I have ordered from Concord Musical Supplies regularly since the late 1980s and they have always provided excellent service, reasonable prices and a wide variety of string supplies. This time I ordered Vision Solo strings, my go-to brand. As a professional orchestra violinist, these strings are even and rich in tone; they are powerful enough to play a concerto, but flexible enough to blend in during quiet orchestral passages; they are reliable and don't take long to break in.

The prior reviewer is exactly right. Better sound, easier tuning, no risk of damage to the instrument. Also, it looks good! I, too, installed the Mberg tuner on my violin and viola, and I'm recommending it to my students. It's also interesting the the German superstar luthier Martin Schleske, who is extremely picky with his accessories, uses Mberg tuners on his instruments.

I am very happy with my new Eudoxa-Olive viola C-string. I am both a violist and a violin/viola maker. The viola I play on I made in 2016. Its body length is 16 5/8” with a string length of 368mm. I modeled it on a 17 1/2” Gaspar da Salo instrument. The current setup requires a very low tension G-string, for which I use Eudoxa Stiff. The C-string tension needs to be higher than the Eudoxa Stiff C, however. The Evah Pirazzi Gold C works fine, but mixing gut and synthetic core strings gave me intonation problems. The Eudoxa-Olive C has a similar tension to the Evah Gold C, and I am very happy that it works on my instrument. It responds differently than the Evah Gold C, and I had to get used to the difference. At first I thought the response was slower, but now that it is played in, I think that is not the case. Also, the string diameter is thicker than the Evah Gold C, so it feels different under my fingers. The sound is darker, but not as dark as the Oliv C, which made my viola sound like a cello. The response is very good, and I can play closer to the bridge and with more volume now than I ever could on this instrument, as well as very softly yet still distictly clear over the fingerboard.
A note about string tension: You can find the tension numbers on Pirastro’s web page. Some instruments are more sensitive to having just the right string tension and combinations of string tensions among the four strings. I have found that a string that has too much tension for the instrument will not speak properly; my bow feels like it has butter on the hair instead of rosin. On the other hand, if the string has too little tension, it feels like a rubber band when I play on it and won’t let me “dig in” at all. Also, an A-string with too much tension may play fine, but cause the C-string to be dull and unresponsive.

I purchased two of these cases; my wife and I have been performing and teaching on the road a lot and were getting tired of lugging our heavier cases around.

For less than half the price of the competition, GEWA has delivered a superior quality case that has nearly everything a violinist would want. The adjustable neck block is wonderful, especially for those of us with non-standard-sized fiddles, and the backpack straps are very comfortable. The finish of these cases is what makes them stand out--the texture is resistant to stains and scratches, and the polycarbonate is much tougher than the fragile shells offered by other similar shaped cases. The handle is beautifully designed/shaped, the weather-resistant valence is a big plus, and the subway strap is serviceable. The only reservations I have are that the space is so compact that fitting any larger shoulder rests is not possible (we were able to fit a VLM with folding feet in without a problem), and the soft material covering the metal hardware for the shoulder straps will likely wear away quite quickly.

Time will tell how these cases handle with age, but at this price point, the GEWA Pure is *the* shaped case to purchase.

The last few sets of strings I had used were Warchal Brilliant with the Prototype A which I liked very much and they were relatively inexpensive. I was finding that the G and C were losing clarity in the upper register. I had put them on about a year ago. I had read favorable reviews and had seen online demos of the Versum/Spirocore Tungsten combo and so I decided to try them to see if they made a difference. I noticed immediately that the Spirocore G&C had more core but still ring and didn't get fuzzy in the higher register. The G&C are more responsive and feel a bit thinner than the Warchals so for me they feel more comfortable. I used medium tension strings for both brands. The Versum A string feels like it is a little thicker than the Prototype A but produces excellent sound, giving a ring but with more core than the Prototype A, with similar characteristics to the Spirocore and still comfortable to play. If you can afford these I recommend them.

