Cello string recommendations

[Avery Amerine]

Hi all! I am looking to buy a new set of cello strings, I have not changed mine in 2.5 years so I need new ones. my budget is anywhere from $200-$350. My dream set of strings is the Versum strings but they are just too expensive right now. Are there any strings that you know that have a similar sound to them? I really would like strings that are direct and speak very well, I don't like how bright my A string is so I would also like a warmer sound for my A string and in general. my cello is about 3 years old so he is pretty young. I play every day, I am a music Ed major in college so I need strings that last a while too. Thank you!

[MikeD]

I really like Thomastik Rondo strings; they have a very balanced sound, and they don’t need much breaking in — they sound good almost right away. But they are quite expensive. If the budget is limited, a good option would probably be the classic combination: A and D – Larsen Soloist Medium, and C and G – Magnacore.

Edited October 10 by MikeD

[baroquecello]

I'm a pro cellist with a slight Obsession with setup, but also a dislike of spending too much or throwing away things. If you don't like bright a strings, Thomastik (rondo, versum, dominant pro, spirocore) is not the best choice for you if you want to stick with a whole set, as their upper two strings are always on the bright side. That said, if you did not abuse your strings, I'd be surprised if the g and c versum strings you currently use are already dead, as such thick wirecore strings usually can last very long. If I were you, I'd clean the strings thoroughly with some not too much!) alcohol on a tissue (first clean the rosin off with a cork, then use one tissue to clean of the rest of the rosin off, then take the tension off the string carefully,  then use a fresh tissue for the whole string. Do not use much alcohol and work quickly as you do not want it to penetrate the string but only clean the surface (and be careful not to drip any alcohol on the varnishof the instrument). After that, give the bridge and upper nut some fresh graphite and string the strings exactly as they were on before) and get a new a and probably also d string. If you like darker sounding strings,  Jargar a and d strings are a good place to start, likely the "forte" version is going to fit better, at least most professionals use that. Generally,  I change a strings (every 6 to 10 months) twice as often as d strings, and g and c strings every 4 years or so (although usually I get to a point of wanting to try something new sooner than that). Do not replace the lower two before having tried them with replaced a and d strings. Because of bad overtones, a single worn out string will make the other strings sound bad, and likely you'll be surprised how good the old other strings will sound once the bad ones have been replaced. 

Report back on what cleaning and replacing the a string does for you, and if you then still want to replace the rest of the set!

 

[nathan slobodkin]

10 hours ago, MikeD said:

I really like Thomastik Rondo strings; they have a very balanced sound, and they don’t need much breaking in — they sound good almost right away. But they are quite expensive. If the budget is limited, a good option would probably be the classic combination: A and D – Larsen Soloist Medium, and C and G – Magnacore.

I am not a cello player but have nade and sold a lot of cellos. I am not familiar with the Magnacore. How do they copare to Spirocore or Versum?

[arglebargle]

I find that Perpetual C and G (Pirastro) combined with either Larsen or Jargar A and D is a great combination. The Perpetual lower strings give a huge deep warm sound, not bright but very "big". A bit pricey, but the Jargars are pretty cheap, so...

[Jim Bress]

This is a timely thread as I've been looking into cello strings. This has been an informative thread so far. I've been reading on the below site's string reviews. It seems quite thorough but I have no experience yet. I plan to start taking lessons after I finish the setup on the cello I've been making, which is currently being varnished.

https://www.aitchisoncellos.com/a-and-d-string-reviews/

https://www.aitchisoncellos.com/g-and-c-string-reviews/

[baroquecello]

4 hours ago, nathan slobodkin said:

I am not a cello player but have nade and sold a lot of cellos. I am not familiar with the Magnacore. How do they copare to Spirocore or Versum?

Strictly C and G strings: Spirocore can be somewhat brash, especially on the g string, and takes a long time to break in. Versum sounds a bit more/too reedy in my opinion. Magnacore sounds more complex and rich, are slightly (but only slightly) harder to get going. Very nice strings, which I currently use as c and g strings in a heavy version for 66 CM string length. For faster response you can try magnacore arioso,  which are like they are called, very good cantabile strings with a lighter tension that regular Magnacores.  If it fits the cello, they are wonderful. 

Reg. Rondo , the set, they are powerful and easy to play strings, and well balanced. For some cellos the lower strings are a bit too much. They lack a bit of complexity for my taste. But they are very good strings also, and depending on the cello might be the best choice.

[MikeD]

On 10/10/2024 at 1:25 PM, nathan slobodkin said:

I am not a cello player but have nade and sold a lot of cellos. I am not familiar with the Magnacore. How do they copare to Spirocore or Versum?

Magnacore has a warmer sound, less harsh than Spirocore, which, in my opinion, is more important for the C and G strings than sound projection (at least for my cello).
But if i use Magnacore, than only for C and G, and Larsen for A and D

I like Versum; they are balanced, but to me, they seem a bit less bright.

However, if you don’t play instruments and just sell them, you probably value strings that sound "right form the box" from the start. In my opinion, Rondo strings are much better at this. Versum is also good in that regard.

Another thing I thought about is that cellists usually don’t change strings very often, because they are much more expensive than violin strings, and there’s generally no need to replace them too frequently. Many musicians change strings even once every few years. And even if you replace them annually, it’s still a bit difficult to objectively describe the differences from memory.

I think I’ll start a separate notebook for this, and with each new string experiment, I’ll write down my impressions immediately.

[David Alex T.]

On 10/10/2024 at 3:20 PM, Jim Bress said:

This is a timely thread as I've been looking into cello strings. This has been an informative thread so far. I've been reading on the below site's string reviews. It seems quite thorough but I have no experience yet. I plan to start taking lessons after I finish the setup on the cello I've been making, which is currently being varnished.

https://www.aitchisoncellos.com/a-and-d-string-reviews/

https://www.aitchisoncellos.com/g-and-c-string-reviews/

Thank you for the links ).