Au beau milieu d’un mois d’août caniculaire qui fait chausser ses bottes de plomb à toute la société française. Je reçus un surprenant message venu tout droit de Slovaquie : « Voici le meilleur jeu de cordes que nous avons créé jusqu’ici ». Ainsi commençait le premier paragraphe qui m’invitait à découvrir les nouvelles cordes Timbre de Warchal. Plus loin j’apprenais qu’il s’agissait de cordes comparables en son et en réponse à celles en boyau mais avec une projection et une stabilité que seul les cordes synthétiques peuvent offrir. De belles promesses, mais découvrons ensemble de quoi il s’agit réellement !
Which timbre for your violin?
Indeed, at first glance we may wonder what these strings will add to the timbre of our violin. It's always difficult to put into words what our ears will perceive. I will, however, try to describe the personality of each string.
- The G string offers a generous harmonic richness that is nonetheless characteristic. In fact, it's the same string so admired on old Italian instruments. It provides both depth and brilliance, making it suitable for almost any violin.
- The D string projects really well and responds clearly to all nuances. What's more, when used with the full set, the balance is perfect and there's no drop in power when transitioning to this string. Last but not least, the outer ribbon is not made of hydronalium, so there are none of the corrosion problems that can be caused by overly corrosive perspiration.
- There's a choice of two different A strings. The first, synthetic, offers greater richness and response. The second combines the best elements of Warchal's special A strings: Russian A and Avantgarde. This is the famous helicoid that the bow will caress.
- The E string also uses the legendary helical form invented by Warchal. Its distinguishing features are its particular warmth and the elimination of unsightly whistling, all without increasing its diameter. In this version, the tension has been calibrated to give excellent playability as well as brilliant projection.
Exclusive strings
No string from the Timbre series will ever be sold on the Internet. In fact, they are only distributed by a select network of partner luthiers. A group of professionals to which I have the honor of belonging.
- All ropes are protected in their protective tubes until they are installed.
- The luthier will install them free of charge on your instrument.
You can find these strings in my workshop, where I'll install them for you free of charge and check that everything is in the right place.
Why are they only available from selected luthiers?
Timbre is a compendium of innovation and technology, and is without doubt Warchal's most accomplished product to date. That's why it's best to have them installed by a qualified technician, to ensure that they perform at their best. For those in doubt about how to install ropes, an expert will be on hand to take care of it, free of charge. That's the commitment luthiers make when they work with the Warchal program.
Rather than promoting the sale of strings on a massive scale, we're entering a price war that only the biggest cyberstores can win. The workshop is, after all, a real source of inspiration, even for musicians. That's why Warchal wants to encourage them to visit the luthiers. Of course, you'll also find advice on choosing strings and accessories. But more than that, you'll benefit from the advice of craftsmen who listen to you: passionate and competent.
Contact me directly for prices or availability of Warchal stamps in my workshop.
Stable strings in just twelve minutes
Although the strings have a very short settling time, they still need to be helped to reach their full sound potential. Once the strings have been installed, it's best to play them for about ten minutes, using moderate dynamics. It may be necessary to retune your instrument several times (six to eight) during this period.
Check that the bridge angle is correct, adjust if necessary, then retune.
If you find that the sound of the W-Core strings(G, D and A) is warm but perhaps a little dull, lacking in power or brilliance, this can be resolved in a matter of seconds.
How to free the Timbre from its strings
Play four full bow strokes on each string, making sure to play close to the bridge and rather hard(fortissimo). Ideally, the bow should be played at a slight angle, using the full width of the wick, as shown in the diagram opposite.
The speed of execution of bow strokes is about 2 to 3 seconds for each complete stroke. Use a straightforward fortissimo that is more powerful and perhaps rougher than you would normally play it. This will only take a few seconds. The violin will then need to be retuned.
You can now enjoy almost the full sonic range of Warchal Timbre strings. You will certainly need to take the time to tune the instrument slightly over the next few hours of use. Full sound quality is generally achieved after three hours of playing.
To preserve the full response of Timbre strings, make sure you regularly remove all rosin residues from your strings. Do not use liquid cleaners to clean your Warchal strings. Rubbing them with a simple microfiber cloth will suffice to preserve them. If you find that rosin has crystallized on the string, you'll need to use a plastic card (like a bank card) to gently remove it. You'll find full cleaning recommendations in this article: Cleaning your strings like a pro
Voltages and materials | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Code | Rope | Soul | Ribbon materials | Voltage (kg) | Fastener | Color code |
| 601 B | E (Mi) | Stainless steel | - | 8.52 | Ball | E - Yellow |
| 601 L | E (Mi) | Stainless steel | - | 8.52 | Loop | E - Yellow |
| 602 | A (The) | W-Core® 2.0 | Hydronalium / Hydronalium | 5.54 | Ball | A - Blue |
| 603 | D (Re) | W-Core® 2.0 | Hydronalium / Silver | 4.7 | Ball | D - Green |
| 604 | G (Sol) | W-Core® 2.0 | Stainless steel / Silver | 4.65 | Ball | G - Red |
| 602 MB | A (The) | Steel | Stainless steel / Synth. Mono-filament | 6.66 | Ball | A - Blue |
| 602 ML | A (The) | Steel | Stainless steel / Synth. Mono filament | 6.66 | Loop | A - Blue |
Where to buy Warchal Timbre strings?
As you will have understood from reading this page, these strings are exclusively intended for sale by professional instrument makers. That's why you won't find them on online sales sites.
However, it is still possible to order your strings remotely from a luthier's workshop. But you'll have to do it the old-fashioned way, contacting us by phone, e-mail or mail for those who are more resistant to technology.
That's why I invite you to contact me if you can't find the ropes near you.
