About Thomastik-Infeld
Thomastik-Infeld was founded in Vienna in 1919 by Dr. Franz Thomastik, a violin maker, and Otto Infeld, a civil engineer, to manufacture steel strings. The company changed the string world twice: first in 1958 with Spirocore, its spiral rope-core line, and again in 1970 with Dominant, the perlon-core string that broke into a market until then dominated by gut. Dominant went on to become one of the most widely used violin strings in the world. The company is still based in Vienna and remains family-run.
Thomastik-Infeld at Shar
Our Thomastik-Infeld range spans the orchestral lines for violin, viola, cello and double bass, plus rosins. Each major line has its own page so you can compare within a family rather than across the whole catalogue.
Players including Itzhak Perlman, Hilary Hahn and Isaac Stern have used Thomastik-Infeld strings. Shar has been fitting strings since 1962 and our specialists can help you narrow the choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Thomastik-Infeld strings made?
In Vienna, Austria. The company has been based there since it was founded in 1919 and manufactures there.
What made Dominant significant?
Dominant, launched in 1970, used a perlon core at a time when the market was dominated by gut. It offered much of the warmth players expected from gut with far better pitch stability and durability, and became one of the most widely used violin strings in the world.
Which Thomastik-Infeld line should a student use?
There are lines designed specifically for students rather than adapted down from professional sets, which is usually the better starting point. Ask us and we can match a line to the instrument and the player's stage.
