Westminster E-string
Displayed for educational use only, please do not reuse.
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Average
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)
Very Bright (Tone)
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Neutral (Complexity)
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Very Loud (Projection)
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Overall
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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.
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)
Warm (Tone)
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Rich (Complexity)
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Loud (Progression)
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Overall
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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.
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)
Bright (Tone)
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Clean (Complexity)
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Very Loud (Projection)
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Overall
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My favorite e string. Incredible projection and cleanliness. Will use again.
M. Sanders (5/17/14)
Warm (Tone)
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Rich (Complexity)
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Neutral (Projection)
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Overall
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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)
Bright (Tone)
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Clean (Complexity)
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Very Loud (Projection)
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Overall
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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)
Warm (Tone)
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Clean (Complexity)
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Loud (Progression)
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Overall
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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.
On the downside it is likely to make you deaf in your left ear.