Larsen Tzigane 4/4 Violin String Set - Medium Gauge with Ball-end E

I've had this old early 1900s brown violin that I could just not make sing again. I knew it was probably an old german or french model, the dark brown varnish is very specific for a time and place, and it's been in my family from about that time. It had been used for professional playing before and during WW1, and handed down to 4 boys (my dad and siblings) to learn to play in the 1940s. Its seen better days, but was professionally setup again in recent years, with a new sound post, bridge, pegs, closed gaps in the old glue, etc. Yet, it just did not want to sing with the many strings we tried. Dominant sounded muffled, Evah were shrill, the Tonicas at least allowed the violin to vibrate loudly, but the sound was flat and unidimensional. I took a chance on these Larsen Tzigane, as a last ditch effort, after listening to countless online demos and reading about reviews -- string experiments are... expensive! Behold! The perfect strings!!! Their sound is full and complex, the violin projects well and the feeling on the bow is buttery and responsive. These seem to be the answer for my thick-ribbed old violin that had only been played with gut strings before. I am ecstatic!!!

If you like Pirastro Obligatos, give these a try. I've found them to be *very* similar. They won't work on every fiddle, but on a fiddle that tends to be bright, and responds well to lower tension, these strings are really fantastic and rewarding. They give my fiddle a nasal growl that I absolutely love. I don't know yet if they last as long as Obligatos, but time will tell. I bought a second set as backups for when they need replacing. I'm sold on these strings! They don't seem particularly loud under the ear if you're playing with a loud group, but when I've caught echos coming back at us in our irish session I noticed that then I could really hear my fiddle over the rest of the din. So, in other words, they project a lot better than one might think based on the under-the-ear loudness. The response is FAST and has a lot of dynamic possibilities. They respond better to light whispy bow movements better than any other strings I've used, other than real gut. The G, D and A strings are all well-matched with each other and all sound great. The A, which is aluminum-wrapped, took a couple days to break in and loose its metallic edge (which was noticeable mostly under the ear, but not terrible), but the silver wrapped D and G strings were ready to go from day one.I don't fuss over E strings, but this is a nice enough E string. Then again, I love the two-dollar Goldbrokat E strings, so it really doesn't matter to me what a set comes with. I couldn't really tell the difference between the Tzigane E string and my previous Goldbrokat E, which is totally great in my book. You can lay into it, and it has plenty of oomph, and can be sweet when you want. Supposedly the Tzigane E string has a tin plating on it though, so maybe that helps with response or with how well it ages over time and resists corrosion? I have no idea.

Very bright strings compared to the pirastro tonica that i've been using for a while. The strings started to unwind a little near the bridge not too long after changing them. Might be due to extreme cold but I probably wouldn't buy them again. Not too bad though, very responsive to pressure, less warm tone.

I am a rank amateur violinist. With that disclaimer, this is what I like about these strings. I think the sound is fairly mellow in comparison to strings like the Dominants. The other thing I found is that they seem to be easier on my fingers, almost as if they are softer or easier to press. No real complaints after about a month. I would buy them again.

I am a pretty new violinist, having played for less than two years. Therefore, I don't feel qualified at all to review the sound or tone of these strings. However, I would expect strings in this price range to last for more than four weeks. I received mine on 11/14 and immediately replaced my old strings. I was very excited at the prospect of having a set of high-quality, great-sounding strings. (Or as great as I can make them sound at this point!) Everything went very well until yesterday (12/10). As I was practicing before my lesson, my third finger caught on something on the A string. I stopped playing and looked at it, and immediately saw that the string had become unwound at approximately the D position. I went to my lesson, where my teacher told me they should have lasted much longer than 4 weeks (actually a little less than 4 weeks) and I should call the company I had purchased them from. I just placed that call to Johnson Strings, only to be told that their return policy only covers strings that break upon installation. They suggested that I contact Larsen directly. Sure, no problem...until I realized they are in DENMARK!!! So, after spending what I consider to be a lot of money for strings that I thought would last me a long time, I am now forced to replace the A string. Basically I have no recourse other than shelling out more money for something that should have lasted much longer than 4 weeks. I guarantee I will not purchase any more strings from Johnson Strings, and I definitely will not purchase any more strings from Larsen.

Calidad, buen producto.

I bought these strings after attending concert in which the fiddle player who had them on his violin (he gets them for free from the company). I liked the sound on his violin, but they sounded too tinny on my fiddle. After a few months, I replaced them with Obligato strings, which (for me) have a richer sound and last longer.

WOW WOW WOW! These strings are so worth a little extra $$!!! I ordered 2 sets and put them on the fiddles I play the most. A John Albert circa 1800’s Philadelphia and a German Maggini of unknown age. The Maggini was a storage unit sale find. The strings increased the quality of each fiddle by leaps & bounds. Absolutely the best both instruments have ever sounded.