"false" sound on new strings?

[Irene]

I put new Aricores on my violin yesterday, and after a few hours of playing the strings no longer go out of tune. The sound of the strings is quite pleasant. However, I noticed that the D and G strings make a really strange sound when I play rapid whole bows across the open strings--a "wow-wow" sound. The pitch rises significantly in the middle of the bow, and it's quite annoying. I have never experienced this before with a string, unless it's really old. Any ideas on why that is happening? My A and Gold E don't have this problem at all.

Is there anything I can do about it? Is is possible that the change in pitch will stop after the strings have settled a little longer?

Irene

[Al Stancel]

Hello Irene:

You mention that the problem is on open strings. If the stopped (fingered) notes on the same strings have no problem, you should check the nut grooves for proper size and depth. The strings you put on are more than likely smaller diameter than the strings you had on previously.

The nut grooves should be very shallow and not too wide. If the strings are already close to the fingerboard, a new nut may be needed.

Also, check for open seams.

Good luck,

Al

[Irene]

Thank you for your suggestion-- I actually did notice that the nut grooves might have been a little worn, but I still get that funny sound when the strings are stopped with the first finger in first position or below (even when pressing REALLy hard, harder than I would if I were actually playing). Higher than that it is OK. I can hear it a little bit with the second finger, but it's not at at all obvious after that. Maybe it is just the string.

: Hello Irene:

: You mention that the problem is on open strings. If the stopped (fingered) notes on the same strings have no problem, you should check the nut grooves for proper size and depth. The strings you put on are more than likely smaller diameter than the strings you had on previously.

: The nut grooves should be very shallow and not too wide. If the strings are already close to the fingerboard, a new nut may be needed.

: Also, check for open seams.

: Good luck,

: Al

[Al Stancel]

Hello again: There may be a small lump in the fingerboard....just large enough to be annoying on one type of string, but not another.

A straight edge placed agains the G string along the fingerboard, and sighted to a light source will tell you if lumps are there. These are removed by the luthier with a plane and sandpaper....using a backing shaped to the fingerboard curve.

Just another thought,

Al