| Author |
Comment |
CelloDreamer02
Registered User
Posts: 11
(6/18/01 8:42:51 pm)
Reply
|
So
frustrated!!!!
Hello everyone. I just really need to vent about my cello; so if
you can listen and maybe offer a few words of wisdom it would be
great. I'm feeling kind of overwhelmed lately; I'm unhappy with some
technical aspects of playing, but mostly frustrated with my cello.
What started out as a simple "I need new strings" has turned into
"what kind of strings? what will work best? do I like my cello? do I
want a different cello? how do I describe the sound I want? what
sound do I want? etc. etc." Right now, I'm playing on a Doetsch
(excuse the spelling if it is wrong) and I have on Larsen solo
A&D strings, and Helicore G and C. My strings desperately need
to be changed, so maybe that is the sole problem. But I want to
branch out and try some different strings, and have no idea what to
try, and don't have the money to go "experimenting" And then, I'm
not even sure if my cello is what I want... I liked it at the time
but now I'm just not sure... Unfortunately I'm not in the best
location; besides my teacher I don't really have people close around
to go to for advice. Well, I guess there's not a lot you can do; I
know that no one can suggest a "miracle string" for me... Thanks for
listening.
|
Bobbie
Registered User
Posts: 476
(6/18/01 8:47:24 pm)
Reply
|
Re: So
frustrated!!!!
There's no easy, cheap answer to the string-trying game. But you
might ask your teacher, assuming he or she is using a different kind
of strings, if you can try the old set when a new set goes on. Old
strings aren't going to be the same as new ones, but it might give
you an idea if you want to try that brand.
But: why do you
want to change strings? What is the problem with the ones you have;
that is, what sound do you not like? Which string(s)?
|
Zaraak
Registered User
Posts: 129
(6/19/01 2:41:51 am)
Reply
 |
Strings and
things
This might not be a perfect solution, but perhaps some of the
people on this board who have access to different strings and cellos
can help in this. What I'm thinking is that perhaps you can take a
few different cellos that may be representative of most that are out
there (one dark, one bright, one student, I know there are many...)
and string them with the different types of strings (gut, synthetic,
rope core, steel) then record samples of each string to post on your
websites (are you there Ellen, Dick, Andrew?).
I realise this
isn't a perfect solution, but it would give people an idea of how
strings *might* sound on their cellos. I know that this is an
over-simplification, but it might prove useful, and if it sells some
strings for you it might be worthwhile too! 
Greg |
Ellen
G 
Registered
User
Posts: 770
(6/19/01 6:59:54
am)
Reply
|
Re: Strings and
things
I have a collection of barely used strings and don't mind sending
them places. It is the only way to get a feel for it. I sound like a
broken record, but it really is a combination of so many different
factors, including your own personal taste, as to what's going to
make you happy. Despite the success some people have had with
Belcanto Golds, a lot don't and say they are glad to get that out of
their system the first time they put them on. A lot of A's have been
particularly tinny. Prim G and C make some people as happy as
Helicore, for less money, and tungsten strings by Permanent and
Spirocore seem to be more popular than tungsten by Larsen. Again,
whether people order something because they've done it for years and
are afraid to branch out, or whether they are actually getting the
best sound on their cello with those strings remains a mystery. The
Helicore A-D I removed from a cello, someone ended up putting back
on because they loved the sound. So why would you want to trust
someone else's ear for your instrument? My teacher can make my cello
sound infinitely different than I can, and I can make a very
expensive Vuillaume sound like my cello. Same strings, different
cellist. It's gotta be all YOU.
A lot of Doetsch cellos are
set up with Belgian bridges. Making a switch to French might make a
difference. If it's a heavy ebony tailpiece with add-on fine tuners,
a lightweight composite one might make a difference. Clearly strings
are the easiest for you to do yourself, so that's a good starting
point.
As for your dead strings, when you do change them,
send them to Dorie Dahlberg for her artwork. I have to do that
myself, actually.
Lastly, to make you feel better about the
cello you do have, you might want to spend some time playing old
pieces you worked on. Sometimes surprising yourself with how
musically you can play something you used to struggle with a year
ago can help you tackle something giving you technical problems
currently. If it's just summer ennui setting in, take a
vacation!
E
|
Br
Martin
Registered
User
Posts: 34
(6/19/01 8:11:21
am)
Reply
|
strings and
sound
I make cellos and haven't found anything better than Larsens for
the A
|
Dick500
Registered User
Posts: 93
(6/19/01 2:03:33 pm)
Reply
|
So
frustrated!!!
So I got on the horn and called Dalton Potter's shop and asked them
what they generally put on Doetsch cellos and learned that they have
experimented with a lot of stuff and have come to the conclusion
that Larsen Soloist A & D and Helocore G & C are the way to
go. I am assuming that, since they set them up with Belgian bridges,
yours also still has the Belgian bridge. I am assuming also that
your strings are "getting up there in years" and really need
replacing. My recommendation would be to forgo spending a lot of
money on experimenting and just buy a new set of fresh Larsens and
Helicores which should work well for you and then replace them
oftener than you have been. Nothing like a dead set of strings to
make a cello really frustrationg to play on.
Dick
|
Betsy
C 
Registered
User
Posts: 365
(6/19/01 8:25:55
pm)
Reply
|
Do I ever
understand!
CelloDreamer2, I also have a Doetsch and while the string choice is
always personal and subjective, I have gone through other strings,
such as Belcantos (on one string only), Chromcor Plus and I even
tried the top of the line Super Sensitive because I got 'em for 1/2
proce at the cello congress last year. The Super Sensitive folks
were great about a refund, but I did not like them on my cello at
all. Bottom line is: for me, I am sticking with the Larsen Soloist
Edition A&D and Helicore G&C. I changed back to them 3 weeks
ago and I am SO glad. My teacher even remarked how much better my
cello sounds, and I was pretty much happy with it before!
I
went to Gailes Violin Shop in College Park, MD (great guy!) and he
put on a new French bridge and an ebony tailpiece (we replaced the
metal Wittner one) and replaced the soundpost which was way too
tight. My cello is great with what it has now and I am very pleased.
I am a big experimenter, but I am still going to stay with the
Larsens and Helicores! You may have a different experience and find
strings that work for you. So far I haven't. Good luck in your
search. P.S. Don't wait too long to change strings- fresh ones make
a lot of difference.
|
CelloDreamer02
Registered User
Posts: 13
(6/20/01 6:56:06 pm)
Reply
|
Thanks for
everything!
I want to say thanks for all the advice, it truly has helped. I
went ahead and ordered Larsen Solo A and D and Helicore G and C,
simply because my strings are so old and dead that I had to get
something, and since, although I would like to experiment and
possibly find some that seem more responsive, those have worked for
the most part. Hopefully I'll make a visit to a shop of some kind
sometime soon (the closest one I know of is three hours away
though... oh well. Once again, thanks for all the help! You guys are
great!
PS- Ellen, is the offer about trying out strings
really open? That would be great...
|
Betsy
C
Registered
User
Posts: 366
(6/20/01 8:01:54
pm)
Reply
|
To
CelloDreamer02
Hi CelloDreamer02! Your e mail is private, I wanted to ask you
something and I was hoping you would e mail me. Mine is public.
Would you e mail me? I wanted to chat with you about your Doetsch.
| |
Internet Cello Society
Forums
Email This To a Friend
Topic Commands (Moderator only)