, after several moves and a decision to go to graduate school to get a doctorate in psychology at age 39, I gave my 'cello to my niece who wanted a 'cello. Eventually, I began to purchase violas and violins. That said, I miss the 'cello. Now, after many years, I play violins (an violas). I have bought and sold them 'on the cheap' to be able to afford them... and in playing them I have stood in many string shops for hours at a time just to play them. I recently purchased a turn-of-the century violin that came with gut stings on it. I was immediately 'captured' by the sound. I had heard this sound before on a 'treble gamba' I had once played. I since have purchase two 18th century violins (not on the cheap) and play them with guts. To the point, the timbre and the sonority of gut strings is like not other. They have a richness unlike modern strings (opinion). I now play many hours a day. I love music. I have always loved music. I so appreciate the work of Dimtry Badiarov and his 'cello d' spalla' instruments. They are too expensive for me. I have mimicked the technique on instruments... and love it. This video by Dimtry Badiarov... and so many of his other videos are such a gift.
Thank you Dimtry!
Alan
I never knew what I missing out on when it comes to gut strings that the violin was originally designed for. It fits the nature of the instrument so well and it sounds beautiful
This very intriguing! I love how the gut sounded its so beautiful, warmer, a bit darker and more subtle while synthetic core has excellent projection, clarity, and more brighter. Honestly this is what i hear they're both sound beautiful!!!
Thank you so much!
They all sound wonderful when played by someone who can play so well!
Thanks
I wish i could tune that E string as bravely as you do
@rustbeltrefugee or just take off the fine tuners and make yourself learn thats what i did
Very informative. I will have to listen to it with ear buds.
Thank you!
Haha. I know what you mean. I just put naked a gut E Chorda on mine. Tightened forever it seemed.
Warchal Ambers are great for Baroque players who double on a Modern instrument cause they're a tad bit thicker than the gut strings so they feel very close. They've put a lot of thought into making such a string set that sounds and feels the same as Gut strings but lasts many times as long, holds tune longer, and is easier to play.
They are great strings.
How is your hair so magnificent
That is Beethoven right there 😯
Hey Florida in the USA. I’m a cellist in high school and I’m interested in the process of violin creation and I always enjoy what you have to say.
Greetings from Connecticut, USA. I am a beginning violinist and I wanted to hear the difference between gut and synthetic strings. Thanks for the the upload, and sharing your beautiful work!
You play so beautifully and your violins are magnificent. I recently purchased a Venetian violin by Anselmo Bellosio from 1783 and it is set up with Larsen Il Canone. I want to switch the strings to something else, and now you have given me an idea to try some gut strings with the Warshal E. thanks for your videos. I love them
The Warchal Ambers are designed to feel like Gut Strings but they're many times as durable they last many times as long & take a fraction of the time to break in
16:11 I also like the thickness of these Warchal Amber Strings as well they're a little bit thicker than the Gut strings so they feel really close.
Hello from Malta, I am 54 years old. Began learning how to play the violin at age 50. Really wish I started before.
The spiral E seems brighter to me. I like the warmth of the synthetic strings.
Hello from St. Petersburg, Florida (USA)! Thank you very much for comparing the Pirastro Eudoxa and the Warchal Amber violin strings. I was a long-time user of Thomastik Dominant strings and decided, after extensive research, to try the Warchal Amber strings. I was very impressed and vowed never to go back to the Dominants. I found the Warchal Amber strings to be more complex and multidimensional than the Dominants. They are perhaps the best synthetic violin strings in the market today. I am very happy with them, but I am now curious about going back to the strings of my youth, namely the Pirastro Eudoxa strings. I have matured as a player (45 years playing the violin!) and now want to see how the Eudoxa strings compare with the Warchal Amber strings. It seems they don’t differ by much. And I would assume that the synthetic Amber strings don’t lose their pitch as easily as the gut Eudoxa strings and they may possibly last longer too. I very much appreciate your efforts in sharing your thoughts and showing us this comparison. Thank you Sir!!
The Warchal Ambers are a tad bit thicker than the Gut Strings so they feel remarkably identical, they're suitable for Baroque players who double on a Modern instrument & also a fantastic Alternative to the Gut Strings cause they hold tune better.
