Spoilt for choice

A variety of string, bow, shoulder rest and rosin manufacturers present specific ranges that are designed to be the best product you can buy within your price point

PIRASTRO

Affordable

Tonica violin and viola sets

Pirastro’s Tonica range is available for both violin and viola. They are available in several sizes to account for growing young musicians. The violin set comes in sizes from 1/32 to full size, while the viola set comes in sizes from half to full size. The strings are made with a nylon core and designed for an easy response, left-hand responsiveness and right-hand articulation. The range also aims for a well-rounded sound, balanced across all four strings. The violin set is wound in a variety of materials, with the standard set including a silverysteel E string, aluminium-wound A string and silver-wound D and G strings. The viola set’s A and D strings are aluminiumwound, the G string is silver-wound and C string tungsten-silver-wound.

Pirastro Tonica violin set from £26

Pirastro Tonica viola set from £41

Flexocor Deluxe cello set

The Flexocor Deluxe strings for cello were made to combine volume with a warm tone and a balanced sound spectrum. They have a soft-to-medium string tension to offer a pleasant playing feel, particularly on the G and C strings. The chrome steel-wound A and D strings have a solid steel core, while the tungstenwound G and C strings have a rope steel core.

Pirastro Flexocor Deluxe cello set from £150

Perpetual double bass set

PIRASTRO GMBH

The Perpetual double bass strings were designed with a flexible steel rope core and chrome steel winding to achieve versatility. The design is also focused on projection, clear tone and comfortable left-hand feel. The strings are particularly suited for pizzicato, but still appropriate for arco players. For a warm and full tone, the thicker Stark G and D strings are available, as well as a set in Solo tuning.

Pirastro Perpetual double bass set from £211

Email info@pirastro.com

Web www.pirastro.com

High-end

Evah Pirazzi Gold Set G-Gold violin and Evah Pirazzi Gold viola sets

The Evah Pirazzi Gold set, including a gold G string for violin, has a synthetic core and was designed to offer a full-bodied sound, brilliant tone and a great dynamic range. The set is particularly appropriate for skilled players looking for nuance. Ten years after its release, Pirastro introduced the Evah Pirazzi Gold steel core set for viola in 2022, created to offer a brilliant and direct sound without metallic harshness. The standard viola set comes with a steel A string, synthetic-core D and G strings wound in silver and a C string wound in tungsten-silver. Alternative sets include a rope core/tungstenwound steel C string and a full steel set.

Pirastro Evah Pirazzi Gold (G-Gold) violin set from £119

Pirastro Evah Pirazzi Gold viola set from £116

Perpetual cello set

The Perpetual set for cello was created with easy playability, flexibility and a wide sound spectrum in mind. The aim was also to offer a long-lasting set, with a harmonious blend between all the strings. To enhance the natural qualities of every cello and playing style, the range includes a variety of sets and alternative strings: Medium, Soloist with an additional A Soloist Soft and Strong, Edition with an extra C Edition Strong to choose, and G and C Cadenza or Stark.

Pirastro Perpetual cello set from £278

PIRASTRO GMBH

Original Flat-Chrome double bass set

The Original Flat-Chrome strings for double bass are especially suited for arco playing, and were created to handle even the most powerful bowing techniques and to offer exceptional tuning stability. As with all of Pirastro’s steel-core double bass strings, this set features a high-tensile carbon steel rope core, which is wound in chrome steel. The set is available in both Orchestra and Solo tuning.

Pirastro Original Flat-Chrome double bass set from £325

Email info@pirastro.com

Web www.pirastro.com

ARCUS AND MÜSING BOWS

Affordable

Müsing bows are designed to cater primarily to the needs of students and amateurs. They offer a flawless and natural playing style combined with same sound as pernambuco bows, while being much more durable. The C3 is one up from the entry model, offering a superior sound and a stainless-steel outfit. The Müsing violin bows weigh around 55 grams and their resiliency is about 50 per cent above traditional bows.

