Larsen Il Cannone® for Violin —
"It's the perfect string for a powerful soloist who needs that extra kick of sound"
Celebrating Paganini's legacy with a revolutionary sound. Designed to bring out the best in your violin. Medium — noble, colorful, rich and powerful. Soloist — fuller tone, even more projection and clarity. New options: Warm & Broad A and E 0.28.
🔗 Table of Contents
Il Cannone for Violin — Celebrating Paganini's Legacy
The Il Cannone® celebrates Paganini's legacy with a truly revolutionary sound. In the design and development process here at Larsen we always aim to produce the exceptional, but it is only during the testing and trial process with hands-on musicians that we can truly know for certain. And we would seem to have succeeded. The feedback from musicians has confirmed that playability and feel on the fingerboard is excellent with a good resistance to the bow.
Designed to bring out the best in your violin, the Il Cannone strings are available in two versions. The Medium variant has a more moderate tension with a noble, colorful, rich and powerful sound while the Soloist version brings a fuller tone, with even more projection and clarity.
Descriptions of the sound that our Il Cannone strings deliver include: 'Noble and powerful. A biting tone with real punch. Highly colourful with many intricate harmonics. Clear. Open. Brilliant. A very fast and easy response especially in spiccato.'
- Powerful with punch
- Rich sound with a dark note
- Medium E string: Sweet and lovely
- Soloist E string: Bright and direct
Sound & Characteristics
Please note: illustrated values are for guidance purposes only
Powerful with punch
Il Cannone projects sound into the hall with real punch. Noble and powerful — for large venues and solo repertoire.
Rich sound with a dark note
Deep tone with a noble dark shade and many intricate harmonics. Highly colourful.
Very fast and easy response
'A very fast and easy response especially in spiccato' — Il Cannone responds instantly. Clear. Open. Brilliant.
Medium vs Soloist
Medium — noble and colourful, moderate tension. Soloist — fuller tone, even more projection and clarity, higher tension.
Il Cannone Technical Information
String tension as kg/lbs, string core material, string winding material(s) and silk colors illustrated as ball and silk winding at the tailpiece end then silk color combinations, per string, at the peg end.
| String | Tension | kg / lbs | Core | Winding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Il Cannone E | Medium | 7.80 / 17.16 | Carbon steel | — |
| Il Cannone E | Soloist | 8.40 / 18.48 | Carbon steel | — |
| Il Cannone E 0.28 | — | 9.00 / 19.80 | Carbon steel | — |
| Il Cannone A | Medium | 5.23 / 11.50 | Synthetic multi-filament | Aluminium |
| Il Cannone A | Soloist | 5.97 / 13.13 | Synthetic multi-filament | Aluminium |
| Il Cannone A Warm & Broad | Medium | 5.23 / 11.50 | Synthetic multi-filament | Aluminium |
| Il Cannone A Warm & Broad | Soloist | 6.10 / 13.42 | Synthetic multi-filament | Aluminium |
| Il Cannone D | Medium | 4.74 / 10.42 | Synthetic multi-filament | Pure silver |
| Il Cannone D | Soloist | 5.10 / 11.22 | Synthetic multi-filament | Pure silver |
| Il Cannone G | Medium | 4.66 / 10.26 | Synthetic multi-filament | Pure silver |
| Il Cannone G | Soloist | 4.90 / 10.78 | Synthetic multi-filament | Pure silver |
The Il Cannone E string, available with a removeable ball end or a dedicated loop option, is made using a unique carbon steel, while the A, D and G strings build on a new, synthetic multi-filament core. The A string is wound with precision rolled aluminum flat wire and the D and G strings are wound with pure silver.
New Options — Warm & Broad A and E 0.28
For a tailored blend you can now choose a Warm & Broad A-string for added warmth and depth, and a 0.28 E-string for more volume and saturation.
Warm & Broad A-string
The Il Cannone Warm & Broad A-string is designed to offer violinists more flexibility in tailoring their setup. Whether you seek the focused clarity of the standard A or the rich, expansive warmth of the Warm & Broad option, both are now available to match your instrument's unique voice. Choose the string that complements your playing style and enhances your violin's tonal possibilities.
0.28 E-string
Discover the versatility of our 0.28 E-string. Offering a warm and focused sound with added penetration and raised volume, it delivers strong tension and a quick, reliable response. Non-whistling, it adapts to your playing, whether you need precise articulation or a broader, expressive tone.