You have made such an amazing violin, that every string basks in it's reflected glory and they all sound great. But overall I'm convinced that my poor violin of unknown provenience would be happiest with the Warchal strings; all of them. I have dominant strings on her now but I like the ones you demonstrated best, even if they will not sound the same as one of your wonderful violins, Thanks for the demonstration. You have been very generous and helpful!
Thank you! 😃
Warchal said that their Synthetic Core strings have the same sound as Gut Strings but they last longer. D'addario Helicore Strings sound the same as Gut Strings because their core is multiple strands of steel.
Sydney Australia, I play on a french violin made by Jenney Bailey (Daughter of Paul Bailey, apprentice at Villaume workshop). I haven't tried gut strings extensively, but I think it's based on the type of instrument so much more than personal preference. My violin simply whispers with gut strings, while my teacher's instrument is far more synergetic with gut strings.
Thank you for letting us know.
I far prefer the setup with the Synthetic A, from 11:35 on. Somehow, the other two setups sound unmatched and I'm listening to each note rather than the music, if that makes any sense. They just don't blend to my ear.
New strings are very different from strings that have been on the violin for a while. A more interesting test would be among strings that have been played for a month or so.
Exactly!
i love the gut strings on the two bottom strings, the fat gut a string is very bright which i did not expect. Im a violist so i wont comment on the e. i do think Warchal are very good, but i'm going through experimental phase on my viola. I'm looking forward to the arrival of my pirastiro passione. I've been using olbligato and it sounds the best, but i'm changing as a violist as i reach my mid 40s. i used to use only spiracore- very tense power strings. but i'm sold my kundert viola for an Ovington, now I play on an ann Cole. The Bow I use changes everything too. I have a modern Kanestrom, an old w.e. hill bow but I'm finding my Garner Wilson is working best for my viola (its gold mounted and Tourtise shell-does that mean anything??) anyway, Thank you for the demos. its very helpful. ps- i invented the Wrist Rascal. haha. just for beginners-i'll send you a free one if you want!!
Hiya. Talking from London but was born in Brazil. I am biologist but and passioneted violinist also. I got here because I was wondering to change my Evah Pirazzi set up for gut string and you helped a lot. Thanks for this extremaly instructive video. You got a new follower.
Badiarov, I'am from Brazil! Please make videos about differences between bows like sartory vs peccate vs tourte and etc... Thank you for your videos is really helpfull!!
Thanks! Good idea!
I've just done video about how to use baroque bow :)
Hi Dimitri, from Rhenen (province utrecht). I like your video's. I use gut strings on my antique baroque violin. I use 4 etirely gut strings. For the low g string I use a string made of 3 strands of gut (called triple gut from pure corde) to make the string more flexible. For me this works really great on violin, it also works very great (good response) on the g string of my small 5-string 1/2 sized cello, and it might be even working for the low C string on the large 'cello' (although I learned from you that this was not called cello, but 'violon' during the baroque, because with violoncello they meant the schoulder instrument).
I especially became convinced that wound gut strings were only for special instruments during the baroque (for example the viola da spalla), because Leopold Mozart in his book 'Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule' describes very specific that the deeper playing strings of the viola d'amore were 'übersponnen'. This, with the consideration that the viola d'amore has very low playing strings for the string lenght (compared to other string instruments, especially viola da gamba's), seems to suggest that 'normal' instruments from the violin and viola da gamba family were entirely strung with unwound gut strings, like the triple gut from pure corde. Of course nobel people might have used wound gut also on violin and cello and viola da gamba, but poorer musicians too? wound strings are quite fragile and expensive, and although my triple gut strings were also expensive, I get the impression that they will last very long. I think wound strings might even have been more expensive during the baroque era.
In any case: for me triple strings are very great.
What I like about gut strings in general is the 'kind' sound. It gives the instrument a more 'folk' sound. I like playing baroque music as musical art that is naturally flowing from us (how it is meant to be) and not as an aristocratic kind of alienating art. I think especially children will feel they love gut strings more.
There is another advantage. Because gut strings have a greater flexibility it is easier to change tuning without breaking the string (althought we still have to be carefull with the e-string). But changing tune from 415 hz to 460 is, in principle, possible, although there is always be an optimum thickness for the string at a certain tone height.
Great input! Thanks!! So, we are neighbours. I am in The Hague! Welcome to visit me whenever you need anything for your instruments. "aristocratic kind of alienating art" Haha... To the point! Yes, gut strings have an impressive latitude, you can tune them to lots of different pitches without loss of quality. To the point again!
