Pirastro and Thomastik are both leading manufacturers of strings for musical instruments and their brands are sought by students and professional players across the world. They offer a wide range of models and prices that fit all pockets.
Among the preferred sets of strings by students are Tonica by Pirastro and Dominant by Thomastik due to their superior quality and low to mid-range prices.
Although produced by different brands, Tonica and Dominant string set share very similar sound characteristics and are often comparable to one another.
If you are interested in learning more about each set and deciding which one is the best option for you, please keep reading this article.
Pirastro Tonica vs Dominant
Composition
Both sets have a multi-stranded synthetic core that offers the tonal characteristics of a gut set of strings. They contain an outside layer made of aluminum or silver.
Tonal characteristics
Tonicas and Dominants have very similar tonal qualities. They have good sound projection, are somewhat brilliant – although Tonicas are a little bit darker – and have a very quick response.
They are very suitable for strokes that demand agility like the sautillé and the spiccato. For that reason they are the right fit for advancing violinists who need the right strings that match their needs.
Dominants have a little drawback: when first installed in the violin, they have a metallic tone that may last for some days until the sound becomes mature and rich.
The period in which the sound has not yet developed fully can be annoying for many musicians, and that is also a reason why some players opt for Tonica or any other brand of similar quality.
Tuning stability
Both sets have a very good pitch stability from the first day of use with results that are above the average when compared to other brands.
The reason behind that is the synthetic core present in both sets which guarantees more stability, whereas most other brands use natural gut, which are less likely to remain in tune so easily for longer periods of time.
Tonal lifespan
Every string has a life-span or at least a period in which it keeps its ideal tonal properties. Dominants, for instance, are known for keeping their tonal properties for several weeks after the initial process of stabilization.
Tonicas, instead, have a shorter life-span when compared to Dominants.
Many musicians consider the life-span of the string set a very important aspect when evaluating the best options. The value for money will definitely influence their final decision.
Durability
This term refers to the amount of time that the string can resist before breaking or suffering any damage. In this respect both strings sets are generally considered to have good durability.
The three lower strings are wrapped with a small layer of metal that is wound throughout their extension.
Both brands receive complaints of players who have these layers unwind after a few weeks of moderate use. This problem seems to be directly related to the sweaty hands of some individuals.
Prices
As of December, 2022, Dominants are priced between US$50 and US$75, and Tonicas are sold between US$30 and US$45 dollars. Shipping and other fees may be included depending on the seller and the country.
Cons
Although both are considered excellent string sets, still their manufacturers get some recurring complaints. The whistling E string in the original Dominant set is a common issue. To avoid this problem, most Dominant users opt for buying an E string of a different brand.
As for the Tonica, players that use or that have tried it usually complain about its shorter life-span, although within an acceptable period of use.
Fake strings
Customers should be aware that there are fake string sets being sold under the names Tonica or Dominant, sometimes even copying the original packages.
These copies are of lower quality, and if the customer is not aware of this, he may judge wrongly and attribute a lower quality to the original sets of strings. Custmers should always check if the products come from a good source.
It is possible to find hints that indicate that the set being sold is not original, and price is the first one. Customers should keep one eye on prices that are much below the market average.
If the dealer does not offer customer support it also likely that the strings are not original.
Variations
Thomastik offers a wide range of variations of the Dominant model, providing each customer with the best experience
The main features that can be chosen include level of tension (low, medium, high), the outside layer that covers some strings (aluminum or silver), and the string end (loop end or ball end).
Some players use specific fine tuners which must be matched with the end of the string. Tonicas, however, seem to only offer the type of string end as an option to be chosen from.
We summarized all the information in this table:
| Dominant | Tonica | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Thomastik | Pirastro |
| Composition | Synthetic core | Synthetic core |
| Tonal characteristics | Focused, rich | Brilliant, warm |
| Tuning stability | Good | Good |
| Tonal life-span | Excellent | Acceptable |
| Durability | Good | Good |
| Prices | US$50 - 75 | US$35 - 50 |
| Cons | Whistling E, unwinding | Short life-span |
| Variations within the same model | Tension, winding, end (loop vs. ball) | End (loop vs. ball) |
What is the best option?
There is not a winner although there is also not a tie. Both strings have pros and cons that may be more or less appreciated or suitable for each violinist. For the violinists who prefer a sound that is a little darker, Tonica is the way to go.
Those who do not like changing strings so often might prefer the Dominant, unless they suffer from sweaty hands. It is hard to go wrong with any of them, but only by trying both the violinist will be able to take his final decision.
Bonus: The Dominant Pro
If price is not a determining factor, the player can also consider the Pro version of Dominant by Thomastik.
Some improvements have been made such as the reduction of its metallic sound and improvement of the tonal lifespan while keeping a similar timbre and stability. Dominant Pro has excellent reviews and is definitely worth the money.