Gut Strings
One of the most noticeable attributes of period string performance is the use of gut strings.
Of course, gut strings themselves were in widespread use up for much of the 20th century - they really
aren't that "old" a tradition! Gut strings are much more delicate than metal strings, and usually have a
life span of only a few months, or even weeks. Additionally, the silver or copper windings may come loose
and rattle in dry weather, so a humidified environment is advised.
Depending on your instrument and the tuning desired, you may be able to buy a set of gut strings off
the shelf from your local music store. But many period instrument specialists feel that they
achieve better results when they use custom-made strings. When ordering these strings, the player
specifies the pitch standard (A=440, 430, 415, 392 or 465!), the gauge (light, medium or heavy),
the kind of twist and/or winding to the gut (many types are available) and the exact string length of
the instrument.
For players expecting to use non-conventional tunings for the lyra viol, or who are setting up
their violone with Viennese tuning, or who want to use "pure gut" for Renaissance music, or who have an
unusual-sized or recalcitrant instrument, etc., custom strings are a must. Fortunately, these are often
just as economical as factory-made strings.
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String Makers:
Aquila - USA
P.O. Box 82761
Portland, Oregon 97282-0761
Tel/Fax: (503) 788-5029
www.aquilausa.com/
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Aquila Corde Armoniche - Italy
Via Aviano 10
36030 Caldogno, Vicenza, Italy
Tel: (04 44) 986972
Fax: (04 44) 989399
www.aquilacorde.com
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Baroco
60 rue de Rome
75008 Paris
France
Tel: (01 42) 93 28 95
Fax: (0142) 93 27 45
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Damian Dlugolecki
520 SE 40th Street
Troutdale, OR 97060
Tel: (503) 669-7966
www.damianstrings.com
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Naoki Fujii
Stuyvesant straat 9/1
1058 AJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: (31 20) 689 2058
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Carl Hellweg - CHD Strings
Postfach 720145
Lütgendortmunder Hellweg 12
44388 Dortmund
Germany
Tel: (02 31) 63 2562
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Olav Chris Henrikson
Boston Catlines
34 Newbury Street
Somerville, MA 02144
Tel/Fax: (617) 776-8688
catlines@aol.com
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Bernd Kurschner
Obere Waldstrasse 20
D-65232 Taunusstein
Germany
Tel/Fax: (49) 061 286910
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La Bella Strings
256 Broadway
Newburg, NY 12550 USA
Tel: (914) 562-4400
Fax: (914) 562-4491
www.labella.com
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Daniel Larson - Gamut Strings
26 N. 28th Ave. E.
Duluth, MN 55812
U.S.A.
Tel/Fax: (888) 724-8099
www.daniellarson.com/
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Northern Renaissance Instruments
6 Needham Avenue
Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Manchester M21 8AA
England
Fax/Tel: (44) 061.881.8134
www.nrinstruments.demon.co.uk
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Pirastro Strings
Gustav Pirazzi & Co.
Postfach 540 D 6050
Offenbach am Main
Germany
Tel: (49) 6983.1011
www.pirastro.com
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Pyramid Strings
Sudetenstr. 41-43
D-91088 Bubenreuth
Germany
Tel: 09131-24064
www.pyramid-saiten.de/
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SOFRACOB (Société Française de Cordes en Boyaux)
Zone Industrielle
Reventin Vaugris
38121 France
Phone: (33 474) 53.32.30
Fax: (33 474) 53.38.25
www.members.aol.com/sofracob/homepage.html
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Thomastik-Infeld, Vienna
Diehlgasse 27
A-1051 VIENNA
Austria
Tel: (4 31) 5451262 47
Fax: (431) 5451262 43
www.thomastik-infeld.com
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Universale Gut Strings
Parochiestraat 92
9472 Iddergem
Belgium
Tel: (32) 53 67 25 22
Fax: (32) 53 41 64 80
www.liuteria-antica.com/Universale_strings