Thank you for making this from Salt Lake City, UT. I am here just to show my husband some violin strings are made from the gut. The difference I heard, pls keep in mind I have an untrained ear, is the synthetic string has a deeper more clear sound.
slick chick hey i thought u played fortnite! Girl gamer... just a chick who loves playing fortnite!
Those gut strings sounded AMAZING! Thanks for making this video! Definitely trying a set on my 1912 Chenantais-Kaul which "isn't very fond" of modern steel strings.
Go for it!
Варшалл звучит более певуче, громче, тембровее. Жильные струны звучат потише, но очень четко и напоминают звучание старых скрипок. Варшалл усиливает резонанс звучания до сольного. Определенно стоит попробовать их и сравнить с Евой золотой, Облигато и Иль Кэнноном Солистом. Спасибо за обзор, очень приятно смотреть вас и слушать замечательное звучание из прекрасной скрипки под руководством талантливого Маэстро!!!
Modern Violin Strings are Flatwound, that is the Wrap Wire was flattened before it was wound around the core. Flatwound Strings were invented as early as 1874 by Hamilton (not to be confused with Alexander Hamilton) and were originally designed to replace the Gut strings cause they last many times as long, cost less, and the flat surface makes bowing on the strings easier.
Thank you. Interesting!
I have a goldbrokat gold e, pirastro naked gut a and d, along with a pirastro silver on gut g string on my violin.
I have used this for years after switching from the dominant set.
Strangely enough I use a passione c, naked gut g, d and a on my viola
And I am here in nyc
Howdy from America. Jr. High and Highschool bass player. bagpiper. I wanted to learn to play the cello from elementary school, but my mother was into Bluegrass music and thus the bass. I prefer gut strings to steel. I tend to play oddball instruments and set up bagpipes that are not supposed to be playable. You play beautifully, thanks for posting !
Aquila makes gut strings.
Greetings from the United States.
I am very much a beginner violinist but I really do enjoy your channel and your outlook on life. I have only ever used synthetic strings, but I would love to try gut some day just to see how they would sound on my violin.
I was very pleasantly surprised with that e string. So very beautiful and warm for a steel e.
I loved the naked a string as well. That blended rather nicely with the Goldbrokat e.
I didn't much care for the Eudopsa d. I can't really explain it, but it sounded a bit metalic and flat to me. Not in pitch, but in tone, in color. It just didn't blend well to me.
I did like the Eudopsa g, however. It was not quite so glaring a difference as the d was.
Thank you so much for this video. I find your channel so educational and informative. I always know that there will be something good to watch here.
Beautiful sounding violin, especially with the gut strings. I’m in New York
Wow. It’s very hard for me to tell a difference. Thank you for the excellent explanation. You really like what you do and it shows!
You're very welcome!
I've never played a violin in my life. I play guitar. But I find this fascinating.
me too!! :)
@@lanceyblue 👍
OMG!!! Someone needs to cast you in a movie!!!! 💙💛❤️🧡💚
I don't know why the instrument is tuned up a half step from GDAE tuning
Hey!
I'm from Austria (Europe) and I'm a Violinist and Violist...
In my opinion the instrument decides wheter the gut or the synthetic strings are better...
I've gat an old violin (about 1850) which does not like any gut strings (I've tried all of Pirastro Repertoire) - but with Synthetic strings it sounds great (full and rich). The other violin (1950) is the complete opposite...It accepst only gut strings, otherwise it sounds metallic and it kind of "screams"...
My viola again likes synthetic core strings...
The instrument decides--- that sounds like an excellent summation.^^
Hi Mastro :) I am from Germany (I play violin in my free time for myself) and I loved both strings sets equally. Can not really say which is better...I guess they have to be tested in a concert hall or something to have a final verdict :) by the way your instrument sounds great! Goed gedan :))
Thanks Saeid! Appreciate your input! yes, both sets are good. Depends on what the player wants. Generally, good response and higher overtones (what is extremely present in the naked A string) carry very well in a hall. Even if the gut sounds less loud, possibly.
The Warchal Amber Strings do have the warmth of Gut w/ the Durability of Steel.
I'm watching from Roseville, California which is Northern California. I love music and really enjoy your videos. My Golden Retriever Beau listens to you play. 🥰
Very cool!
