D’Addario Helicore 4/4 Size Violin String Set with Aluminum Wound E String - H310W 4/4M - Stranded Steel Core for a Clear, Warm Tone - Medium Tension

Helicores are favorites for fiddle players. I've tried Helicores, Dominants, and Pirastro Tonicas. On my fiddle, the Dominants (the most expensive of the three) were simple, LOUD, one-dimensional, boring-sounding, and unraveled at the ball four weeks in. Comparatively, the Helicores when new had a wonderful, complex tone/sound (as well as having plenty of volume), perfect for my instrument. I feel like I have a lot of range from soft/quiet playing to loud, and a range of clear to gritty sounds depending on how I bow. What is that called - more dynamic? - when compared to the Dominants. Very responsive for fast playing. With bowed triplets I can get that nice chop-a-kah sound whenever I want to. And, they stay in tune wonderfully. I haven't had to touch the tuning pegs since putting them in - I've just moved the fine tuners a few turns. Now that my Helicores are 3 months old, though, they are getting a little muddy. Time to replace them! Of course, your milage on any set of strings will depend very strongly on your instrument and your playing style. Note that there are two sets of Helicore mediums, and this particular set has a wrapped E string (as opposed to a solid steel E string). When this wrapped E is brand new, it is fantastic. It is bright enough, but not as much as the solid varieties. This would be an excellent choice if you have a fiddle where a solid steel E string is too harsh. It also is nice for avoiding squeaking (read: easier to play for beginners). After a few months of heavy playing, however, the wrapped E gets a bit quiet and muddy. And then the wrapping breaks and unwinds under your fingers. That is perfectly normal and will happen with any wrapped string eventually. Just note that it happens more quickly with wrapped E strings because they are smaller and more delicate. I have since gone back to the set with the solid steel E string. Mine lasted 3 months with an average of 2-3 hours per day of playing. Also note that, at jams, I will often strum my fiddle like a mandolin, which will wear on your strings more quickly than just bowing. Note that all the Helicore strings are much thinner than nylon-core strings, which can be a small adjustment for your fingers to get used to, but it does not have any disadvantages. Other than possible issues with the strings sinking into your bridge, if you have a cheap bridge or if you get it wet (rain). This can be avoided with a drop of super glue where the A and E strings sit on the bridge.

User: Classically trained violinist - over 30 years professionally I have played them in about 5 hours now, 2 separate locations. Last 2 sets of strings: Dominant G, D, A, Pirastro Olive Gold E Overall view: I like them. I'd recommend them. I was kind of wary since mostly every review I read pertained to 'bluegrass' fiddle and was concerned that the sound would be 'bright' especially since I like a darker tone. But, I did read some reviews that said they were the darkest steel strings they'd ever played. Strung them up at home - a nice even-tempered environment. I didn't lose pitch constantly, maybe a little less than when comparing them to synthetic strings. Played them pretty aggressively at first trying eek out their limitations. Nice round tone when you want it. Could dig out some intense vibes as needed. Checked tuning often and after the 30 mins or so didn't have to keep re-tuning. Went to a 2 hour rehearsal the next day in a poorly air-condition room. Lost about a 1/4 tone in the first 20 mins. Re-tuned once more and then didn't have to re-tune any more than usual. After rehearsal I told one of my friends what I was playing and he squinched up his nose when I told him they were steel-core strings. "Aren't they too bright?" I told him I didn't think so, but asked him what he thought and ran the violin through a range of styles. He said "it sounds more articulated" I think the tone and volume is even across the strings. I can make the D string sound a little brighter than the others when I really go after 'that' sound, but otherwise they are even. I like the E string. It has a nice round tone all the time, even compared to the Olive Gold E that I chose to play because I hate an E that shrieks. Not talking about whistling, I'm talking about an E string that has harsh overtones when played hard. The strings are soft under finger. Flexible but not flabby. The E is particularly soft feeling. I'm thinking that when it is time to replace the strings again I'll try the Helicores again, but I might choose stark instead of medium gauge. Not that I need more volume, I get plenty of that, but just to see if I'd prefer a little more resistance under finger.

