Violin String Loops vs. Spherical Strings – What’s the Difference?

Are you wondering about ring strings versus ball strings?

Most modern synthetic core strings or metal strings have a loop at the end with a metal ball inside, but some, notably some violin E strings and the occasional viola A string, have a loop with no ball inside. So, what are the reasons for these two different choices?

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Before the invention of the complete tail, the fine tuner was an extra item that was installed in the string holes of the tail. This type of fine tuner usually protrudes from the tailpiece toward the bridge and has a claw extending out to hold the ball end of the string in place. The result is less string length between the bridge and tailpiece. Some intermediate and advanced string players have this traditional style of tailpiece, with just the E string and possibly the A string (violin); and a fine tuner just for the A string (viola and cello).

Even more conventionally, some professional string players prefer to use a tailpiece with no fine tuners at all. This gives the strings the full length between the bridge and tailpiece, which results in better overall vibration and tone. With these tail plates, the ball joint is inserted through a hole in the tail plate and held in place by tension.

Many violins you see in music stores today have tailpieces with built-in trimmers. There is a double claw inside the tailpiece into which you insert the ball end of the string. The claws grip the ball, holding the string in place. Most beginner and intermediate instruments on the market now have this tail as it saves a lot of tuning time. For students, ball-end strings and fine tuners for each string will mean more accurate tuning and less lost tuning time. Ball-end strings also have a reputation for lasting longer.

Why choose one over the other?

It's really a matter of preference.

For more advanced musicians, our advice is to try both options. If you can hear the improvement in sound quality of a looped E string, then make that your choice.

Many musicians appreciate the convenience of built-in/spinners because:

• Tuning with nails can sometimes be a hassle, and sometimes it's difficult to actually get the strings into perfect tune.
• Young string players in many cases simply cannot tune with pegs because they simply don't have enough hand strength.
• If you frequently use pegs to tune your instrument, there will be many opportunities for accidental string breakage.
• Tuning with pegs can be very difficult in certain weather conditions.

For some, to make tuning easier and more accurate, tuning pegs with internal gears are installed. They look like ebony, but have a mechanism inside that allows the nails to function as both major and fine tuners. They are a great option and can be installed by an experienced luthier. They eliminate the need for a trimmer on the tailgate and free up the instrument to resonate optimally. Give us a call today to discuss this option for your instrument.

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Further ideas for your consideration:

1. Some string manufacturers and manufacturers of high-quality tailpieces have told us that, in their opinion, their strings perform better if they are tuned with just pegs.
2. A small minority of these experts believe that fine tuners on the tailpipe can both damage the strings and reduce the sound quality of the strings.
3. This second idea is based on the extra weight of fine tuners on the lower end of the strings. When your tailpiece is lighter, the strings are freer to vibrate, resulting in better resonance and overtones.
4. Lightweight tailpieces with built-in fine tuners are considered better than tailpieces with heavy metal adjusters, because the added adjusters reduce the string length between the bridge and tailpiece, reducing the length of the vibration.