I'm from Cambridge, England and had my violin converted for gut string playing (baroque) - although I mostly play at 440Hz. Some years ago I was caught without a spare gut E string in a draughty hall where the humidity was changing quickly and I sensed that it could not be tuned up without breaking. So I temporarily borrowed a string from the harp player, who gave me a length of nylon string of a similar diameter, which I fitted. I am still paying on that E string 15 years later!! I think it works better now than at the beginning because the action of the bow and rosin has roughened up the surface.
That's exceptional, because I thought nylon strings don't work well under the bow.
Woe woe woe, you sensed a string would break so you changed it to a nylon harp string and then left it on for 15 years? That's mental
15 years is a long time to temporarily borrow a string
Something doesn't add up here, do you tell fibs?
Have you thought of doing a complete swap to harp strings? I mean I guess it will take another 15 years to cure those other 3 strings but hey. 4 Strings for life? Not bad
Well, the plain a gut, d g ( gut wounded) and steel e may refer to the Heifetz setup although he was playing plain gut d and g aswell (tricolore strings)
I do like that setup you have there although was wondering why not using olivs. I think they would be more powerful and even more round.
The synthetic ones sound great too bc they resonate very well and are slightly brighter. Hard to say...
I personally use oliv d silver and g steif in combination with vision solo a and a kaplan e steel on a grancino which goes very well for my 1900 type setup 😉
Thanx for sharing!
Thanks for the video. I am playing Persian and Turkish traditional instruments and am considering using gut or silk strings since I am not fully satisfied with the synthetic strings.
In Turkey the only instrument played with gut strings is the "klasik kemençe", other instruments don't use any more gut or silk strings. In Iran, târ, setâr, and santur use steel and copper strings and sound great with them, but oud players are all using synthetic strings.
So I am looking for experiences from western instruments....
Amazing.
nyc, deep diving into history of nylon strings. brought me here for now
Hi! Are violin strings always the same gauge (thickness)? On guitar we have quite large differences in the thickness... An E string for instance is available in at least 6 different thicknesses!
Hello, there are usually 3 types of gauges. There's light, medium, and thick. Usually, there are more specific terms and types, but those are considered the common phrase. Also, many violinists usually use a medium tension gauge and it is consider a standard in the orchestral string family.
Different notes have different gauges of course. With gut I believe it's done by having different numbers of strands wound into the string itself.
From California I play violin trying first gut strings today..pro sound! Good build
Gut string sounds AMAZING but most are unstable for a few weeks, but ultimately they break in. The Passiones are the most stable of all. If your house temperature stay constant, the pitch fluctuations should be fine. Who was your teacher?
I am an American living in Serbia. I play ukulele, guitar, piano, but am primarily a classical singer and composer. I am very interested in playing in Pythagorean tuning on an instrument to accompany my singing and for my songs.
I am interested in getting a violin or viola, not to bow at all, but only to pluck and strum to accompany my singing. I also really love gut strings which I had on my fretless ukulele. Because I live deep in the middle of nowhere, I need to get an instrument that is already set up with gut strings, or get gut strings separately and restring it myself. I cannot go to a violin shop. While I have restrung many guitars and ukuleles, I have never done so with a violin or viola. I also would like a really good sounding instrument for plucking and strumming without spending ridiculous amounts of money. I need the instrument to project acoustically so that I can hear it while I sing, enough to intonate the chords properly. I would consider a fretless mandolin or mandola, but I do not wish to deal with custom instruments, as that has been a fruitless and costly endeavor so far.
I just want something that I can buy and it will work for strumming chords, including full barres and partial barres of the neck to reach different chords in different keys. The high string I would want to be thick enough to give a full tone/ I do not need a bow, but like I said, I would prefer gut strings, but I do not know if they can just be put on any modern violin or viola without tweaking the instrument. Any suggestions for what I am looking for?
Thank you for sharing.
The very first setup (no Warchals) is pleasant to my ears. I prefer the Goldbrokat over the Warchal E string because it is not too bright and it blends perfectly with the bare gut A string. The sound of the D and G strings though are too mellow for the bare A. I would like to hear Warchal G, Warchal D, bare gut A, and Goldbrokat E setup if those would blend well. If not, maybe another G and D strings that sounds not too mellow as the first setup and not too bright as the Warchal G and D. By the way, where can I buy a bare A string like that?
A CodaBow Joule and Dark Kaplan Premium Rosin might help improve the response of the strings.
