D'Addario J912 XSM Viola Strings

Replacement D String for Fractional-Size Violas

The D'Addario Prelude Viola Single D String, Extra Short Scale, Medium Tension is a standalone replacement built for the smallest violas in a student's instrument progression. Designed as part of D'Addario's Prelude line — often cited as one of the best-sounding student orchestral strings available — it uses a solid steel core paired with a ball end for quick installation on standard viola tailpieces. The Extra Short scale (13"–14" / 330–356 mm) is intended for fractional-size instruments used by younger players, where a full-length string would be too long and too heavy to bow cleanly. D'Addario's unique damping process gives Prelude strings a warm tone and reliable bow response, helping beginners produce a focused, even sound while they develop fundamental technique. The string is also engineered to stay stable in pitch and resist humidity and temperature changes, which matters in practice rooms, school music rooms and on stage where conditions shift throughout the day.

Technical Specifications

• String Designation: D — single replacement string for the D position of a viola
• Scale: Extra Short (13"–14" / 330–356 mm) — fits fractional-size violas
• Tension: Medium — balanced bow response for developing players
• Core: Solid Steel — provides stable pitch and durability
• Ending: Ball End — installs directly into standard viola tailpieces
• Instrument Compatibility: Viola
• Origin: Designed, engineered and crafted in New York, USA

Who This String Is For

This replacement is the right choice for teachers, parents and school orchestra programs that need to swap a broken D string on a fractional-size viola without buying a full set. It suits beginning viola students working through the smallest instrument sizes, where the bow weight and finger spacing demand a string tuned to the correct vibrating length. Music retailers and rental program operators also stock this single string as a service item for customers whose instruments have outgrown a particular scale. Because it shares the same construction family as the rest of the Prelude line, it pairs cleanly with the matching Prelude A, C and G strings in the same Extra Short scale when a complete restring is needed. Players who already use Prelude strings on a larger viola will find the same warm, stable tone and durable feel on this fractional-scale D string, making it a consistent upgrade path as students move through instrument sizes.