A - Larsen Il Cannone Medium Direct & Focused Violin String

Larsen Il Cannone A Medium Direct & Focused is a professional individual A string for 4/4 violin by Danish manufacturer Larsen Strings. Designed for musicians seeking brilliant clarity, a direct and focused tone, powerful projection and immediate bow response, it forms part of the distinctive Il Cannone Direct & Focused family.

The string features a specially developed synthetic multi-filament core and precision-rolled aluminium flat-wire winding. The Medium version has a tension of 5.4 kg.

Compared with the original Il Cannone Medium range, Direct & Focused places greater emphasis on brightness, tonal definition and a clean, direct response. It is a distinct string construction designed to expand the possibilities of individual violin setup.

Sound: clarity and focused projection

Il Cannone Direct & Focused offers a brighter and more direct sound than the original Il Cannone, which generally has a warmer, darker tonal direction.

Larsen describes Direct & Focused as producing a powerful, noble, rich and brilliant tone with a broad overtone spectrum. The A string contributes to this character in the violin's middle and upper registers, particularly when moving between the E, A and D strings.

Its direct response supports clearly defined attacks, making it attractive for rapid passages, energetic bow strokes and music requiring precise articulation.

According to Larsen, Direct & Focused strings provide slightly greater resistance under the bow and fingers compared with the original Il Cannone range. This can suit players who prefer a clearly defined tactile response when controlling tone production.

The string may be especially interesting for instruments that benefit from greater middle-register clarity, although the final result depends on the violin, its setup and playing technique.

Synthetic core and aluminium winding

The A Direct & Focused uses a synthetic multi-filament core specially developed for this family. Unlike a solid-steel string, this construction has its own elastic and vibrational characteristics, affecting the feel under the fingers and response to the bow.

The core is wound with precision-rolled aluminium flat wire. This provides the required string mass and contributes to the acoustic properties intended by the manufacturer.

In the Direct & Focused range, the A string is aluminium-wound, whereas D and G use pure silver winding. These materials are selected to suit the different pitch ranges.

Larsen tested the new range on modern and historic instruments, including old Italian violins, allowing its performance to be assessed across different acoustic designs.

Direct & Focused versus Warm & Broad

Both belong to the Il Cannone family, but their intended tonal directions are different.

If the A string on your violin lacks definition or seems less distinct than its neighbours, Direct & Focused may be worth trying. For a warmer and broader A sound, Warm & Broad may be a better starting point.

These are tonal guidelines, not guarantees: each violin responds differently.

Medium or Soloist?

The Direct & Focused A string is available in two tension grades.

Medium — 5.4 kg. Designed for a powerful, clear, brilliant and rich tone with more moderate tension.

Soloist — 6.0 kg. Offers higher tension with increased focus and projection, together with a different feeling of bow resistance.

Medium can be a suitable option for violinists who prefer less string resistance or play an instrument that responds well to moderate tension.

Use in the Direct & Focused set

This A string is part of the complete Larsen Il Cannone Direct & Focused Medium four-string set, comprising E Medium, A Direct & Focused Medium, D Direct & Focused Medium and G Direct & Focused Medium.

The E string is the carbon-steel E from the original Il Cannone Medium range, while A, D and G feature the dedicated Direct & Focused construction.

Purchasing the A string individually allows a worn string to be replaced without purchasing a new set. Custom combinations with other Larsen strings are also possible when they better suit the instrument.

Technical specifications

Installation and care

Before installation, ensure that the nut and bridge grooves are smooth and free of sharp edges. Aluminium winding may be damaged by burrs or excessively narrow grooves.

Replace one string at a time to help preserve bridge position. Bring the string gradually up to pitch, ensuring that it is wound correctly around the peg.

After playing, remove rosin dust and residue using a soft, dry cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaning products and aggressive solvents.

Please note: this product contains one individual Larsen Il Cannone A Medium Direct & Focused string for 4/4 violin. It is not the Warm & Broad A, the Soloist Direct & Focused A or a complete string set.