I have finally bit the electronic bullet and popped for a Baggs bridge pickup for my otherwise balanced but acoustically inadequate 5-string fiddle. So new strings seems an appropriate follow-up. I love the Thomastik Vision Titanium for my real violin, but they don't make a 3/4 viola C (let alone at 5-string set). But now I've just discovered that Yamaha sells a 5-string set for the electric violin. Does anyone have experience with these strings? My 5-string is acoustic, but a matched set of strings would be an advantage. What do you use?

What are the best strings as the fifth string.. do you use a 3/4 size or is
a 4/4 size also usable..

As far as I now there is only one 5 string set on the market today, but at lot of players blend their strings to fit their needs..

I like Helicores....they seem to have the volume, response, and durability all in one. I have used a Tonica E, which is a very smooth E string and balances well with the Helicores. I play a Guarneri pattern acoustic 5-string.

Is anybody using something other than a 10 gauge guitar string on their 5-string violas? What else is there that would have the volume and balance with the other viola strings?

Hi berg -
Yes, it's a 16 1/4" viola size body. The guitar strings works fine. You have to use a rubber or plastic bumper between the string and the bridge to keep it from rattling but the tone all the way up the positions is surprisingly good. It's just that I'm always looking for something better, which is why I asked.

David --
Where are you buying the heavy set of Helicore's? Most of the 5 string sets i see are the medium gauge.

Thanks. Sheryl

Posted By: fiddler59I use the Helicore Heavy 5-string set and am quite happy with them. Thomastik makes a 5-string set in there Superflexible line as well as in ther Dominant series of strings too. The Dominants are a synthetic core string and the Helicore and Superflexible are a braided metal core string. Some people like to use a Thomastik Spirocore viola C string for the 5th string but I have not tried that yet. Supersensitive may offer some 5-string sets too.

David Blackmon

Hi Folks-
Just curious. I'm wondering what baggs bridge you guys get for a 5-string on average. The violin has a 45mm bridge. I don't know if the violin baggs is too small or if the 46mm viola baggs is too large. I had a custom-designed baggs bridge made by baggs in CA, and in my ears on stage the gain and volume have to be turned up more on that custom designed baggs bridge versus the stock baggs viola bridge. So, I'd like to get outfitted with a bridge that is same as the other instrument I use on stage.
Thanks!

I am surprised that you are using a 10 gauge guitar string with satisfactory results!
Several years ago I had one of my violins auditioned by some players with the ASO. I was asked to bring the violin to a concert and at intermission the violin was to be auditioned.
As I started to walked out the door to go to symphony hall, Knuckle head me had to tweek one more thing on the violin and I broke the "E" string. Believe it or not I did not have another "E" string around so I grabbed a 10 gauge guitar string. At intermission the violin was taken back stage and in a few minutes the player brought the violin back out and said "this violin doesn't sound anything like it did when I played it before. The "E" string sounds bad, it sounds like you put a guitar string on it" he said!! I was blown away that he was able to almost immediately identify the guitar string!