D'Addario NS515 E 4/4 Cello Strings

D'Addario NS515 High E String for Electric Cello

The NS515 is the dedicated High E replacement string in D'Addario's NS Electric Cello line, a series developed in partnership with luthier Ned Steinberger for his NS Design instruments. Built on a stranded steel core with a flatwound outer winding, the string produces a clear, warm, and focused tone that preserves the nuance of every dynamic shift and bow stroke. It is engineered to fit NS-designed electric cellos but also installs cleanly on standard-sized acoustic cellos, making it a straightforward single-string solution when only the top E needs replacing. Cellist Calum Ingram — a working artist on the NS platform — describes the line as "strong, warm, slinky" with "incredible response" when bowing into different dynamics.

Technical Specifications

• Number of Strings: 1 — single replacement string, not a full set
• String Designation: High E (5th string)
• Core: Stranded Steel — flexible under the bow with a clear fundamental
• Winding: Flatwound outer wrap for a smooth playing surface and warm, focused tone
• Ending: Ball End — fits standard cello tailpieces
• Size: 4/4 — full-size cello
• Tension: Medium — balanced bow response
• Compatible With: Cello — NS Design electric and standard acoustic instruments
• Country of Manufacture: USA — New York production facility

Who This String Is For

Designed for electric cellists who need a reliable High E replacement that matches the response and tonal character of the rest of their NS Design setup, this single string slots directly into an existing NS Electric Cello String Set. It suits intermediate and professional players working in amplified contemporary, jazz, classical crossover, and live performance contexts where a clear, warm top string must cut through a mix without sounding thin or brittle. The stranded steel core and medium tension give enough flexibility for expressive bowing while keeping the fundamental stable under pickups. Players who already run the full NS Electric Cello String Set will find this single string an exact match when only the High E has worn out or broken, and acoustic cellists experimenting with a brighter, more focused top voice can drop it onto a standard 4/4 instrument with no modification.