TubeNet

I put a set of these strings on my viola and am having a ball playing old etudes an octave lower.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gereWZDkHyA" target="_blank

I also have a set for violin that drops the strings down an octave. What fun.

Ace

As a string player, I have to comment that these sound really, really awful. If you want a toy to play with, along the lines of a P-bone, well, yeah maybe. For making music, I don't think so. !!

MaryAnn wrote:As a string player, I have to comment that these sound really, really awful. If you want a toy to play with, along the lines of a P-bone, well, yeah maybe. For making music, I don't think so. !!

Did you watch and listen to the link I provided in my original post? Aside from a rather grainy low C string, I was not displeased with the performer's sound using the Octave strings. Admittedly, I am a novice viola and violin player whereas you have played violin in the Tucson Symphony; thus, your standards are exponentially higher than my own. I would never play these instruments outside the privacy of my own home, and any attention I give to them definitely falls in the "toy/amusement" category.

Ace

I strung my double bass like a cello but an octave lower for a while (Thomastik make a set of Spirocores for 5ths tuning- "the Red Mitchell set").

It made my bass sound like a cello- freed up the resonances. Great for bowing, i may have to go back when i have 6 months to learn new ways of playing (Red Mitchell switched from normal 4th tuning to 5ths over a weekend)

Ace wrote: Aside from a rather grainy low C string, I was not displeased with the performer's sound using the Octave strings.

I know it sounded better than I do on my Chinese viola. Agree about the lowest string though - that wasn't particularly featured in the recording, and I suppose you'd want to select tunes to play that weren't too dependent on the low end. And the recording was made with some effort, with a real microphone and reverb etc., so not necessarily (for example) a fair comparison with poor recordings of tiny 'cellos (like 1/32.)

Ace wrote:

MaryAnn wrote:As a string player, I have to comment that these sound really, really awful. If you want a toy to play with, along the lines of a P-bone, well, yeah maybe. For making music, I don't think so. !!

Did you watch and listen to the link I provided in my original post? Aside from a rather grainy low C string, I was not displeased with the performer's sound using the Octave strings. Admittedly, I am a novice viola and violin player whereas you have played violin in the Tucson Symphony; thus, your standards are exponentially higher than my own. I would never play these instruments outside the privacy of my own home, and any attention I give to them definitely falls in the "toy/amusement" category.

Ace

Yes I did watch and listen. And you're right, my standards are coming from a different place. No doubt you'd be horrified at how I sound on my P-bone but I have fun with it. If you're having fun, more power to you!