Set of strings Thomastik Dominant (medium) 4/4 for violin E-aluminum, D-aluminum

Dominant is the synthetic classic of the Viennese house Thomastik-Infeld, and the maker describes it soberly: since 1970 these strings have been "a reliable partner for generations of diverse violin players" and "rank among the worlds most used violin strings". Set 135 is the baseline 4/4 configuration in mittel gauge: E 130 with an aluminum winding over carbon steel (7.2 kp), A 131 aluminum (5.5 kp), D 132 also aluminum (4.1 kp) and G 133 silver (4.4 kp). Together that is 21.2 kp (46.74 lb) at a vibrating length of 32.5 cm — deliberately kept in low-tension territory, below the line's own stark version 135ST (23.7 kp). Thomastik sums up the sound in a single line: these strings "emphasize an instrument's individual character", and low tension is the main tool for that. A, D and G sit on a synthetic multifilament core (perlon) — the very construction that started the synthetic era.

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How 21.2 kp Is Split Across Four Voices

The E is the tightest at 7.2 kp: a steel voice has to withstand bow pressure in the upper positions, otherwise it hisses instead of singing. Tension then drops straight to 5.5 kp on the A, and the lowest figure in the set is the D at 4.1 kp, with the G slightly firmer at 4.4 kp. In practice the middle and the bottom answer the bow very easily: neither D nor G has to be forced into speaking, and vibrato on them asks less of the left wrist. The flip side is worth knowing too — on a hard forte this D is the first string that wants a careful right hand.

Aluminum Twice, Silver Only on the G

The set is deliberately not unified by winding metal. The E is aluminum over carbon steel: the winding sits between finger and steel core, so the voice comes out more even than a plain steel string and the finger does not slide on bare metal. A and D carry that same aluminum — the lightest metal used here, adding almost no mass, which keeps the middle register transparent and quick. Only the G gets silver: it is denser, and the bottom needs exactly that mass, otherwise the string booms and blurs instead of holding the foundation of a chord.

Low Tension Is the Line's Stance, Not a Saving

21.2 kp on a full-size violin is deliberately modest, and the whole line is built on it: the less load on bridge and soundpost, the more of the instrument itself you hear rather than the strings. That is why Dominant so often ends up on older violins with thin tops and on instruments that close up under a stiff set. If you want more resistance under the bow, the same combination exists as the stark 135ST (23.7 kp) and as a light version (18.8 kp) — only the tension changes, not the construction.

Specifications

What's Included

The pack holds four strings — E 130, A 131, D 132 and G 133, each in its own Thomastik envelope with the article number. It covers a complete restringing with nothing to buy separately.

Who It's For

For the violinist who wants proven synthetics with no experiments; for the owner of an old or sensitive instrument who needs low tension; and for the student moving from steel to synthetic strings who wants to hear what the violin itself actually sounds like.

Frequently Asked Questions

🚚 Shipping and Payment

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