The following "Tier 1" brands are premium strings often used by established professionals. We have created a chart based on their respective sound characteristics to assist musicians in finding their perfect strings.
Larsen and Thomastik-Infeld data are directly sourced. Pirastro string labels are opaqued as it is more subjectively added due to the German manufacturer's habit of not releasing string data in chart form. Therefore, we relied on the help of trial experience and interviews from professors, performers, and the brand ambassador of Pirastro. We also consulted independent retailers and reviews such as violinstringreview.com.
For Reference:
*Please note- the scope of a string's performance cannot be captured simply with a 2-axis sound chart; there are many other dimensions such as string thickness, surface coating, tension, harmonics, and longevity that are part of the evaluation of strings. Furthermore, the variability of one's instrument, bow speed/weight, vibrato method, choice of rosin, and even geographical weather condition will produce different results. These topics will be explored in future Fountain Music editorials. Nonetheless, we hope our research results will initially help guide musicians in exploring and capturing their ideal sound.
Cheers from NYC