Larsen Il Cannone Soloist Direct & Focused Violin String Set

Larsen Il Cannone Soloist Direct & Focused is a professional four-string set for 4/4 violin by Danish manufacturer Larsen Strings. It is designed for a powerful, brilliant and highly focused sound, with excellent projection, clearly defined articulation and an immediate bow response.

This is a distinct member of the Il Cannone family, differing from the original Il Cannone Soloist through a newly developed synthetic core and refined winding process for the A, D and G strings. The set is completed by the original carbon-steel Il Cannone E Soloist.

Sound: brilliance, focus and projection

Compared with the original Il Cannone range, known for a warmer and darker tonal direction, Direct & Focused has a brighter, cleaner and more immediate sound.

The Soloist version combines these qualities with higher tension, increased focus and powerful projection. Larsen describes the range as providing lustrous clarity, strong output and an expanded palette of expressive possibilities.

These characteristics are especially relevant for solo repertoire, virtuosic passages and orchestral solos, where individual notes must remain clearly defined within a complex musical texture.

Larsen also reports somewhat greater resistance under the bow and fingers compared with the original Il Cannone strings. This may appeal to players who prefer a distinct tactile response when shaping articulation and dynamics.

Higher tension does not automatically improve every violin. The result depends on the individual instrument, its setup and playing technique.

New synthetic core and winding technology

For the Direct & Focused series, Larsen developed a new synthetic multi-filament core for the A, D and G strings. Combined with a refined winding process, this construction supports the range's characteristic clarity, brilliance and focus.

E Soloist: unwound special carbon steel, intended for a brilliant and direct upper register. A removable ball allows use with compatible ball-end or loop-end fine tuners.

A Direct & Focused Soloist: synthetic multi-filament core with precision-rolled aluminium flat-wire winding, providing a focused and clear middle-register response.

D Direct & Focused Soloist: newly developed synthetic core with pure silver winding, combining tonal richness with articulate attacks and strong projection.

G Direct & Focused Soloist: synthetic multi-filament core with pure silver winding, delivering lower-register resonance with the clarity and definition characteristic of the series.

The D and G strings are wound with genuine silver rather than merely silver-plated. The A is aluminium-wound and the E is an unwound steel string.

Individual string specifications

Values follow Larsen's current online specifications. Reference vibrating length: 325 mm. An earlier Larsen technical sheet dated March 2025 lists G Soloist at 4.8 kg rather than 4.9 kg.

General specifications

Comparison with other Il Cannone variants

Il Cannone Original Soloist: powerful, rich sound with a warmer and darker tonal character.

Il Cannone Direct & Focused Medium: brilliant clarity and focus with more moderate tension and less string resistance.

Il Cannone Direct & Focused Soloist: the same direct, focused sound concept with higher tension, stronger projection and added upper-overtone definition.

Larsen also recommends experimenting with the separate 0.28 mm E Strong string for additional power and density. This alternative E string is not included in the present set and must be purchased separately.

Installation and care

Replace one string at a time to maintain bridge position. Check that the nut and bridge grooves are smooth. Use appropriate bridge protection for the steel E string.

Bring the strings gradually up to pitch, monitoring bridge alignment. After playing, remove rosin and other residue with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid abrasive cleaners and aggressive solvents.

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