Than kyou
hi Gabriel from NYC I did a video about gut string setup . I love gut strings if you want to explain the right way about what is the difference this how I wold explain . It's like compering drums heads what's better synthetic or real animal skin .well if you ever touch and animal skin drum u know that it's much more reactive then synthetic skin .it reacts to any touch unlike synthetic just a finger rub will create sound .it's the same with gut strings .as far as the different strings in the setup . One must understand and feel the difference in the bowing reaction to a different string on the violin .it's about the stroks what works for one player would not work for the other . example I like the E And the A strings to be a gut and the D and G to be synthetic wound strings .why because if use unwound gut string on the D and the G strings the tension would not be strong to get a loud sound but by wounding the strings there is more tension and more bass but the sensitivity gos away . So wether using wound gut string or synthetic wound gut stings would not make so much difference.
I tried almost all the sets by warchal and are sound just stiff,on my modern violin..I play with Titanium solo
I’m from the USA I play the piano I can compose music but I’m not at the level to express it on the piano and I do not understand the pitch of the piano to understand what notes I think of
I must say that I did not like gut strings when I tried them. I felt they did not accept enough bow pressure to get the "real" ringing and singing sound out of my violin. So I will continue using synthetic strings but I understand why some people like gut.
Wow. Very impressed by both your violin and your playing skill. What a combination, which I don’t quite notice from other luthiers. It is to my belief that one need to actually play well enough to build great violins, cause the nuances of playing is so intricate
Wow, thank you!
Spiral e sound sticks out next to naked a rather than the first e you used. G and d covered guts sound bland next to naked a gut.
If use spiral I would reccomend using the last set up you used.
I think the comparison is not fair. You compared aged gut strings with already damped sound with brand new synthetic. My experience with Warchal Amber (of course great strings), the sound’s power decrease after about one or two weeks and then they start a slow decline till they are not usable after 6 months.
I think you should compare something like Pirastro Oliv with PI both already broken in.
The sound of your violin is so charming: warm,sweet and yet full! Which were the Aquila gut strings exactly ? Where should I look for them in Belgium ?
Im in Central Illinois Usa and am a violinist. Love this video. Thank you.
I prefer the first set upt. The violin sounds way more open.
So the gut strings sounded mellower but only in comparison to the intensity bright sound of the modern strings. Thank you for making this video. I do prefer the modern strings now that I've heard them side by side.
You're very welcome!
Greetings from this "Canadian-in-exile" in Bangko; currently a tutti violist in the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as a violin and viola teacher at a school in downtown BKK.
If i may say, none of my orchestral colleagues use gut, and heaven forbid that we have our students use them. Heat and humidity issues (perversely, overly air-conditioned studios and concert venues are as much or more of an issue than heat and humidity as one would expect [rare outdoor concerts being an utter disaster for our instrument varnishes...]. Steel and synthetic are almost compulsory here--- though i must confess that a friend, a virtuoso violinist from Australia, insisted upon / persisted in his beloved Eudoxas. He did have to tune his axe more often than i did in our violin-viola duo and string quartet recitals...^^
P.S. The pursuit of the ideal string combo for my instruments seems ever elusive, 9 years plus on, but at present, the viola seems to like the newer Jargar Superior C and G, an Optima (formerly Lenzner) steel / aluminium D, and a stark Pirastro Permanent A. Most durable set of anything i have tried thus far for the three violas i have had (now settled upon a Boris Gortschkov, anno Moskva 1974)...
BangkoK^^, not Bangko...
@@colinwrubleski7627 How is it in Bangkok for musicians, apart from heat and humidity? Thanks for sharing your insights on the ideal string sets. I guess, it's a very personal matter for every musician?
You should still buy one of mine, Colin. Ha!
To be honest, 2+ years on, i cannot recall typing the long initial comment about grievances with gut. The previous comments / criticisms about their unsuitability for fluctuating heat and humidity still seem to hold true, methinks.
Right now, as Thailand seems struck with paranoia about SARS-Cov-2, it is NOT a propitious time to be a musician in the Bangkok area; the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra in which i play viola has performed exactly 4 concerts this season, instead of the scheduled 40 (20 programs played twice each), and the last one was in mid-March. Sucky...
