I still remember the first time I asked my teacher about cello strings. I was in high school and was starting to take music more seriously. She recommended a new set of Jargar strings because they sounded a lot warmer than what I was using and weren’t too expensive. When I put them on I was in love with the way my cello sounded! That of course translated to more practice as well, and eventually a lot of reading about different strings and what they offer. Later on, in college, my professor gave me a set of Spirocore Tungsten G and C. I was sold. I felt incredible power coming out of my cello.
As the resident cellist at the shop, I talk to a lot of players about strings. I also get to see what everyone is using when they bring their instruments in for work. Cellists (more so than violinists and violists) like to mix and match different sets to get a desired result. String manufacturers are coming out with new sets that work to mimic favored pairings of popular brands. I thought write a short summary about different strings and, in my opinion, what they offer.
Of course there are more nuances about cello strings than can be discussed here. If you are looking to change your strings, set up a “Maintenance Appointment” (www.MountAiryViolins.com) and we can chat about what options might be best for you. Prelude: These strings are a dependable, student-level steel string. They offer quick response and a little more warmth than some lesser strings on the market. If you’re a beginner or haven’t ever changed your strings, a new set of Prelude strings will bring your cello back to life without breaking the bank. Jargar: Still my go-to set for a first step-up set of strings. Jargar offer a warm and brilliant tone with great stability. Their A and D strings are still one of the most popular I see on cellos today Spirocore Chrome: I often pair Jargar A and D with Spirocore Chrome G and C. The Spirocore technology offers a spiral rope core that gives quick response with a lot of depth. The Chrome option is significantly less expensive than the Tungsten variety (see below). They have a little more weight than Tungsten but really give the budding cellist a lot to sink their bow into for big low notes. Kaplan Solutions: I recommend this set for cellists looking to experiment with tungsten on the low end without spending too much money. Kaplan Solutions often work as a full set balancing the tensions of different strings on a cello. If Jargar and Sprirocore Chrome are too bright for your cello, Kaplan can tone things down without much loss of power. Larsen: Larsen have a lot of variety to offer. I’ve always described Larsen as a good soloist string with focus and personality. Larsen offers First Edition, Soloist Edition, and Magnacore, each providing different tension and bringing out different partials or harmonics from the instrument. Many professionals use Larsen strings either as a set or paired with other strings like Spirocore Tungsten. Here’s a fun video from Larsen about their products:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=222&v=HN_Fs7oT9QQ Spirocore Tungsten: Considered the reference standard, Spirocore Tungsten G and C are a must try for every cellist. They can sound a little metallic straight out of the package but after 1-2 weeks they calm down into a powerful and versatile string. Used by some of the best artists alive today, Spirocore Tungsten are great for chamber music, orchestral playing, soloing and recording. They offer durability, a round sound, and the tungsten winding gives quick response and tonal color that for years was unmatched by any other G and C combo. Versum and Versum Solo: One of the newest strings to hit the market, Versum and Versum Solo are from Thomastik-Infeld and they are picking up in popularity. Where other strings lack in range of dynamics or color, Versum soars. They bring out some of the best qualities of an instrument and make the softest playing still audible in the back of a hall without losing any color. . Perpetual: Another set designed to rival the most popular combos (like Larsen and Spirocore Tungsten). Perpetual are made by Pirastro. They redesigned a set of cello strings from the ground up focusing on easy playability, long durability, and ease of tone from string to string. The result is a completely different soundscape. I can only best describe it as a sound that keeps on spinning as you play. | 