Müsing C3 violin bow €990

Mid-range

The Arcus T6 is the company’s best-selling model. With its snakewood frog, full sterling-silver outfit and a sound quality designed to match the finest wooden bows, it is aimed at orchestral players, professional and amateurs alike. It weighs around 51 grams, with a resiliency 80 per cent above the strongest wooden bows. Among the wide range of Arcus bows, the T-series is designed to offer a sound that equally balances brilliance with warmth.

Arcus T6 violin bow €2,400

High-end

A step up from the T6, the Arcus T9 is the company’s top-of-the-range model and offers a full solid-gold outfit and superior sound. The bow is designed to bring out the best possible tonal palette and superior power, projection and clarity when put to the string. The T9 is aimed at soloists, concertmasters, or those with ambitions to win competitions or excel in auditions.

Arcus T9 violin bow €8,500

Email contact via website

Web www.arcus-muesing.de

www.thestrad.com

LARSEN STRINGS

Affordable

Aurora violin set

Targeted towards all ages, Larsen’s Aurora violin strings were designed for fast response and a balance between brilliance, warmth, breadth and focus. Both medium and strong tensions are available in full size, while medium tensions are available in fractional sizes from 1/16 to ¾. The E string features a bespoke carbon-steel core, the aluminium-wound A string has a synthetic core, and the G string comes in a silver winding. The D string comes in either double-wound aluminium or an aluminium and silver winding.

Larsen Strings Aurora Violin Strings (Medium Silver) €42.36 excl. VAT

Mid-range

Il Cannone Direct & Focused violin set

Larsen’s Direct & Focused version of its Il Cannone medium and soloist strings were created to offer a clearer, brighter and more direct sound than the original Il Cannone range. The Direct & Focused’s synthetic core is a new development and winding materials have been processed with a new method to enrich the set’s colours. It was created to be the most versatile set in the Larsen violin range, and is recommended for the demanding professional.

Larsen Strings Il Cannone Direct & Focused violin set €85.91 excl. VAT

High-end

Il Cannone Gold violin set

The Il Cannone Gold violin set features the first ever gold-wound D string, which Larsen describes as powerful with lots of body, while also offering softer dynamics. The G string is also made with a high-grade gold alloy, with a bespoke synthetic core to suit the heavy winding. The upper strings’ materials were chosen to complement the D and G strings: the carbon-steel E for more focus, and the A for clarity.

Larsen Strings Il Cannone Gold violin set €385.88 excl. VAT

Email larsenstrings@larsenstrings.com

Web www.larsenstrings.com

CECILIA ROSIN

Affordable

Mini rosins

Cecilia Rosin offers mini versions of its Signature, SOLO and A Piacere versions. The Signature is formulated for clear bowing response with full and rich tones, the SOLO for strong projection and articulation, and the A Piacere for a relatively warmer and more blended sound than the SOLO. They are available for violin, viola and cello and can be purchased with a rosin spreader.

Cecilia Rosin mini rosins from $29

High-end

Sanctus rosin

The Sanctus rosin combines two formulas within one cake. The outer ring is created to give smooth bowing with a focused sound, while the centre has a softer and grippier formula that helps with power when demanded. It is available for violin, viola and cello, and comes with a rosin spreader. While it has the highest price point in the range, whether a musician prefers it depends on their playing style.

Cecilia Rosin Sanctus Formula $55

Email mgt@cremonainamerica.com

Web www.cremonainamerica.com

KUN

Affordable

Super rest

The Kun Super rest combines a streamlined shape with ultra-fine width adjustment. The aim with this rest is to offer an exceptional set-up that won’t break the bank. The lightweight Super rest pivots, while its width positioning is designed for stability and to ensure comfort and peace of mind during practice and performance. The rest is available in the following sizes: viola, violin 4/4 and violin 1/2 and 3/4, and while it doesn’t fold, its slender shape allows it to fit in most instrument cases.

Kun Super rest from $29.75

High-end

Bravo rest

Launched in 1999, Kun’s Bravo rest features an elegant design and is made from the highest-quality materials. Its bent laminate base is hand-finished in flamed maple and pairs with the resonant brass fittings to enhance the sound of your instrument. It is available for full-size violin and viola and comes in standard and folding versions.

Kun Bravo rest from $85.25

Email contact via website

Web www.kunrest.com