These Helicores are installed on an intermediate Eastman VL305 violin, which is known for their warmer tones. The violin came with Pirastro Tonica strings that sounded really well with the VL305. I still remember the first time my son played on that violin with the stock strings. It really sounded great compared to his old beginner level violin that sounded unnecessarily bright and harsh. Little did we know that you have to replace the strings periodically even if they don't break. His high school teacher probably mentioned that, but we just either forgot or ignored it. After a while, the violin lost it's nice beautiful sound and I thought my son is just regressing a bit. I read some reviews that mentioned that the Helicores tend to be on the brighter side. That was my main concern because I don't want to turn the sound of his violin into a beginner level one. Although, with the older strings, it started to sound like it. Helicores to the rescue. Once installed, his violin started playing like it did when it was new. New strings,, specially the proper ones, restore the natural sound of the violin. They weren't as bright as some reviewers mentioned. If anything, they can project more than the old strings. The E string sounds really good, specially at the higher notes. The rest just has that professional sounding tone to them. We're no pros, but we have very good ears and can easily detect the differences in sound quality. Along with his new carbon fiber Forever bow with synthetic hair from FiddlerMan also bought from Amazon, the sound is definitely better than before, even when the stock strings were new. In short, they were easy to install and tune. Break in is fairly quick. Looks stunning on the violin. Very easy to use/play. Overall functionality is better than expected. Highly recommended.

I love the sound of the strings. They have a warm rich tome. Fast response time which is kind of why I don't suggested for beginners because there is a lot of playroom but excellent for advanced players. I do fine with the strings they wear out faster. I play on a daily basis many times after two hours a day or more so they do take a lot of use. I still believe I'm more of a dominant synthetic Core string, Thamastik Infield Vienna is the bread I find i enjoy for many performances however for classical or the need for extremely fast immediate response playing I use a different string that comes with a very different string price which I wouldn't use just for typical right practice playing due to the cost difference of about $100 more. The helicopter by D’addario sounds great it does compare to dominate but dominant let me a few weeks longer. So they both wear out Star on whining especially on the A string on the violin. Great price great value Ford vans to professional players.

I have been playing violin for almost 40 years now, mainly as a hobby, a gift I have, and usually at church. I had to get a new set as I also started playing at a restaurant on the weekends and my A string started stripping. It was so many years since I had bought strings that I was blown away by the myriad of choices. I had to play for my uncle’s funeral and I finally decided on these. They stretched nicely and VERY QUICKLY after I put them on. I was up and playing in about an hour. I tuned them higher than optimum to let them stretch and then properly tuned them after the hour when I realized they held the tune. I am impressed by how loud they sound. I do like a bit of body to my sound, and regrettably these are a tad bit more metallic sounding than what I might have preferred, but am I dissatisfied with the sound? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! I highly recommend these. They seem strong, other reviews say they are good all around, especially for electric violins, but mine is acoustic. I have no complaints really, the sound is strong, sweet, more on the metallic side but still very much full of body. I will buy again, make no mistake.

After using Dominant strings for many years I switched to Helicore about 20 years ago. I play traditional fiddle tunes (Appalachian, Irish, Scandinavian), and the Helicores produce a lovely sound on my dark-toned instrument. They are responsive and less muddy sounding on low notes than Dominants. They typically have a very short break-in time (maybe one day) and require very little retuning, and I find that they last well. However, I have been very unhappy with the last five sets of strings, because the A’s consistently ravel either on the finger board near the 1st-position D or near the bridge. Usually this happens almost immediately after restringing. I now buy an extra A string for every set. A friend who uses Helicores has the same problem with the same string. We have talked to several other players who experience the same problem — always with the A. My friend contacted D’Addario but was sort of dismissed. My most recent set of strings, which I put on two months ago are complete duds — all four. From day one they would not stay in tune. Again, this is rare based on my experience with them. Two months later they still will not stay in tune. Yesterday I was recording and had to stop after every tune we played in order to address the problem. Sometimes the strings lose 1-2 whole tones. Very, very frustrating. I’m going to put on a new set today and will see how they fare. I still love the strings but would appreciate knowing whether others out there are experiencing these issues with quality.

Works Well Excellent Product

I just changed out my Zyex strings that came with the violin. Too much shrieking with those. I got the set with the aluminum E string. The strings are thinner and play so much better. Bow response is better, warm tonal quality, no shrill E string. Very pleased with this choice, so don't hesitate changing to Helicore.