Larsen Il Cannone Direct & Focused Medium – Violin String Set

Larsen Il Cannone Direct & Focused Medium is a professional four-string set for 4/4 violin, developed by Danish manufacturer Larsen Strings. Its defining qualities are brilliant clarity, a direct and focused sound, immediate bow response and powerful projection.

Direct & Focused is a distinct branch of the Il Cannone family. Compared with the original Il Cannone Medium, it features newly developed A, D and G strings using an advanced synthetic core and a refined winding process. The set is completed by the Il Cannone Medium carbon-steel E string.

Sound and bow response

Larsen describes Direct & Focused Medium as powerful, noble, rich and brilliant. The strings are engineered for clearly articulated attacks, an overtone-rich tone and an ability to project sound effectively.

Compared with the warmer and darker original Il Cannone, Direct & Focused emphasises tonal clarity and brightness. Larsen also notes slightly greater resistance under the bow and fingers. This may appeal to players who prefer a well-defined tactile response when shaping articulation and dynamics.

The tonal character is well suited to solo, chamber and orchestral repertoire where clarity and definition are important. Projection is not simply a question of maximum loudness: it also concerns how clearly the musical sound carries across a performance space.

Actual performance depends on the violin, its setup, the bow and the musician's technique.

Medium versus Soloist

Il Cannone Direct & Focused is available in two tension versions, Medium and Soloist.

Medium combines more moderate tension with a powerful, clear and rich tonal response.

Soloist uses higher tension to provide additional focus, volume and projection. However, increased tension does not necessarily produce better results on every violin.

The Medium set may be especially appropriate for violins that respond well to moderate string tension or do not need additional resistance under the bow.

Construction of the four strings

E Medium: unwound special carbon steel, providing a clear upper register and fast response. The removable ball end permits use with compatible ball-end or loop-end fine tuners.

A Direct & Focused Medium: synthetic multi-filament core with precision-rolled aluminium flat-wire winding, designed for direct articulation and focused middle-register tone.

D Direct & Focused Medium: advanced synthetic core wound with pure silver. Provides clarity and resonance while maintaining tonal continuity with the G string.

G Direct & Focused Medium: synthetic multi-filament core with pure silver winding. Creates a resonant lower-register foundation while preserving the definition and projection characteristic of the series.

Silver is the actual winding material on D and G, not a decorative plating. The A string is aluminium-wound; the E string is unwound.

Individual string specifications

Tension values follow Larsen's official Direct & Focused specification for 4/4 violin. Combined nominal set tension: 22.6 kg.

General specifications

Choosing between Il Cannone variants

Il Cannone Original Medium has a warmer, darker and more rounded tonal character.

Il Cannone Direct & Focused Medium provides a brighter, cleaner and more focused sound, with somewhat greater tactile resistance during playing.

Il Cannone Direct & Focused Soloist follows the same tonal concept at higher tension, offering additional projection.

The choice should reflect the acoustic needs of the individual violin. String design and instrument response matter alongside nominal tension.

Installation and maintenance

Replace strings individually to help preserve bridge position. Check that the nut and bridge grooves are smooth and suitable. Use an appropriate protective tube or bridge insert for the E string.

After playing, remove rosin and other residue with a soft, dry cloth. Gentle regular cleaning helps maintain a consistent response and prevents excessive rosin build-up on the winding.

Please note: this product contains a complete four-string Il Cannone Direct & Focused Medium set. It is not the original Il Cannone Medium set with Warm & Broad A, nor the Soloist version.