In regards to Warchal, anecdotal evidence from both personal experience and from colleagues here would suggest that their quality and popularity go down as the size of the instrument increases.^^ That is, the spiralled violin E can work very well, their Russian-style violin A and spiralled-A (violin) seem fine, most people dislike the options available for Warchal viola (except for Martin Swan, at www.martinswanviolins.com, who loves the Karneol viola set), and the only 'cellist i know who tried Warchal for 'cello positively detested them. When asked for his feedback, he gave a prolonged "Bronx cheer" (the raspberry of rejection). Sorry to have to report that, but those seem to be the facts. I wish Bohdan Warchal well, and i admire his resourcefulness, customer service, and efforts at innovation (including the Warchal string recycling program), but the verdict is in, at least in regards to my admittedly-small sample size; the lower the pitch of their strings, the worse they sound. Pity, that...
From the US...starting on violin...
Beautifull sound!! I like it both but my ears prefer the naked gut to be more beautiful
But of course it also depends on the person playing it..
The effect of it I think also depend on if your violin is old or new.
Just discovered this video, excellent watch and a fantastic demonstration of the subtle timbral differences existing between different string types! I hadn't realized the relative brightness of synthetic strings was quite so noticeable before. Thank you for your efforts!
Hi Dmitry. Super cool videos you make! Really interesting. I never tried gut strings! Would be interesting. But since my violin is already very soft I bought Pirazzi Gold. This really gives a brilliant, broad and still warm sound. I used to have the Warchall you just put on. Which also gave a beautiful, rounded sound, but they didn't bring out that extra brilliance. And my e-string broke at a certain point. Maybe because of the circular wiring that this is a bit of a weak spot of the Warchalls?
Thanks Christiaan, I'd say, just give your experiment a bit longer to develop. Stick with a set maybe for couple of months, 2-3 months, then switch to another top favourite. See how that makes you feel. Naked gut strings give max high overtones, that silvery shine in the sound. It cannot be replicated in metal strings.
@@badiarov you look like Toscha Seidel! :-)
@@christiaanveltkamp :) Haha... Exact!
Just a music lover from America...You could just make videos of you playing and I would be happy.
I MUCH preferred the first combination, the sound was much more rich and full. After hearing that hearing the full steel strings sounded metallic.
Slovenia, violinist here:
Nice, powerful violin there. Slightly boxy (probbably due to room accoustics) on D/A, but warm and full of texture.
Gut wins every time sound wise, but for tuning stability I still go for plastic/wound.
Thanks Toni! I appreciate your engagement.
Do you like my channel? Feel free to check out my website too badiarovviolins.com There are also some awesome free downloads, "how to distinguish between fine violins and violin shaped objects and never pay more than it is worth" for example. As well as my cd download. Retails at €25, you get it for free. Good deal?
17:51 why did u tuned it half step higher?
A- 465htz??
isn't that Heifetz string setup?
Spookily, the UA-cam algo showed me this video on the very day I'm trying the Warchal Spiral E against my usual Goldbrokat medium guage.
Sadly, my initial impression of the Warchal isn't very positive - it's very sweet sounding but on my fiddle it lacks power and doesn't seem to have a solid core to the sound. My £2 Goldbrokat works much better. I guess if it was good enough for Heifetz, it should be good enough for me :-)
As for the gut issue, my personal view is that it does sound a little richer and more nuanced. But it's marginal, and the Warchals sound good too - just in a slightly different way. For most working pros, including leading soloists, it seems that the more stable tuning of the modern strings outweighs the slightly superior sound of the guts. I'm old enough to remember when the Dominants were released, and we all switched with a sigh of relief. This was in Scotland, where the weather changes from hour to hour and gut strings were very temperamental...
With geared pegs you can eliminate fine tuners from the Tailpiece (wittner makes tailpieces that don't have fine tuners) so the top will vibrate more freely. Thomastik made Spoon shaped versions of those fine tuning tailpieces.
Geared pegs work well.
Hello from Wyoming, USA. I'm a beginner with violin. I'm learning and this is a great video. Do you have violins for sale?
I am wondering the difference in sound of steel vs synthetic core strings. I assume the metal string tension increases tension, a lot more volume, I suspect the wood overtones are still there but drowned out because they are subtle to start with. The overtone you hear from metal is from the string and less from the wood.
From Juneau, Alaska, USA, a beginning violinist
@UCvEeer6pcEQkH9j7T-5M6Ww
I think Wittner Fine Tune pegs would've been a good upgrade
Your violin sounds great, no tuning pegs. When did you make that violin?
