A-Larsen Il Cannone Soloist Warm & Broad Violin String

Larsen Il Cannone A Soloist Warm & Broad is a professional individual A string for 4/4 violin by Danish manufacturer Larsen Strings. It combines the power and projection of Il Cannone Soloist with a warmer, broader and fuller middle-register sound.

The string features a synthetic multi-filament core with precision-rolled aluminium flat-wire winding. Its nominal tension is 6.1 kg, according to Larsen's current specifications.

Warm & Broad was developed as an alternative to the standard Soloist A, allowing violinists to adjust tonal balance without replacing the remaining strings. It is particularly relevant for musicians who appreciate the power of Il Cannone Soloist but prefer a richer, rounder A-string timbre.

Sound: warmth and breadth with Soloist projection

The original Il Cannone family is known for its powerful, colourful and overtone-rich sound. Compared with Medium, the Soloist version provides greater tension, stronger projection, increased focus and a substantial response under the bow.

The A Soloist Warm & Broad adds a more expansive and warmer tonal colour to these qualities. Larsen offers it to players who prefer richness and depth instead of the most direct and focused character of the standard A.

The A string is central to the tonal balance of the violin, linking the bright E register with the deeper D string. Changing the A alone can therefore influence melodic continuity, string crossings and the perceived overall tonal character of an instrument.

Warm & Broad may be worth considering when the standard A sounds too narrow or bright in relation to the D. It nevertheless retains the dynamic character of Il Cannone and is not designed to produce a deliberately muted sound.

Actual results depend on the violin's acoustic properties, bridge and soundpost setup, the other strings and the musician's technique. Larsen offers Warm & Broad as an option for individual tonal adjustment rather than a universal solution.

Construction: synthetic core and aluminium winding

The string is built around a synthetic multi-filament core. This construction has different elastic and vibrational characteristics from a solid-steel string and allows the manufacturer to tailor bow response.

The core is wound with precision-rolled aluminium flat wire. The winding provides the required string mass while maintaining the flexibility and playing diameter intended by the design.

Larsen uses aluminium winding for the A string, while the Il Cannone D and G strings are wound with pure silver. The materials are selected to match the acoustic requirements of their respective pitch ranges.

This string features a ball end for compatible violin tailpiece attachment.

Standard A Soloist versus Warm & Broad

The small difference in nominal tension does not fully account for the tonal distinction. Acoustic behaviour depends on the string's overall design and the response of the individual violin.

Medium or Soloist Warm & Broad?

Larsen offers the Warm & Broad A string in Medium and Soloist versions.

Medium has a nominal tension of approximately 5.2 kg in the current specifications. It is intended for players seeking more moderate resistance and the open, colourful character of the original Il Cannone Medium.

Soloist has a tension of 6.1 kg and delivers increased tonal density, projection and bow resistance while retaining the warm and broad tonal direction.

Higher tension is not automatically preferable. Some violins may respond more freely with the Medium version; the choice depends on the instrument and the player.

Use within the Il Cannone Soloist set

This is the A string supplied in the complete Larsen Il Cannone Soloist set with Warm & Broad A. That set contains four strings: carbon-steel E Soloist, A Soloist Warm & Broad, silver-wound D Soloist and silver-wound G Soloist.

Purchasing it individually allows a worn A string to be replaced or an alternative tone to be tested without buying an entire set. Custom string combinations are also possible when they suit the violin's sound.

When ordering, distinguish between Soloist Warm & Broad, Medium Warm & Broad and Direct & Focused, which are different string variants.

Technical specifications

Installation and maintenance

Before fitting, check that the nut and bridge grooves are smooth and free from sharp edges that could damage the aluminium winding.

Replace one string at a time to help preserve bridge position. Bring the new string gradually up to pitch while checking that it winds correctly on the peg.

After playing, remove rosin dust and residue with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners and aggressive solvents.

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