Books › Old violins, 1905 › scan 176
Scan 176
Old violins, 1905
14 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 158. See the scan on archive.org.
1and brilliant, but not comparable, in my opinion, to a fine Roman gut "E" string.
3The English make a good, serviceable, dull green looking string, durable, uneven, and not unfrequently false. To my mind, English strings are only fit for rank-and-file orchestral fiddling, but not good enough for the leader. Mr Heron Allen, who has given great attention to such details, says that the best strings in the market are imported from Signor Andrew Ruffini of Naples, but I have always had a weakness for Roman strings.
5Too great caution, however, cannot be used in buying strings. Never buy from any but the best firms; they can't afford to keep "job lots, going vera chep"—these may be bought up by provincial houses and retailed to an undiscerning public.
7Notice that small "job lot" people do not know how to keep their strings—or, I should rather say, they keep them too long and too dry.
9It does not follow that even the best strings will turn out successes if they have been kept too long or too dry.
11I once ordered £1 worth of Roman "E" strings for myself, and another £1 worth for a friend. They all arrived as dry and brittle as mummy wood; they all snapped as I put them on. In about a week I got a furious letter from my unfortunate friend who had trusted me—all his strings had snapped.
13I have but one counsel to give. Take the best firm's advice and pay the best firm's price—if you can afford it. Always keep a couple of tested, i.e.
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