Gut Strings One of the most noticeable features 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. String Makers: Aquila - USA Aquila Corde Armoniche - Italy Baroco Damian Dlugolecki Naoki Fujii Carl Hellweg - CHD Strings Olav Chris Henrikson Bernd Kurschner La Bella Strings Daniel Larson - Gamut Strings Northern Renaissance Instruments Pirastro Strings Pyramid Strings SOFRACOB (Société Française de Cordes en Boyaux) Thomastik-Infeld Universale Gut Strings |
