Thomastik "Rondo" Strings

[Jacobus Drainer]

5 hours ago, mbrancalion said:

€108.56 for a set? ..........

Rondough.

[Mark Norfleet]

19 hours ago, Michael Darnton said:

They don't sound like Visions!

By the way, they last a ridiculously long time.

I'm glad to hear that they don't sound like Visions, I really dislike them on almost every instrument I've played with them on it.

Do the Rondos maintain their sound quality for a long time, or just hold up well physically?

I have clients who enjoy Evah P. strings, but feel they loose their magic after a month or so...

[Jeffrey Holmes]

23 minutes ago, Mark Norfleet said:

I'm glad to hear that they don't sound like Visions, I really dislike them on almost every instrument I've played with them on it.

Do the Rondos maintain their sound quality for a long time, or just hold up well physically?

I have clients who enjoy Evah P. strings, but feel they loose their magic after a month or so...

Hi Mark;

My clients use Rondos report very decent tonal life... and that's been my experience as well.

Mostly with you on the Visions, though I've thought they sounded fine on some instruments that came though. I keep a set or two around just in case the player can't live without them... but I think they've been sitting on the shelf untouched for at lease a year and a half.

I've always had difficulty with Eva's holding up... and they seem to be weirdly affectedly humidity. Still have some clients using them, but fewer than there once were.

[Mark Norfleet]

39 minutes ago, Jeffrey Holmes said:

 

Mostly with you on the Visions, though I've thought they sounded fine on some instruments that came though. I keep a set or two around just in case the player can't live without them... but I think they've been sitting on the shelf untouched for at lease a year and a half.

 

Thanks Jeffrey!

I think the only player I work with whom I've not been able to talk out of the Vision strings is a certain Russian violist (now retired)  who was probably raised with steel strings.  Other than him, I think I've been able to nudge everyone else away from them.

[Michael Darnton]

I haven't cared for visions; as you say, they resemble steel more than I want to hear. Too tight for me, not expansive enough.

Regarding lifespan, Rondos don't go bad in the same way as other strings--they slowly degrade, but still sound consistent with nothing odd going on in any one place. It's like the whole set goes bad the same way, all together. When I ask players if they want their strings changed they often say no, but if I insist, after the change they make some comment like "OK, that's different! I guess I should have changed a while ago." But they weren't obviously bad before.

[Jacobus Drainer]

20 minutes ago, Mark Norfleet said:

Russian violist (now retired)  who was probably raised with steel strings. 

There was a time when when it wasn't only fiddlers using steel strings.  I've wondered what a full set of Lenzners would be like since their E string is so good.   I'm afraid of snapping my bridge in two or the whole thing collapsing or something though.

[violinnewb]

46 minutes ago, Jeffrey Holmes said:

I've always had difficulty with Eva's holding up... and they seem to be weirdly affectedly humidity. Still have some clients using them, but fewer than there once were.

Ugh...you guys (most of whom I respect from reading your posts) are killing me...

I need new strings.  I have used Eva's for a couple of years.  They just sound great.  But yes...they do not last long. 

So the consensus from the luthiers and shop owners seem to be that Rondo are the new Evahs...or better.

I was going to order the EP Gold today but now I have to do some more research. Damn you! 

[Davide Sora]

It seems like there aren't many Vision fans here...

But in my opinion, a distinction must be made between Vision Titanium and Vision Solo, actually very metallic the former but not at all the latter. I still have to try the Rondò, but I've heard some players who appreciate them, aside from the cost.

By the moment I like the Vison Solo (not Titanium), with Goldbrokat .26 E string

[Potter]

I think they around 70$ from our luthier
 

[Spelman]

I used the Vision Ti Solos for many years and am now a big Warchal Timbre fan. Never really liked Evas or PIs.

Can anyone compare the Rondos to the Timbres?

[germain]

Wholesale for a set is at about 50 Euro around $65/70 I guess. I bought two sets at retail for $100 each today. I like supporting small shop owners... looking forward to trying them

[Mark Norfleet]

10 hours ago, Michael Darnton said:

Regarding lifespan, Rondos don't go bad in the same way as other strings--they slowly degrade, but still sound consistent with nothing odd going on in any one place. It's like the whole set goes bad the same way, all together. When I ask players if they want their strings changed they often say no, but if I insist, after the change they make some comment like "OK, that's different! I guess I should have changed a while ago." But they weren't obviously bad before.

Thanks Much for sharing your observations and experience!  I'll have to get some to acquaint myself with how they sound and feel.  I'm surprised that none have wandered into my shop by now, but then things are pretty quiet in general these days.

[cellopera]

Regarding the Rondo strings for Cello, I must say they are the best strings that I have encountered so far. They are really well balanced, and this is a tough quality to achieve, especially when most cellists combine strings all the time. Back in May I put on the first complete set, and at the end of October renewed a fresh pair of A and D strings. The “old” A and D are currently on my other Cello and still sound amazing! They definitely achieved a new standard for Cello strings.

[Andreas Preuss]

This discussion looks to me like coming from a different planet. In Japan I haven't seen anyone with Rondo strings and did not get one single inquiry. Here the Cannone strings seems to be very popular now.

[cellopera]

1 minute ago, Andreas Preuss said:

This discussion looks to me like coming from a different planet. In Japan I haven't seen anyone with Rondo strings and did not get one single inquiry. Here the Cannone strings seems to be very popular now.

For cellists, the Larsen string lines are big disappointment. For the price they are asking, the A and D are basically useless after a month of playing...

[Michael K.]

On 12/11/2020 at 1:38 PM, Bodacious Cowboy said:

Have you tried the Warchal Timbre, Michael?

Yes I tried. They are great too. The a-string is waved too like the "e" like with Amber-Set.

[duane88]

12 hours ago, Andreas Preuss said:

This discussion looks to me like coming from a different planet. In Japan I haven't seen anyone with Rondo strings and did not get one single inquiry. Here the Cannone strings seems to be very popular now.

They are in use in Kyoto, but just a few people. Same with the Warchal Amber E. I took them there last year and sent some recently with a friend, just as gifts to see where they go or if they go.

I can't give the Cannone string away here...

[The Violin Beautiful]

3 hours ago, duane88 said:

....

I can't give the Cannone string away here...

In my area the Cannone strings got some attention after the VSA convention came to town. A few of us got samples from Larsen to try out. I sold a couple sets, then the interest in them dropped off a cliff. No one has even mentioned them in a long time. There were a lot of complaints about the very high initial retail price and a short lifespan. In the shop we still have a pile of sets on a shelf that’s gathering dust.

 

[Jeff White]

On 12/11/2020 at 8:19 AM, Richf said:

Michael, a quick look at the Thomastik website shows two variations of the Rondo A strings -- carbon steel core chrome wound (more expensive) and synthetic core aluminum wound.  So far, there seems to be only a single option for the E, D, and G.  Which A string are you choosing?

Michael, did this get answered? Or did I mess it????

[Jeff White]

On 12/11/2020 at 8:19 AM, Richf said:

Michael, a quick look at the Thomastik website shows two variations of the Rondo A strings -- carbon steel core chrome wound (more expensive) and synthetic core aluminum wound.  So far, there seems to be only a single option for the E, D, and G.  Which A string are you choosing?

Michael, did this get answered? Or did I mess it????

[Michael Darnton]

We are using the synthetic/aluminum A.