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Westminster E-string

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Displayed for educational use only, please do not reuse.
Steel               

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Average
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Neutral/Warm (Tone)
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Neutral (Complexity)
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Loud (Progression)
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Reviews
T. Boyer (3/4/17)
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Very Bright (Tone)
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Neutral (Complexity)
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Very Loud (Projection)
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Everybody has to try a Westminster E just to experience it at some point in your life. It will be too much of a good thing for some people, but for others it will be just amazing. The Westminster is so powerful yet warm -- it just sings and rings.

I use the medium gauge but also like the heavy gauge. The heavy adds a bit of extra tension to the violin, improves bridge/plate/soundpost contact so it will add volume to all four strings. If you want to just add punch to a violin, this string will help.

It is a single strand (not wound) steel, though, so it is not especially whistle resistant. If you're needing to do a lot of broken chords (ie. playing Bach), a wound E will help you reduce whistle tones. 
T. Anzlovar (1/2/15)
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Warm (Tone)
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Rich (Complexity)
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Loud (Progression)
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This string is perfect balance of power, depth, complexity and ring. It's not notorious for whistling, although the hard version does that sometimes.

It does make the instrument sound a bit darker, than some other E strings, but does not kill projection. It makes the instrument sound bigger and bolder. Matches well with both dark and bright sounding strings.

This string lasts a resonable amount of time. When it dies, it does so literally in a couple bow strokes. After that dynamics becomes all or nothing and linearity is shot to pieces. No moredouble stops.

I have heard rumors it corrodes fast, but I have dry fingers and my sweat is not acidic, so I cannot comment on that.

I have tested medium and heavy versions on several violins and this is my E string now on all of them.



S. Lammons (5/26/14)
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Bright (Tone)
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Clean (Complexity)
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Very Loud (Projection)
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My favorite e string. Incredible projection and cleanliness. Will use again.



M. Sanders (5/17/14)
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Warm (Tone)
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Rich (Complexity)
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Neutral (Projection)
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I tried this Westminster thick string on one of my darker violins, and I felt as though it made it even more dark. This I can attribute to the thick gauge, a mistake on my part. I'll definitely be sticking to Goldbrokat. A fine string in general.


R. McDonnell (3/31/14)
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Bright (Tone)
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Clean (Complexity)
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Very Loud (Projection)
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Overall
A very powerful, bright E. It has a strong singing tone that is clear all the way up the fingerboard. It is not overly prone to whistling. My professor swears by these.



D. Shin (3/30/14)
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I'd like to give it a 3.5 if I can - it doesn't quite make it to 4-star for me. It has decent tone and reasonable amount of overtones, but not quite loud enough, and it doesn't quite outshine other strings similarly priced.



S. Draper (9/16/13)
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Warm (Tone)
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Clean (Complexity)
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Loud (Progression)
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Overall
Used to use the standard gauge westminster as it toned down the brightness on my violin. Then tried the heavy gauge as an experiment. It was like strapping a rocket to my violin. The volume is awesome and just keeps going but without the sound being harsh. I'd even say that the heavy gauge string has a nicer sound than the regular. 

On the downside it is likely to make you deaf in your left ear. 
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  • Spotlight Reviews
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    • Synthetic
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    • E strings
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    • Introduction
    • Tension Chart
    • Quick Reference
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