A Short History of Pirastro
Pirastro has crafted strings in Germany since 1798, earning a global reputation for beautiful tone and reliability. Today the company designs and manufactures violin strings across gut, synthetic and steel families, all handmade in Germany.
How Pirastro Violin Strings Are Made
- Handmade gut craftsmanship: Traditional sheep gut cores are manufactured, then finely wound and polished by hand for a warm, complex response and easy articulation.
- Modern synthetic cores: Pirastro co-developed an advanced synthetic core material exclusively for its strings to deliver rich color, quick response and tuning stability.
- Steel designs: From solid and rope steel cores to special E-strings, Pirastro’s steel offerings emphasize clarity, projection and durability with very fast response.
The Pirastro Violin Range at a Glance
Pirastro organizes violin strings by core type. Use the profiles below to quickly shortlist sets that fit your sound goals.
Gut Core: Tone Rich and Alive
- Oliv: Noble, brilliant tone with rich fundamental and colorful projection. Ideal for soloistic gut presence with complexity.
- Eudoxa: Traditional gut string, warm and rounded with low tension and easy response. Classic orchestral and chamber choice for depth and warmth.
- Passione / Passione Solo: Modern gut feel with improved stability and response. Ideal if you love gut character yet want more focus and reliability.
- Gold: Bright gut sound with easy playability, paired with a popular steel E. Great value within gut.
- Chorda: Baroque-style gut for period setups.
Synthetic Core: Power, Stability and Color
- Perpetual: Immediate clarity, strong volume, brilliant yet warm core, very short play-in. Excels for projection and wide dynamic range.
- Evah Pirazzi: Modern, soloistic synthetic with intense presence and fast response. Bold sound and bite.
- Evah Pirazzi Gold: Elegant, clear golden tone with strong projection and very short break-in. Smooth string-to-string balance.
- Evah Pirazzi Neo: Powerful and centered with a luminous quality, excellent feel under the left hand and confident projection.
- Obligato: Warm, complex synthetic voice with quick response, ideal for dark, lyrical setups.
- Violino: Very warm, smooth and round sound, low tension and easy response. Comfortable for developing players and older instruments.
- Tonica: Balanced, versatile synthetic set with quick tuning and clean articulation. Reliable all-rounder.
- Wondertone Solo: Focused, direct and brilliant with outstanding response.
- Synoxa / Aricore: Clear and brilliant (Synoxa nylon core) or darker, warm timbre (Aricore polyester core).
- Eudoxa-Aricore: A darker A option to pair with Aricore.
Steel Core: Clarity, Durability and Snap
- Chromcor: Single-filament steel with chrome winding. Clear and brilliant, big volume, very long-lasting and easy response.
- Piranito: Bright sound with very easy response. Popular for students due to stability and immediate tuning.
- Flexocor-Permanent: Rope steel core with warm, round sound, clear overtone spectrum, great projection and outstanding response.
- Eudoxa-Chromcor (A): Steel A that offers a warmer sound than a standard Chromcor A, long-lasting with quick response.
- E-strings: Options include No.1 for brilliant yet sweet tone and anti-whistle response, plus premium E options to fine-tune focus and feel.
Buyer’s Guide: Match a Pirastro Set to Your Violin
Use the decision points below to narrow your choice, then trial one full set before experimenting with E-string or gauge variations.
1. What Tone Does Your Violin Need
- Brighter, more projecting voice: Perpetual or Evah Pirazzi, or Evah Pirazzi Neo for power with a centered core.
- Warmer, rounder, nuanced color: Obligato, Evah Pirazzi Gold, Violino. For classic gut warmth: Eudoxa or Oliv.
2. How Much Stability Do You Need
- Rapid play-in and solid tuning: synthetic or steel sets such as Perpetual, Evah Pirazzi Gold, Tonica, Chromcor or Piranito.
- Traditional gut behavior: Eudoxa, Oliv, Passione.
3. Feel Under the Left Hand
- Lower tension and pliable feel: Eudoxa or Violino.
- Firm, focused resistance: Perpetual or Evah Pirazzi.
4. Playing Context
- Solo and concerto: Perpetual, Evah Pirazzi, Evah Pirazzi Gold.
- Chamber and orchestral: Obligato, Eudoxa, Aricore.
- Traditional and folk: Chromcor or Flexocor-Permanent.
5. E-String Fine-Tuning
If the top end feels too bright or prone to whistle, try No.1 for a brilliant yet sweet tone. Premium E options adjust focus and feel.
6. Sizing and Gauges
Many Pirastro sets come in fractional sizes and multiple gauges to match tension to your violin and technique. Use datasheets or Stringfinder to compare options.
Pro Setup Tips for Best Results
- Change one string at a time and check the bridge remains upright during tuning.
- Allow a short play-in. Synthetic and steel sets stabilize quickly; gut takes longer.
- Keep strings clean and dry after playing to extend life.
Find the full Pirastro range: paytons.com.au/brand-product/pirastro/
FAQ
Which Pirastro violin strings last the longest?
Steel sets like Chromcor and Piranito emphasize durability, while modern synthetics like Perpetual and Evah Pirazzi Gold are designed for quick stabilization. Actual life depends on practice hours, sweat chemistry and care.
What is the difference between Evah Pirazzi and Evah Pirazzi Gold?
Evah Pirazzi delivers a powerful, direct, soloistic sound. Evah Pirazzi Gold keeps strong projection but adds an elegant, clear golden color and very short break-in.
Is Evah Pirazzi Neo just a brighter version?
Evah Pirazzi Neo balances power with a centered, noble, and luminous core with excellent feel under the left hand. It is tuned for projection with refined color.
I want the classic gut sound. Where should I start?
Try Eudoxa for warm, rounded tone at low tension, or Oliv for a more brilliant, colorful gut presence. Passione offers modern stability with gut character.
Can I mix Pirastro strings from different sets?
Yes. Many players pair an E-string such as No.1 or a premium E to fine-tune brightness and response. Keep tensions compatible and change one string at a time.
How do I choose tension and gauge?
Start with medium for most violins. Lighter tension gives more pliability and warmth, heavier gives extra resistance and focus. Gut offers widest gauge options. Consult datasheets for guidance.
Do Pirastro strings come in smaller sizes for students?
Yes, several sets offer fractional sizes. Check the product page for availability.