This set is a great combo. These really helped tame the wolf I had on the F# on D/G/C. I'm not a scientist, but I think the more focused tone of this set has less frequencies from overtones competing within the body of the cello and allows the fundamental tone to escape unimpeded. On top of that, the sound is powerful, but still has warmth. I'm impressed.

I installed the G and C two
weeks ago. They took that long to break in, but are now rich, loud and glorious. They are as powerful but slightly more colorful than Spirocores.

The Dominant (light weight) Strings were available and delivered quickly. This light gauge string provides the flexibility and feel of a gut string with the pitch stability of a synthetic string. The mass of these strings are ample to provide sufficient projection on a standard violin without high string tensions.

Service was great. Recieved the strings sooner than expected. Site was easy to navigate. Thank you.

I first heard Larsen’s Magnacore Strings on a colleagues cello and was very impressed. I had been quite happy with Evan Pirazzi Strings on my cello but decided to give the Magnacore Strings a try just to see what difference it would make. After some research to determine if I should try the medium or Arioso tension, I went with the Arioso. My cello already projects well and has a bright, direct sound on the upper strings. I am so happy with the richer sound and the ability to get different tonal colors. I wanted to play for hours.

Tune quickly, stay tuned good tone

Can’t beat the price, but still gives nice tone—strong, without being too strident.

Satisfied!

The Spiracore tungsten C and G seem to be the most reliable strings out there regarding consistency and durability. You can really play into them but they also speak easily in the softer passages. It might have to do equally as much with the cello adjustment than the strings but these are safe bet if you can afford them.
Concord makes them as affordable as they get with their Combo cello sets pricing.

I have enjoyed the warm, projecting sound of the Evah Pirazzi Gold strings on my viola for some time. They seem more stable and long-lived than the "regular" Evah Pirazzi strings, and they share some positive tonal characteristics which the Passione strings displayed on my instrument (unfortunately the Passione strings were not suitable to changing climates). I had used the Larsen A before during a previous period of string experimentation, and I find that it blends well with the Golds so far. The viola is due for a check-up/adjustment, it will be interesting to see what the maximum effect of this combination will be.

Wonderful string, took me years to find this string, I used mix D string of Solo Vision along with the rest of dominants, but now found perfect combination!

Great string! My colleague and friend actually recommended me couple years ago and couple weeks ago finally I ordered them! Sounds really good and you just can't beat the price!

I have been playing the cello for 48 years, 38 years a full time professional cellist. I occasionally try new brands of strings but always come back to Jargar Superior. They are by far the best strings out there, warm rich tonel, big projection, and they are very responsive and easy to play on. They are the best for my almost 300 year old Italian cello.

I have to compliment the staff at Concord for there help and expertise with this product. I had trouble figuring out the installation process and they talked me through it on the phone and with pictures sent to my email. Tremendous customer service!

Lovely, dark and rich, like the best chocolate. I occasionally try other strings, but doing so just reminds me that these are the best -- for me, anyway.

I decided to try the Evah Gold strings upon the recommendation of a professional colleague.
I’m very glad I did!
In the past, I used Obligato strings (also Pirastro) and was perfectly happy with them. However, the Evah Gold set is better. Not only does it capture the sound quality of the Obligatos, but requires far less effort to produce a full sound.
I recommend using the full set.

I have a drawer full of shoulder rest that would only stay on my instrument with rubber bands. The Pedi is the first that absolutely stays on with hours of practice. I'm so totally shocked that for the first time ever I now have a great shoulder rest and it's also very light. I've said it all - you need to try one you'll love it instantly.

The cello string set of Solo Versum on top and Tungsten Spirocore on the bottom is ideal for my cello. The Versum have power and warmth and blend well with the Spirocores. The service from Concord was impeccable! I ordered them at 10:30 am on a Monday and they went out the same day and I got them Wednesday. Keep up the great work!

Great strings, I remember tried them in 98 first. I vary between PI, Solo Vision and Dominant. Dominant!

