Choosing the right violin strings is a crucial aspect of optimizing your instrument's sound and playability. As demonstrated in our video below, the same violin can sound very different depending on the strings you choose. 

The best strings for you depend on various factors, including your playing style, the genre of music you perform, your instrument, and personal tonal preferences. One of the most popular violin string manufacturers is German company, Pirastro. 

Pirastro’s legacy spans over 200 years, having been founded in 1798 in Offenbach, Germany. Pirastro has earned a reputation for excellence in string making through their commitment to quality, innovation, and tradition. The company's extensive range of strings caters to the diverse needs of musicians and are favoured by professional musicians and students alike.

To help you find the right strings we have put together the below guide to the Pirastro violin string range, including a brief description of each model. 

Pirastro Violin String Guide:

• Material: Steel core with metal winding
• Description: Piranito strings provide a bright, clear sound with good projection. They are designed for students and beginner players, offering reliability and affordability without sacrificing quality.

• Material: Synthetic core with metal winding
• Description: Tonica strings provide a warm, clear sound with good projection. They offer a quick response and stable tuning, making them an excellent choice for students and intermediate players looking for reliable performance and affordability.

• Material: Synthetic core with metal winding
• Description: Violino strings offer a warm, mellow tone with a quick response. They provide stability and durability, making them an excellent choice for students and intermediate players seeking reliable performance and affordability.

• Material: Synthetic core with metal winding
• Description: Evah Pirazzi strings offer a powerful, bright and brilliant sound with excellent projection. They are known for their responsiveness and stability, making them suitable for solo performances and orchestral settings where clarity and depth are desired.

• Material: Synthetic core with metal winding
• Description: Obligato strings produce a warm, round tone with a quick response. They offer a balanced sound across all registers, making them ideal for both solo and ensemble playing, particularly suited for musicians seeking versatility and flexibility and who enjoy a warmer tone.

• Material: Synthetic core with gold-infused winding
• Description: Evah Pirazzi Gold strings provide a warm, powerful sound with enhanced brilliance and projection. They offer excellent responsiveness and tonal depth, making them ideal for soloists and advanced players seeking maximum expressiveness and richness in their performances.

• Material: Synthetic core with metal winding
• Description: Perpetual strings offer a focused, dynamic sound with excellent projection and clarity. They provide stability and responsiveness across all registers, making them a versatile choice for soloists and ensemble players who require precision and control in their performances.

• Material: Gut core with metal winding
• Description: Passione strings offer a rich, complex sound with a traditional gut-like warmth and brilliance. They provide excellent response and tonal nuance, making them popular among musicians seeking a classic, nuanced sound reminiscent of historical performances.

• Material: Gut core with metal winding
• Description: Eudoxa strings are known for their warm, mellow tone and rich overtones. They offer a smooth, nuanced sound with a classic gut-like feel, making them ideal for musicians who appreciate traditional gut strings and seek authenticity in historical performance practices.

• Material: Synthetic core with metal winding
• Description: Wondertone Solo strings provide a brilliant, focused sound with enhanced projection. They offer excellent responsiveness and clarity, making them well-suited for soloists who require maximum expressiveness and articulation in their performances.

• Material: Steel core with metal winding
• Description: Chromcor strings offer a bright, focused sound with good projection. They are known for their stability and durability, making them a popular choice for students and ensemble players seeking reliable performance. They are also a good choice for players of carnatic music.

Video string comparison:

So we bet you want to know how they sound!

We created a video demonstration of Pirastro's range of higher end violin strings. Our workshop set up four Manfred Schafer 801 violins with exactly the same fittings, the only difference being the strings on each, providing the best possible comparison. 

In the video below Myles demonstrates Evah Pirazzi, Obligato, Evah Pirazzi Gold and Perpetual violin strings by playing the same scale and excerpts on each. Which is your favourite!? 

Strings played:

• Evah Pirazzi
• Obligato
• Evah Pirazzi Gold
• Perpetual

As always, if you have any questions or would like advice on finding the right string for you, please don't hesitate to drop into our showroom or give us a call on 03 8802 7905.

View the full Pirastro string and rosin collection here.