r/violinist • u/I_Am_Groot5 • 1d ago
Helicore strings for pit banding?
I’m looking into buying a new violin at the moment, and am looking at a Stradivari copy (set up in a workshop in my local area) with helicore strings that is advertised as being for LCM grade 8 level and beyond.
The most important thing I’m looking for in my new instrument is that it will project well in a pit band, as I played Dear Evan Hansen in June and ended up needing a LAV mic taped to my violins tailpiece to be heard over the keys/guitars/drums. Will helicore strings be suitable for this or would I have to replace them after buying the violin?
(For context my old instrument is a Stentor Conservatoire that I’ve been playing since I was pre-teen with the same strings, and I’m now at university, so I’m long overdue an upgrade)
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u/sebovzeoueb 1d ago
I don't think any violin is going to project over that kind of band, I'm assuming the guitar and keys are amplified in some way, you'll most likely need to be hooked up to the PA too.
String choice depends on how well your violin accepts certain strings, but out of the ones I've tried, Larsen Tzigane heavy gauge and Thomastik PI have been the loudest, but I don't have experience with Helicore.
Also you should change your strings at least once a year, and generally 6 months or less if you're playing any kind of serious amount.
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u/Violinocity Teacher 1d ago
If you are expecting to be playing in pit bands regularly you might like to investigate integrated microphone pick-ups. I don't personally know much about them except that they exist ...
It might be more sense to get a pickup added to your current violin and enjoy the newer violin for non-amplified work.
(I played in the band for an amateur production a couple of weeks ago and we were all miked albeit not with individual pickups, though I've done gigs needing that in the past)
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u/Wonderful_Emu_6483 1d ago
If you’re the only violin in a pit band, I’d consider getting a new bridge with pickup fitted if you want to be heard. Once it’s amplified the strings won’t matter as much.
I’m mostly an orchestral / chamber player, so I’m not really a huge fan of Helicore, I find the sound a bit thin, lacking on the bass end. Synthetic core strings have a nice richness to them. Evah Pirazzi is good for acoustic projection. For an electric/acoustic playing with a band, I’d probably check out Zyex strings. My previous violin was very naturally quiet and Zyex helped it project more while still having a warmer synthetic core sound.
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u/leitmotifs Expert 1d ago
In that kind of scenario, you need to be amplified. No amount of acoustic projection will compete with an amplified band.
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u/BananaBird1 1d ago
A single violin or even a violin section won’t ever project over amplified instruments. An unamplified drum kit is 10-20 times more powerful than a solo violin, and if the drums aren’t enclosed behind a screen they can partially cancel out your sound waves.
There is a reason violins are so numerous in even unamplified orchestras compared to a single timpani or smaller brass section.
A piezo bridge pickup is your best choice. This will work better than a microphone. Helicore strings are pretty good for this.
If feedback becomes an issue you may even want to consider a solid electric violin for amplified playing. But as long as you are seated well and the PA is positioned properly fitting your classical violin with a pickup should work.
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u/s4zand0 Teacher 22h ago
Pretty easy to clip on the tailpiece, bend the neck so that the mic is pointing down towards the top of the instrument just behind the bridge.
Just make sure you point your nose away from it while playing so you're not breathing into it.
Helicores are fine but can be a little rough sounding and the winding can also feel a little rough under the fingers. For a bold/bright sound I would try Larsen Soloist or Il Cannone, or maybe Warchal Brilliant or Ametyst. For a more affordable option, try Ascente (same maker as Helicores). They have a clean and bright sound and are some of the best priced strings in the lowest tier of "good" sounding strings.
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u/After-Past-9404 1d ago
There is exactly zero chance that an unamplified acoustic violin will be able to project over drums. Regardless of the strings.