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Treble Gut: This sheep
gut string is processed to be a little harder than the other kinds of gut. The
treble string also has a lower twist of about 15º. This
construction gives it the strength and resistance it needs to stand the
strain in the treble register. The treble gut can be used in some places
instead of the Lyon
gut. It should be preferred if a greater stiffness is required. This type
of string is characterized by a low twist that is sometimes not even
visible. The color of the string ranges from clear to white and sometimes
to transparent yellow. This type of string is an ideal use for:
Violin:
e-1 and a-2
Viola:
a-1 and d-2
Cello:
a-1, D-2
Bass
viol: d-1, a-2, and e-3
Tenor
viol: g-1, d-2, and a-3
Treble
viol: d-1, a-2, and e-3
Lute:
g-1, d-2, a-3, and octaves on bass courses
Harp:
treble strings
Lyon
gut: Named after the town in
France
which was famous for a particular type of flexible gut string. From the
16th Century these strings were recommended as being some of the best
strings for basses. Our reproduction of this string is made from sheep gut
specially processed in our shop to be soft and responsive. The gut is
twisted in one direction to about 45 degrees for the optimum combination
of durability and flexibility. The Lyonstring
is not as flexible as the Pistoy string. Both Lyon and Pistoy can be used
for the same string positions. The Lyon
should be preferred when a little extra stiffness is required under the
bow or finger. This type of string is characterized by a tight and visible
twist. The color tends toward opaque light to medium yellow. This type of
string is an ideal use for:
Violin:
d-3 and G-4
Viola:
d-2, and G-3
Contra
bass: G-1, D-2, A-3
Bass
viol: e-3, C-4, G-5, and D-6
Tenor
viol: f-4, C-5, G-6
Treble
viol: c-4, g-5, d-6
Lute:
f-4, C-5, G-6, octaves on bass courses
Harp:
midrange and bass strings
Pistoy gut: The Pistoy strings is a unique development of Daniel
Larson at Gamut Strings. It is named for the town in Italy which was famous for producing the
best string for basses, being "flexible, smooth, and well twisted". Our
reproduction is made of three strands of sheep gut twisted in one direction and then
the three combined together by twisting in the other direction. When dry, the
string is polished down to the specific gauge required by the instrument. The
results are a very flexible string with a quick response and a full, round
sound. This is not a polished. The Pistoy
twist is fundamentally a different kind of string. It shares one trait with the
catline in that the string is made with two directions of twist. This is where
the similarity ends. The Pistoy has no space in the structure like the catline
does and therefore has the same density as any plain gut string. The Pistoy
string takes a lot of time to sort the gut into small bundles to twist and
retwist. The gain is in the flexibility. Even in thick gauges the string remains
supple and responsive. The string is characterized by a noticeable twist and
flexible feel. The color ranges from clear white on thinner strings, (1.00 mm to
1.10 mm), to opaque yellow on thick strings. This type of string is an ideal use
for:
Violin:
d-3 and G-4
Viola:
G-3, and C-4
Cello:
D-2, G-3, C-4
Contra
bass: G-1, D-2, A-3
Bass
viol: C-4, G-5, and D-6
Tenor
viol: f-4, C-5, G-6
Treble
viol: c-4, g-5, d-6
Lute:
f-4, C-5, G-6, fundamentals on bass courses
Harp:
bass strings
Wound Strings: I believe that my wound strings are among the finest wound
gut strings being made in the traditional style.. The machines I use to put the
wire on the gut were made and used by the Perfection Musical String Co. They
were the ones that made the old Wonder Tone, Gold Label and Tricolore strings.
The cello string machine was made in about 1900 and has been making strings
almost daily for nearly 100 years.
The
recipes of the strings, the diameters of gut and wire, have been carefully
researched to duplicate the kind of tones and tensions that were used
historically. The earliest actual string I have been able to copy is from about
1820.
Three
types of wire are currently being used in wound string production. Silver,
silver-plated copper, and a tanden winding of silver / copper.. The silver that
I use is 99.99% pure wire that is drawn down to my specifications for each type
of string. Silver strings are polished so the surface of the string is smooth.
Silver plate strings retain the round ridges of the wire. Wound strings are used
for:
Violin:
G-4
Viola:
G-3 and C-4
Cello:
G-3 and C-4
Bass
viol: G-5, D-6 and A-7
Tenor
viol: C-5 and G-6
Treble
viol: G-5, and D-6
Lute:
G-6 and lower fundamentals
Gimped strings: This type of string was first mentioned in 1664 and marks
the first evidence of joining wire with musical strings. This string is made
with the Pistoy construction for flexibility. The wire is twisted into the sheep gut
at the time of construction to resist buzzing and failure. The string is
polished smooth, but some strings have a slight texture to them. The gimped
string is characterized by the barber-pole or candy stripe appearance of the
wire in the twist of the gut. Gimped strings are gauged by the equivalent
diameter system. This means that a given string is equal in weight to a certain
gut diameter but the actual diameter of the string is smaller due to the added
weight of the wire. A gimped string may be gauged at = 1.50 mm but the actual
diameter of the string is 1.10 mm. The thinness and wire give a bright tone.
Gimped strings are best used for:
Violin:
D-3 and G-4
Viola:
G-3 and C-4
Cello:
G-3 and C-4
Bass
viol: C-4, G-5, and D-6
Tenor
viol: F-4, C-5 and G-6
Treble
viol: c-4 G-5, and D-6
Lute:
c-5, G-6 and lower fundamentals
Harp
bass strings
Academie
Strings
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Academie strings are carefully selected and prepared gut strings.
The gut is chosen for good twist, color and structure according to the
instrument and string position for each instrument.
Gauging. The Acaemie ine of select strings are available
in six standard gauges. These have been selected through years of trial and
player recommendations. They are based on instruments of standard string lengths
pitched at a-415.
Wound strings. The surface of the silver and
aluminum wound strings are polished smooth so the wire windings are not
obstructive to finger movement and shifting. Silver-plated-copper strings are
not polished so the round tops of the wire windings can be felt with the
fingers. The polishing of the windings make the tone a bit warmer. Silver plate
strings are a bit brighter in tone.
Catalog numbers. Our catalog numbers can be a bit
confusing. Here is how they work. The number is a five digit code that tells us
exactly what the string is and where it goes. The first digit is a letter that
indicates the product line: A = Académie, C = Classic Tone. The next digit
is a number that tells us which instrument the string goes on: 1 = violin, 2 =
viola, etc. The third digit is a number that indicates the string position as
numbered from highest pitch to lowest pitch with the highest pitch string being
the first or number one (1) string. The fourth digit indicated the type of
string: 0 = treble gut, 1 = Lyon gut, etc. The fifth digit indicates the gauge of the
string. EXAMPLE: A1102 = Violin e-1
medium.
Gauging systems. In the Gamut catalog the plain gut
strings are gauged by millimeter diameter. In the listing of equal tension
strings the wound strings are listed as equivalent diameter. This means that the
wound string is equal in weight to plain gut of the diameter listed.
There
are at least three popular gauging systems for measuring strings. Strings are
also measured in thousandths of an inch, or "thou", and wound strings are often
measured in "pirazzi-meters" . You can switch easily between each system by the
following methods.
To
change from millimeters to pirazzi-meters divide the millimeter number by
.05.
To
change from pirazzi -meters to millimeters multiply the pirazzi-meter number by
.05.
To
change from millimeters to thousandths of an inch divide the millimeter number
by 25.4.
To
change from thousandths of an inch to millimeters multiply the thousandths
number by 25.4.
Violin
strings, natural or varnished gut finish
Gauged for string length of 32cm
