| Core | A/D/G multi strand perlon, E steel |
| Winding | A aluminium, D aluminium or silver, G silver |
| Line | Dominant |
| Instrument | Violin |
| Size | 4/4 |
| Gauge | medium |
| Supplied as | Set and single strings |
| Item number | ST-DO135-SET44 |
At the centre of the design sits a highly flexible multi-strand Perlon core. This core technology delivers the tonal warmth of a gut string combined with the stability of modern synthetics. The synthetic core is far less sensitive to humidity than gut and holds its tuning calmly as a result.
Tonally, Dominant bring out the individual character of an instrument. They offer a balanced spectrum of warmth, clarity and brilliance and respond very directly across all positions. These qualities make them attractive both for students and for professionals; Dominant comes fitted from the workshop on many instruments, our own violins included.
The set is made in every size from 4/4 down to 1/16, with multiple E-string options (steel ball/loop end, chrome-plated steel, tin-plated, aluminium-wound) and in 4/4 in different tension grades (Soft, Medium, Strong) for the A, D and G strings; the small sizes come in Medium.
The construction of the string (string length, tension, cross section, material properties) keeps its overtones close to the harmonic series; the higher partials lie only fractionally above the exact multiples of the fundamental. In wound strings this is achieved by the composite design of a thin, flexible core with one or more windings of metal ribbon or wire, which puts a lot of mass on the string with little bending stiffness.
A string tuned to the same pitch on the same string length carries proportionally more mass per metre (linear mass density) when it is under higher tension.
Under the bow the travelling kink of the Helmholtz motion (the string sticks to the bow hair and slips back) stays sharp on the flexible string, and the bridge receives a sawtooth force that contains every overtone of the fundamental.
The violin is tuned in fifths; at A = 440 Hz and pure fifths the open strings G, D, A and E sound at about 195.6 Hz, 293.3 Hz, 440 Hz and 660 Hz.
The E string is usually steel today, because gut would be loaded to the limit of its breaking strength in this position. Steel stretches far less than gut when tuned, which is why a steel E is tuned most finely with a fine tuner in the tailpiece. The low G string sounds rounder and fuller than the higher strings; composers therefore ask for whole passages on it (sul G).
With the Thomastik synthetic sets we carry, the longitudinal pull lies between 21.2 kg (Dominant 135) and 23.5 kg (Rondo); angled over the bridge (string angle about 157°), about 8.5 to 9.5 kg of it press the bridge onto the top. Towards the G string the strings sit higher above the fingerboard, because their amplitude grows towards the low strings; the bridge is cut asymmetrically to match.
The 135 set consists of the E string 130 in carbon steel with aluminium winding, the A string 131 and D string 132 with synthetic core and aluminium, and the G string 133 with synthetic core and silver. The set tension of 21.2 kg is spread over 7.2 kg (E), 5.5 kg (A), 4.1 kg (D) and 4.4 kg (G); in 4/4 the set is also made in light at 18.8 kg and in heavy at 23.7 kg.
At lower tension the G string carries about seven times the mass per metre of the E string (2.67 g against 0.38 g), and its silver winding supplies this mass. The silver D string 132A stands 0.4 kg higher at 4.5 kg than the aluminium 132 and so carries about 10 per cent more mass per metre.
The polyamide synthetic core (1,130 to 1,150 kg/m³, modulus of elasticity as a measure of material stiffness 2,500 to 3,500 MPa) reacts far less to humidity than gut and settles in faster than gut, though not as fast as steel.
Dominant is the set where everything starts for us: every Conrad Götz violin leaves our workshop strung with it. It shows an instrument neutrally and honestly, full of colour and finely modulated in every position. At around 21.2 kg in the 135 set it sits comfortably under the hand and is gentle on delicate, older instruments. It takes about two days of playing to settle in.
On our own violins we fit the tin plated E string 129SN at the factory instead of the 130; at 8.3 kg against 7.2 kg it carries a little more pull at the top.
And if you love the honesty of Dominant and would like more warmth and focus in the middle, Dominant Pro is the loveliest next step. When a violin already sounds dark and reserved and deserves more openness and carrying power, we recommend Rondo or Peter Infeld.
The winding adds mass to the string without making it stiff. On the same string length a low note at similar tension needs a much higher linear mass density, and the metal of the winding supplies it.
From 440 Hz to 442 Hz, as many orchestras tune today, tension rises by about 0.9 per cent, and to 445 Hz by about 2.3 per cent.
No, our fine tuners are made for loop end strings. For a ball end string you choose a tailpiece or fine tuner that takes a ball, or a string with a removable ball.
Thomastik-Infeld Dominant: G 133, D 132, A 131 and the tin plated E string 129SN.
The 135 medium set in 4/4 has 21.2 kg, the sum of E 7.2 kg, A 5.5 kg, D 4.1 kg and G 4.4 kg.
If you want to hear your instrument exactly as it is, stay with Dominant. If you are looking for more warmth and want to keep the Dominant signature, we recommend Dominant Pro.
These texts hold decades of experience and a great deal of heart. They are protected by copyright, C.A. Götz jr. GmbH. Please ask us before any use. Thank you for your appreciation.