I have been using this combination of strings for a while and am very pleased with them. I was especially pleased with the service. I had called to ask about the availability of a cello case strap that I also wanted to order and if the free shipping would get it to me for when I needed it. The person at Concord put me on hold while she checked on the stock. And she sent the strings and strap out later that same day. I got both the strings and strap two days later.

I have a Curtin & Alf violin and Mr. Curtin recommended EP Strings when I bought the violin in 1993. I have tried other strings but always come back to EP. My violin has a bright and clear sound and these strings add a level of sweetness. I play professionally and also teach.

This rosin is wonderful, nice sound, with good stick (I've used the dark). I use it for cello but it also works well for little violin bows that may not have hair in the best condition and need more grip. The container is the best selling point though. Perfect for kids (or accident prone adults) who need better quality rosin than the wood block style, but still want protection from drops. Love having the plastic box integrated - with the flip top lid it's fully protected and there are no parts to get lost or separated, and the twist dial on the bottom is genius for using the rosin without developing a groove. I love the ease throwing this rosin in my purse, without a cardboard box that gets mangled or the lid toppled off. I recommend this to all my students. It's good quality, lasts and won't get broken or the container lost. It's a definite win!

I am greatly enjoying the warm, resonant tone of these Pirastro Passione viola strings. I’m no expert in strings, and I haven’t branched out too much from D’Adario helicore medium tension strings, but these definitely have a tone that reminds me of a hug from Grandma. It has been an adjustment for me to get used to the amount of stretching these strings require. With the helicores, I would tune them slightly sharp, and they would settle into tune within a day or two with no more peg turning (I have fine tuners). These have taken about two weeks to finally stay close to staying in tune with multiple peg turns a day.

The complaint that I have with them has to do with their sensitivity. I have had several occasions where the D and the A string produce a buzzy or whistle-like tone, not producing a true note. This has happened with both open notes as well as different fingerings on the strings. I am no professional, but in all my years of playing (over 20), I have never had this problem. I have also found that they are extremely sensitive to other vibrations around me, so that intensifies my struggle. They also seem to be much more finicky when it comes to temperature and humidity fluctuations.

Overall, I think these are wonderful solo strings for a very controlled environment. As I said, they truly have a beautiful tone that I have been looking for. However, for my situation of playing in such diverse situations (i.e. outdoors, indoors, solo, in a small band, surrounded by horns, in a large band, etc.), it feels a bit like having to cater to an aristocratic relative. I will enjoy their quality while I have them though. It is becoming an enjoyable experience to work with them in my practice at home, and I may continue to buy the G and C strings.

This is now an essential part of my violin and viola, and should be on everyone's instrument. The Mberg tuner is only three pieces total: an exquisitely machined titanium piece, a gold mounting washer, and a gold tuner screw. The picture truly does not do justice to the craftsmanship put into these tiny things; the milling work is genuinely flawless.

I installed my first tuner on my violin about a year ago and have noticed a few things:
1. The E string is louder and fuller- noticeably so
2. It never rattles
3. Installing strings is super easy and I have not broken a single string while using this tuner
4. It never digs into the top of my violin; the threads are so precise it only adjusts about 3mm vertically
5. Most importantly, tuning is super fast and easy. The machining is so precise, it feels effortless to turn the screw.

I now have one of these tuners on my violin and my viola, and have installed them on many of my student's instruments as well. These are an outstanding addition to any instrument and well worth the price.

I have written previously about the Cannone medium strings which I like very much. I put on a new set about a week ago with the optional "warm A". This changes things quite a lot. The A changes the sound of all the strings, which for my Panormo, which is a Strad model, accentuates what I call "peachfuzz" harmonics... high harmonics on all the strings, adding a good amount of the purity and sound of a real strad under your ear. If you like high harmonics, this set up is remarkable. Perhaps not as punchy as without the "warm A", but wonderful quality, and sounds and plays under your ear like a fine 18th century Italian instrument. The G string responds quicker as well. Sweet. Bravo.