A R T I C L E S
Set-up - an introduction
Guide to cello measurements
What is a full-sized cello?
Bridge design
Taming wolf notes
Tailpieces and tailcords
The challenge of trying cellos
Left hand comfort for cellists
Right hand comfort for cellists
Healthy cello backs
Cello transport
Cello cases - survey report
Review of A and D strings
Review of G and C strings
New cello strings 2009
Survey of string design
G.B. Guadagnini's cellos
Study of 1729 Guarneri cello
Bow testing techniques
The appeal of bows
Players  test bows
Saving the Pernambuco

C E L L O S
Cellos for sale
Bows for sale
Cellos by Robin Aitchison
Cello set-up
C E L L O  E X C H A N G E
Cello exchange
S T R I N G  T R I A L S
String Trials
A B O U T  U S
Cello specialists
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Travelling to Ely
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C E L L O S
Cellos for sale
Bows for sale
Cellos by Robin Aitchison
Cello set-up
C E L L O  E X C H A N G E
Cello exchange
S T R I N G  T R I A L S
String Trials
A B O U T  U S
Cello specialists
Biographies
Feedback from cellists
Travelling to Ely
Contact us
C E L L O  C A R E  G U I D E
Cello Care Guide
Order free copies
A R T I C L E S  &  N E W S
Articles and Newsletters
L I N K S
Links

During the four years since our last strings reviews there have been some exciting new innovations by string manufacturers which we have tested with the kind help of cellist friends.  We also continue to explore the potential of existing cello strings every time a cellist comes for a string trial.  Each trial gives us a deeper insight into the tonal potential of both new and established cello strings, so we have decided to review not only the latest new releases, but also several more established strings which were not described in detail in our last reviews (see Review of A and D strings and Review of G and C strings). 

Strings reviewed include: D’Addario Kaplan Solutions, Pirastro Passione and Rostanvo A & D.  Below these reviews you will find a table of selected cello strings giving details of their windings, core materials and string tensions.  Please note: when calculating string tensions, Pirastro uses a vibrating length of 690mm whilst all other manufacturers use a vibrating length of 700mm, which amounts to a 1.5% difference.  To adjust Pirastro’s data, you might like to multiply their tensions by 1.015. 

New releases: 

Pirastro Passione: Following their success with Passione violin and viola strings, Pirastro released Passione Cello G & C strings in 2008.  Like the violin and viola strings, the cello G & C have a natural gut core with a patented synthetic woven sleeve which protects the gut core from humidity changes, thus improving the pitch stability and longevity of the string without losing the tonal qualities of gut.  Passione cello C is wound with tungsten which helps to increase the clarity of sound. These strings have a higher tension than Eudoxas and so feel more rigid under the left hand and the response under the bow also differs from Eudoxa.  Passione A & D strings have just been released this autumn and are proving very popular.  Three out of the five cellists who tested them for us are now using them on their instruments.  These strings have a distinctively clear, fresh sound, a smooth texture and a colourful tonal core.  Cellists also report that these strings have a quick, clean response and are easily tuned.

Kaplan Solutions: D’Addario has also been hard at work extending their Kaplan Solutions set.  Kaplan Solutions A & D were new on the scene when we wrote our last review and they have proved to be excellent strings with great power, tonal depth and clarity, with more texture than Larsen Standard strings.  This autumn D’Addario has just released the Kaplan Solutions G & C to complete the range and the early feedback has so far been excellent.  These strings have a good, rich sound quality and are quick to respond; the G is noticeably smoother and less metallic sounding than a Spirocore G.  ‘Easy to play, quick response to short bow strokes, C string is not aggressive but the G is a bit over-focussed higher up the string,’ says one cellist.

Rostanvo is a totally new string brand.  The first string to be released was the tungsten D which is very powerful and bright, with a distinctive  textural edge to the sound.  A heavy tension A string has also just been released.  No detailed data is yet available but the strings are proving popular in France and can be ordered online from www.rostanvo.com

Established strings:

Pirastro Obligato strings have a multi-strand synthetic core with metal windings (except for the metal core A) and they fall into the same category as Dominant, Aricore and Synoxa.  Obligato strings are not especially new (launched in 2000) but what makes them distinctive is that Obligato G & C strings incorporate tungsten in the windings and reach pitch at a similar tension to other modern metal strings (see table opposite).  These strings have a warm, rich and complex sound and we have experienced a recent surge of interest in the G & C strings from professional players who are still seeking the qualities of covered gut bottom strings without the hassle.

Evah Pirazzi Soloist: Evah Pirazzi (EP) cello strings were launched back in 2004, followed by EP Soloist A & D in 2005.  Since then, Pirastro have released EP G & C Soloists and the whole EP Soloist set has since become very popular amongst cellists.  EP Soloist strings are powerful with a lot of resonance which can be quite overwhelming until the strings are played in.  Some players change EP Soloists one at a time in order to stay grounded, but consider it a small price to pay.  The bottom strings are more focussed first cousins to the tungsten Spirocore bottom strings, while the top strings strike a pleasing balance of focus, textured sound and projection, with a feeling of freedom under the bow.  What is most unusual about EP Soloists is that these strings really do constitute a coherent set; devotees like to use all four EP Soloists on their instruments.

Tungsten G string Syndrome 

The more experience we have with cello strings, the clearer it becomes that cello G strings can be a real nuisance, particularly those with tungsten windings.  A fresh tungsten G string is often fitted in an act of faith that its aggressive tone will eventually mellow and match the C string.  The most extreme example of this syndrome is the tungsten Spirocore G but to some extent this is also true of Helicore, Permanent, Obligato and Evah Pirazzi G strings.  We understand from our conversations with string developers that traditionally they like to keep the thickness of the G string down, which in turn leads to a very high proportion of tungsten in the winding which is responsible for the aggressive, nasal sound of these strings before they are played in.  Some players have rejected tungsten bottom strings altogether as a result; others value the clarity of the tungsten Spirocore C string so much that they are willing to combine a non-tungsten G with a tungsten C.  We have seen Larsen Soloist, Spirocore Silver, Permanent Soloist, Belcanto and even Aricore fitted alongside tungsten Spirocore C strings.  Recent feedback about the new Kaplan Solutions G suggests that D’Addario have been working successfully to overcome this problem and we hear that Larsen have just released a new Wire core G which also addresses this issue.  We now await new metal core bottom strings for the Passione cello set, so let’s hope that some progress will be made in this quest for the ideal cello G string.