Larsen Performing Artists
"I have tried many different strings and found a focused projection, tactile responsiveness and liquidity from the Larsen Il Cannone and Il Cannone Gold strings with the Vieuxtemps." — Anne Akiko Meyers (Stradivarius Vieuxtemps, 1741)
"It's the perfect string for a powerful soloist who needs that extra kick of sound." — Rusanda Panfili
Video — Il Cannone for Violin
Gallery — Medium and Soloist sets + individual strings
Individual strings — Medium
Individual strings — Soloist
Warm & Broad A and E 0.28
Sound Map — Larsen for Violin range (V8, March 2024)
| Set | Sound Map position |
|---|---|
| Il Cannone Direct & Focused Soloist | Brilliant + Focused (top right) |
| Il Cannone Direct & Focused Medium | Brilliant + Focused (right) |
| Il Cannone Gold Soloist | Neutral + Focused (right) |
| Il Cannone Medium (Original) | Neutral + Focused (right middle) |
| Aurora Strong / Medium | Neutral + Broad |
| Virtuoso Strong / Medium | Neutral + Broad (left) |
| Original Medium / Strong | Neutral / Warm, closer to Broad |
| Tzigane Medium / Strong | Warm + Broad (bottom left) |
Il Cannone Medium — Neutral + Focused, right middle quadrant. Brighter and more focused than Aurora, warmer and broader than Direct & Focused. The ideal combination of power, clarity and noble character.
Silk Colours Il Cannone (Violin Silk Colours, March 2025)
| String | Tension | Silk colour | Number of bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Il Cannone E | Medium | 🟢 Green | 1 band |
| Il Cannone E | Soloist | 🟤 Brown/terracotta | 1 band |
| Il Cannone E 0.28 | — | 🟤 Brown | — |
| Il Cannone A | Medium | 🟢 Green | 2 bands |
| Il Cannone A | Soloist | 🟤 Brown | 2 bands |
| Il Cannone A Warm & Broad | Medium | 🟢 Green + W&B marker | 2 bands |
| Il Cannone A Warm & Broad | Soloist | 🟤 Brown + W&B marker | 2 bands |
| Il Cannone D | Medium | 🟢 Green | 3 bands |
| Il Cannone D | Soloist | 🟤 Brown | 3 bands |
| Il Cannone G | Medium | 🟢 Green | 4 bands |
| Il Cannone G | Soloist | 🟤 Brown | 4 bands |
Identification system: 🟢 Green = Medium. 🟤 Brown/terracotta = Soloist. Number of bands: E=1 → A=2 → D=3 → G=4. One glance tells you which string and which tension.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions about Larsen Il Cannone for Violin
What does the name "Il Cannone" mean?
"Il Cannone" ("The Cannon") is the nickname of Paganini's legendary violin, a Guarnerius del Gesù of 1742, known for its extraordinarily powerful and penetrating sound. Larsen Il Cannone® is a celebration of Paganini's legacy with a truly revolutionary sound.
What is the difference between Il Cannone Medium and Soloist?
Medium has a more moderate tension with a noble, colorful, rich and powerful sound. E string: sweet and lovely. Soloist has a higher tension, fuller tone with even more projection and clarity. E string: bright and direct. Medium suits lyrical, orchestral playing; Soloist is for large venues and maximum power.
What is the Il Cannone E 0.28?
The E 0.28 is an E-string of increased gauge (0.28 mm) offering a warm and focused sound with added penetration and raised volume. Strong tension, quick and reliable response. Non-whistling — adapts to your playing style.
What is the Il Cannone A Warm & Broad?
An alternative A-string offering more warmth and depth in the upper register. Available in Medium and Soloist. Rich, expansive warmth — for a more chamber-like, broader tone.
Does Il Cannone have a removeable ball end?
Yes — the Il Cannone E-string is available with a removeable ball end or a dedicated loop option, allowing use with different tailpieces.
Where does Il Cannone sit on the Sound Map?
According to Sound Map V8 (March 2024): Il Cannone Medium — Neutral + Focused, right middle quadrant. Brighter than Aurora, warmer than Direct & Focused.
What silk colour does Il Cannone have?
According to the PDF Violin Silk Colours (March 2025): Medium — 🟢 green, Soloist — 🟤 brown/terracotta. Number of bands: E=1, A=2, D=3, G=4.
How does Il Cannone Original differ from Direct & Focused and Gold?
Il Cannone Original — warm and rounded (Neutral + Focused). Direct & Focused — the brightest and most focused (Brilliant + Focused). Gold — golden warmth and depth. Each version is a unique voice for different violins and styles.
Which violins suit Il Cannone?
Il Cannone suits a wide range of instruments — from modern to old master violins. Particularly recommended for instruments with a neutral or bright timbre. The Warm & Broad A helps to soften instruments that are too bright.
How long do Il Cannone strings last?
Il Cannone is known for good stability and longevity. The synthetic multi-filament core is less sensitive to humidity and temperature than gut. Clean with alcohol regularly to extend string life — the method is shown in Larsen String Expertise videos at larsenstrings.com.
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