What strings do I use?

Strings are technology too!  Many students ask what brand/type of strings I use on my personal instruments, so I thought I would post my favorites and why I like them.

Violin (First Choice): D’Addario Kaplan Amo

Kaplan Am help provide a me with the greatest quality sound, projection, and response. They are more expensive than others, but worth it in my opinion.

Violin (Second Choice): D’Addario Zyex

Zyex help provide a wide-range of tonal qualities from warm to rich, but also remain very responsive.  They break in almost immediately and last quite a long time. They are also very budget-friendly.

Viola: D’Addario Helicore

The number one issue that I have as a violinist who also plays viola is string response time, particularly on the thicker  G and C strings.  The Helicore strings are extremely responsive, yet produce a warm and powerful tone.

Cello: D’Addario Helicore or D’Addario Kaplan

Cello is not my primary instrument, however I have been fortunate to have studied privately during my undergraduate and graduate work, so I purchased a decent cello and want it to sound great. Helicore and Kaplan cello sets help me get a warm and rich tone across the entire instrument.

Double Bass:  D’Addario Helicore Orchestral

A favorite of mine since I first started teaching, the Helicore Orchestral double bass strings are the perfect balance of warmth, power, and response.  They work well for both pizzicato and arco playing.

* Note:  While D’Addario offers a variety of playing tensions, the strings I use are medium tension.

What strings do you recommend for your students and your school instruments?

Please read this page to see my string recommendation for education.

Why D’Addario?

I appreciate the quality and consistency of D’Addario strings.  For years, I used strings from other companies, particularly those companies based in Europe.  I found that the quality was not always consistent from set to set.  I would also have a considerable amount of breakage near the ball end of the string, which was extremely frustrating when you have paid a lot of money for strings and only have one backup set.  I don’t like to return items to the store.

In my quest for the perfect strings, the D’Addario Orchestras sales staff were extremely knowledgeable in providing useful information and professional guidance that helped me make the best choice for my instrument and my playing style(s).

Finally, I love that all of the D’Addario bowed strings are designed, engineered, and manufactured at the company headquarters in Farmingdale, New York.  USA proud!