Are you looking for a new set of strings? Today we’re doing a deep dive into all things cello strings. We’ll take a look at how to untangle the descriptions of strings, how to settle on what strings you like the best, and give our recommendations of what we consider the best cello strings.
Why Does It Matter What Strings I Choose?
Cello strings are a really important part of your equipment set up because the brand and type of string you choose will affect the sound of your instrument. Each cello reacts differently to each set of strings, so there’s no real way to know what kind will be best before you buy — you just have to experiment. Strings are just like most other products out there — the more you can spend on a string, the better quality it will be. Even for younger students, we always advise parents to get the best ones they can afford. Having better equipment makes cello playing much more fun.
But we know, strings are expensive, so experimenting doesn’t mean you need to buy 5 sets at once. Just pick one to start with and then the next time you change your strings, you can try a different brand if you want. And remember, it takes a week or two for new strings to “break in” so if you don’t like them right away, just give it a bit of time and you might change your mind.
How Often Should I Change My Strings and How Will I Know When I Need To?
It depends on how much you play, but ideally you’ll change your strings at least once a year. Many professionals change strings every 3-6 months. If you’re a younger student who doesn’t play as much, you can get away with changing them less. There are a couple obvious signs that it’s time to change your strings:
- If one has snapped you need a new one.
- If the string is fraying or unraveling anywhere (usually around the nut or bridge), you need a new one.
- Most commonly, your strings will just get old and will sound ‘dead’ or less responsive or sometimes twangy. Your teacher is a good resource for telling you when your strings need to be changed until you get the hang of feeling and hearing that difference yourself.
How Do I Choose Strings and What Do All Those Options Mean?
Again, your teacher is a great resource on recommending what strings would go well with your cello, but let’s break down the string vocabulary to better understand it.
Gauge – This is the thickness of the string. Usually there are three levels, labelled something like soft, medium, and strong. If you choose a thinner string, you’ll get a thinner sound but it’ll be more responsive. If you choose a thicker string, the opposite is true. Most people use medium level and that is what we would recommend.
Brand – Some brands have options across many price ranges, and some only make strings exclusively in one price range. Cellists tend to be pretty loyal to a string brand once they find the one they like most.
Material – There are three main types of materials strings are made of. All strings used to be made out of catgut, which is made out of animal intestines, though not actually cat intestines as the name implies. (True story, check it out on wikipedia!). Nowadays, not many people use gut strings. The most popular for cellists is steel core, but there are also synthetic strings. We would recommend steel core strings.
Once you’ve tried a few different types of strings, you’ll get a feel for what works best for your cello. Some strings may sound too heavy or too bright, or don’t have a quick enough response for you. Continue to use whatever feels best!
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Now For Our Top 6 Cello String Recommendations:
1. Larsen A/D and Spirocore G/C – This is one of the most popular string combinations. You will see many professionals using this combination of strings. We would recommend the mediums for Larsen A/D and tungsten-wound mediums for Spirocore. You can frequently buy these as a set in that combination, but if you would like to customize even further, you can buy each string separately as well. For instance, some people prefer the Larsen Soloist Edition for the A and D string, which gives a brighter sound. Click Here for More Information and Pricing.
2. Larsen for A/D/G/C – Again, this is for the mediums for all 4 strings. The G and C strings are tungsten-wound. If you’re looking for a splurge you can look for Larsen Magnacores, but we’ve always been perfectly happy with the regular Larsens. Click Here for More Information and Pricing.
3. Evah Pirazzi Gold A/D/G/C – This is a new line of strings from Pirastro that (we think) are meant to compete with Larsen. They have been getting excellent reviews and have converted many Larsen loyalists, so we think they are worth a try. Click Here for More Information and Pricing.
4. Jargar for A/D and Spirocore for G/C – The Jargar strings are less expensive than the Larsens, and a perfectly good string for the middle price range. Although we prefer Spirocore for the G and C, and Superiors for the Jargar A and D, if you need to look for an even more affordable option, you could use Jargar Classic for the whole set. The Jargar Superiors are the higher-end line than the Classics, so will be a bit more sophisticated and responsive. Click Here for More Information and Pricing for Jargar A and here for Jargar D.
5. D’Addario Helicore – These strings are recommended for the more novice player or those on a tighter budget. They will get the job done at a lower price point. Click Here for More Information and Pricing.
6. Prim – These strings are on the lower end of the price range for cello strings – it will be hard to find a decently playable set that is much cheaper. We would recommend these if you’re on a tight budget. Click Here for More Information and Pricing.
Please note these links are for full-size strings. If you are buying strings for a smaller-sized cello, be sure to buy the right size string! Also, make sure you are buying from a reputable store and not buying ‘knock-offs.’