Warchal Strings can be re-used and recycled! Check below to find out how.
Luthier Exclusivity Program
Bridge Street Violins has partnered up with Warchal Strings via their Luthier Exclusivity Program.
This does NOT mean that we now only sell Warchal strings. We continue to offer you strings of ALL makes and models. What this DOES mean is that we can offer you a more exclusive range of strings to choose from!
For instance the Timbre violin string (fit on the violin above), a flagship string from Warchal, which boasts a quick break in time (a mere 12 minutes!) and a wonderfully balanced, rich tone with a helix e-string to never have to think about those unwanted whistling and accidental screeching sounds ever again.
Which qualities do the Timbre violin and viola strings bring to the table?
- The G string offers the greater range of overtones that we admire in old Italian instruments.
It gives you both depth and brilliance at the same time. This is why it is suitable for almost every violin.
- The D string projects well and responds clearly at every dynamic. Hydronalium is not used in the outer winding which means that there isn't a problem with corrosion caused by perspiration. The set is well balanced and there is no drop in projection on the D string.
- You can choose from two different A strings. The synthetic A gives improved tone and response.
The metal A combines the best qualities of the Warchal metal A string line, namely the Russian A and Avantgarde.
There is a short helix in the bowed area of the metal string similar to the Warchal helix E strings.
- The E string utilises Warchal's legendary helix invention that makes the tone warmer and prevents whistling.
The tension is precisely balanced to provide both playability as well as projection.
String break-in time of only 12 minutes
Though Warchal has tried their best to give you a short string break-in time, we also need your help to enable the strings to reach their ultimate sound quality. After fitting Timbre strings it is suggested that you play for 10 minutes using moderate dynamics, so nothing too excessive to start with. You may need to re-tune your strings several times during this time.
Do check that the bridge angle is correct (= the straight back should be at 90 degrees to the plate and the feet firmly planted on the belly) and adjust it carefully if needed (ask us if in doubt), adjust tuning afterwards.
If you find that the sound of the W-Core strings (G, D and A strings) is warm but perhaps a little dull, or lacking in power and brilliance, then this can easily be rectified in a few seconds: play four full strokes of the bow on each string close to the bridge using a fortissimo dynamics. Ideally you should use a slightly slanting but not tilted bowing angle as shown in the diagram.
The ideal bow speed when doing this is about 2-3 seconds for each full stroke (nothing too staccato, spiccato or martelé). Use a bold even fortissimo that is louder and perhaps harsher than you might use when performing on stage. It only takes a few seconds, then adjust your tuning again.
After this you should be able to enjoy almost all of the sound quality of the Warchal Timbre strings. You will perhaps need to adjust the tuning slightly over the course of the next few hours. Full tone quality is reached within about three hours of playing.
Caring for your strings well will make them live longer
To keep your Timbre strings responding at their best make sure that you regularly clean your strings of any rosin build up.
Don't use any liquid cleaners to clean Warchal strings. Cleaning regularly with a microfibre cloth is all that is needed.
If you find that the rosin dust has become fused to the string then use a plastic card such as a credit card to scratch it off gently.
You can find full cleaning recommendations from the string designer here.
Re-cycling Warchal Strings
Have you ever wondered what materials are used to produce strings? They are mainly produced from synthetic cores and a whole range of metals. Warchal uses high quality aluminum, stainless steel, brass, tungsten and pure silver, as well as a variety of special alloys. The prices of these materials are skyrocketing these days.
This is due to increased demand for industrial production, but also due to limited supplies, which will one day be depleted the same way as the world’s oil supplies.
For example, silver cannot be replaced in the production of high quality strings. Each year hundreds of kilograms of silver end up in landfills and incinerators just because nobody has considered recycling them. Once they cannot be used anymore for playing, they are simply trashed by us, the musicians.
Thus we, the musicians, contribute to a situation where we’ll have to pay more and more for high quality strings in the future.
Warchal has been on the market for a relatively short time but they were the first to introduce the idea of recycling strings. Their recycling program was launched on June 12, 2012. It is definitely not an easy task: strings are light and though they weigh just a few grams they consist of a number of different materials. It is rather difficult separating these materials and collecting them in a volume and degree of purity that would make recycling profitable. Nevertheless, Warchal has decided to go forth with this idea.
What you can do to to contribute?
You can either send your used strings directly to Warchal’s HQ, but this might take you a good few years to save up enough sets to make it economically worth it to recycle and offset the carbon footprint by delivery. Alternatively you could leave your used strings at the workshop in the Used String Recycling Box at Bridge Street Violins as we get there much quicker so we all contribute to an affordable string future much faster.
What does Warchal do with all those recycled strings?
They turn them into the critically acclaimed PHOENIX range - from the mythical firebird that breaks down and rises again from its own ashes so its lifecycle starts anew. As this range depends on supply of pre-loved strings of the year before, it is always a limited edition string - and once they are gone, they are gone until the next vintage year.
