Which E string are those of you with C-extensions using together with Thomastik Dominant strings? My interest is almost all arco so I'd like to hear what you have to say about how they blend while playing with the bow.
I'm not using Dominants - I'm using guts. However I'd like to suggest that you check out the Pirastro Permanent. I'm using the extended E (and A) and I'm very happy with it. I tried a number of other extension strings before I found one I was happy with. For a while, my only concern was that the pizz on the low C and Db was not as strong as the Spirocore. However I'm happy with it now and the arco is great through the range of the string and the sound and the response is strong and dark but bright enough to cut through.
Why not use the Spirocore? It sounds close to Dominant and is the most responsive long E around. This is a popular set-up. -Jon
I finally got around to putting a Spirocore extended E along side the Dominants and I'm happy with that combination. The Spirocore matches the Dominants in tone pretty well but the Dominants might be just scosh louder. For what it's worth, my experience has been that it takes a while for the Dominants to settle in. After about a month the open D and open A are still a little wild. The Dominants also seem to be prone to making a whipping sound on stopped As and Es similar to what you get when you flex a saw. Hopefully that will go away.