Mr. Badiarov, you don't use any fine tuner?
I don't play the violin, but the piano. I have no preference. For comparing loudspeakers, I use the AB test. I think the AB test would also be good for violins. Also, human bias will affect the listeners opinion. Have I made this clear? It is difficult to explain. Thanks, from USA
To my ear, the gut strings sound much more beautiful and complex! The synthetic strings dare I say..... sound loaded but a bit boring. The violin resonance is much more open with the gut strings. With the synthetic strings the sound is a bit choked which is probably due to the higher tension on the instrument. BTW I am a violinist. Thank you fir this wonderful video!
I am a treble viol player (amateur) so my viewpoint is completely biased. Obviously I only play with gut strings, and I believe that polyphony is the greatest achievement of Western music. So rather than the high pressure bravura style of romantic and post-romantic music, what I appreciate in an instrument is its ability to participate in polyphonic music, not its ability to dominate. And by the way, what is this annoying continuous vibrato for? Its like sitting on a jelly. So the ability to blend in with the other instruments when necessary for me is absolutely vital in an instrument.
Nothing sounds richer than gut. Obviously, I am biased after playing with some of the leading baroque ensembles for 12 years. The continuous vibrato is perhaps an equivalent of sugar many people consume in incredible quantities and it seems don't see why it might be an issue.
love the way you hold your bow
Can tell he's a da spalla player
The chordal passages in the last excerpt seemed more easily played on the synthetic strings - that is, you were drawn to playing that excerpt and not the concerto extract in the 1st 2 examples. Maybe?
I'm in Canada, on the west coast. I'm not a player yet. But I am just beginning to learn. I'm interested in what strings will make my violin sound best. If I can't afford a really great violin; then how can I make my beginner's violin sound as wonderful as possible so as to make practicing most enjoyable. Thanks very Much for your help!
It all depends on what you call "wonderful" :) Good luck!!
I prefer the gut strings; to me they have a richer sound. The E is difficult to tune in gut though. I play both violin & viola. USA
I agree. Nothing beats gut and even if they need to be tuned, it is worth it.
You play beautifully! Do you have tips for setting up the violin to be held comfortably? I have a shoulder rest but it still feels like I have to hold the violin up with my left hand and it hinders my playing.
Thank you. Setting up comfortably depends on many things. Best if you ask a qualified advice from someone who can actually see you and help you
First i need to shift to professional violin then buy that string. I love the spiral E. 🥰😆
Ciao! If i like to change my e string to a gut string, will it sound bad and unbalanced? Hasta pronto.
//Jose
Is that a viola pomposa I see in the background?
Thank Greg. Viola pomposa is tuned an octave higher. This is a Violoncello (da spalla, viola da spalla), and it is tuned like the cello. Check this. ua-cam.com/video/ue0X3pqJciM/v-deo.html
Hello, I am a sixteen year old violininst from Australia and I'm wondering whether there are any other synthetic strings like this which are cheaper, or is Warchal the only brand which makes good synthetic strings?
Aquila.
I switched to gut on some of my violins and violas a few years ago. They're a nuisance but I prefer the sound. They sing. They have personality. They have character.
Agree. They have character and personality. Nuisance... yes, maybe, when you compare them with any modern sets, which you buy once, tune once and that's it (a bit exaggerating) for several seasons. Thank you for your comment.
from america, violinist and violist
Brilliant presentation. Thanks. New York
Thank you.
Wittner Geared Tuners would help it hold tune better.
Sure.
@@badiarov They even make a stringing crank to make cranking them easier
@@RockStarOscarStern634 True!
@@badiarov They'll even save the peg box from wearing out
@@RockStarOscarStern634 You are absolutely right.
I tried them on my modern violin but I didnt like them,somehow stiff the sound..I like Thonastic,how is sound these strings on your violin..?
It feels like synthetic is for a pure tone and gut is to give body and depth
Thank you for sharing how it feels to you.
I watched Hannibal and saw the episode where he shoved a violin neck down a guy's throat and used his exposed vocal chords as strings....which brought me here.
Anyone know what he is playing at 14:06 ? It sounds beautiful.
i believe it's from bach's chaconne from his second partita, truly one of the best pieces for violin of all time
Yes , the Synthetic strings seems more Powerful, Clearer voice than the GUT strings. I also prefer the Synthetic Core strings...