Xanadu777
Member of the Trade: Headphile
Headphone Modder Extraordinaire
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2003
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My oldest Gibson (1938 L-7) with lucious sounding X-bracing
Originally Posted by Xanadu777 /img/forum/go_quote.gif My oldest Gibson (1938 L-7) with lucious sounding X-bracing |
Originally Posted by milkpowder /img/forum/go_quote.gif Points taken. Gold E strings, such as the one I'm using (Pirastro Olive Gold E) are not THAT expensive though and the tone is noticeably rounder and less metallic. That said, gold E strings only last as long as the gold plating. When the gold plating wears of, you're left with a steel string |
Originally Posted by milkpowder Even though you didn't like guts strings, you should give the Pirastro Obligato range a try. They're synthetic core strings like the Evah, but have a much warmer sound. Both cost the same. |
Originally Posted by milkpowder I only ever use the 2nd and 4th bow from the top. The 4th bow is the new bow. It is less forceful and gives a sweeter tone. The 2nd bow is a much stronger bow, more suitable for more virtuosic works (Ysaye, Paganini, Sibelius, etc...) However, it isn't as balanced and bouncy, making string crossing, spiccato, etc slightly more of a hassle (read more difficult). The 1st and 3rd bow are for back up in case the worse should happen. My brother just got a new (as in made recently) $3k bow made by an English bow maker. It was a wonderful experience playing with it. Everything seemed much easier, especially up bow staccato, which I have been struggling with. Spiccato and detached notes are more easily controlled, but I didn't hear any major differences in the sound compared to my "new" (not sure of age) $1k bow. |
Originally Posted by Romanee /img/forum/go_quote.gif Haven't heard him play that … though, actually, there are still quite a good number of his works that I haven't heard. Love Ysaye sonatas (!!!), Brahms with Daniel Barenboim, the Virtuoso solo pieces of course, his master class broadcast on Ovation network, etc. |
Originally Posted by Romanee /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've certainly seen him do some uneven and over the top performances (and sometimes all over the map and off the notes), but controversial and volatile tho' he is, I'll take the flamboyance (plus the great heart and muscular/mind-boggling technique) for the brilliance that often blazes thru, rather than pristine but safe ("correct") that his detractors would prefer. I even enjoyed his experimental interpretation/performance that included contemporary, blazing solid-body electric fiddle and tango (dance) duet, just for his courage to explore, extend and challenge himself. |
Originally Posted by Romanee /img/forum/go_quote.gif Whatever the cognoscenti say about his showmanship and ebullience, I felt in watching his broadcast master class that he was able to actually confer his insights to his students and enable them to understand and play their pieces several levels above where they started, in just a brief session. He is possessed of a genius and great depth of understanding of music. Certainly his style is not suited to every composer, and I don't think I'd love hearing him interpret the Bach Sonatas & Partitas, but that not important. I thoroughly enjoy so much of his works, and his big Russian/global heart. |
Originally Posted by mypasswordis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Oh no, I tried a gold string again and found it to sound much less metallic than the steel version. But the gold still comes off after 3-4 weeks, and while it's not much more expensive than the steel version, having to buy that many more in the same amount of time is. |
Originally Posted by mypasswordis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Perhaps, but I don't like the loss of dynamics I get with gut strings. I don't want to get outplayed by everyone else in the orchestra and/or my accompaniment, I'd feel inferior, and besides, a soloist playing softer than the accompaniment is just wrong. |
Originally Posted by mypasswordis /img/forum/go_quote.gif My bow is slightly bottom heavy and smooth, so it's also hard for me to be bouncy, like with spiccato. It actually is brand new (well, from when I got it), French. Sticcato is somewhat easier, as long as my wrist doesn't lock up (were you taught the doorknob image/technique like I was?). Fun when you get it right, though. You are a lucky man to have such a nice violin, and such an assortment of bows to choose from. |
Originally Posted by mypasswordis /img/forum/go_quote.gif EDIT Does your teacher and Perlman really use Dominants with their respective violins? Amazing; I switched from Dominants to Evahs and noticed a giant improvement. |
Originally Posted by milkpowder /img/forum/go_quote.gif OMG this is incredible!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR_oJXyokww |
Originally Posted by milkpowder /img/forum/go_quote.gif Vengerov is not in the same class as Perlman though. Just watching Perlman play always makes me cry. He's such a natural at the violin and his personality is great. Have a search on youtube and watch some of his masterclasses. I'd love for him to be my teacher. |