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In order for a Violin player to get the best response from their
instrument, it is essential that the String selection for that instrument
complements the acoustic properties and satisfies the players musical requirements.
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Violin String Types :-
1. Gut Strings
2. Metal Wound Gut strings
3. Metal strings
4. Metal Wound plastic strings
5. Synthetic Strings
6. String Makers - Contact Details
7. References
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1. Gut Strings
Gut strings have been traditionally made from the intestines of sheep.
The standard Gut string is constructed by twisting the fibre from the sheep’s intestines between 2 hooks.
The number of fibres will determine the diameter of the string.
For increased flexibility one may put as much twist in a string as possible,
when wet. This type of Gut string is known as a “ High Twist ” type.
As a result of these extra twists some tensile strength is lost, so these strings
are suitable for “Mid-to Low Range strings”.
Gut strings can be polished when dry, this makes the string look attractive and
can improve the vibrational trueness. The disadvantage with polishing is that
it breaks some of the fibers and this decreases the overall strength. This is a
problem only with the highest string of an instrument as it is under the
greatest strain when tuned up.
Gut tends to lack the power required by many modern soloists and its quick
response to changes in temperature and humidity necessitates frequent
retuning. They have a shorter playable life time.
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2. Metal Wound Gut strings
A Gut string may act also as a core on which metal wire is wound. The wire is
tensioned while being fed onto the turning core.
Names such as “Wound” , “Covered” , or “Over-spun”, are applied to such
strings.
If the windings touch one another, we call the string “Close Wound”, but if the
windings are separated so that one can see the core between the turns, we call
it “Open-Wound”.
In recent times string makers have been using flat ribbon metal windings.
Between each winding layer there is a winding or woven stocking of plastic
fibers or ribbon.
An “Over-wound” adds smoothness to playing and quick response, at the
expense of variety of Tone.
In the 19th century the winding was of Copper, Silver plated copper , or Silver
round wire.
In the 21th century the winding is of Steel, and Aluminum with flat ribbon and
flat ground round windings.
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3. Metal strings
Steel wire type string was introduced early in the 20th century.
The use of all steel strings for the “E” became wide spread during the first
world war. The use of the “Gut-E” disappeared by the middle of the 20th
century. Many types of steel “E” string have become available now including,
Stainless steel, Chromium steel, Flat Aluminum winding on steel, and Gold
plated steel. Stainless steel, and Gold plated steel, resist the corrosive effects
of finger perspiration.
The simplest steel strings are made from a single solid steel core which can
also be wound with wire. Multi-stranded “rope-core” gives a quicker Bow
response and reduces the brightness characteristic of many solid-core strings.
The “rope-core” is very flexible and slightly elastic, so will feel marginaly
softer under the fingers.
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4. Metal Wound plastic strings
This consists of a Plastic core “Perlon” with a metal winding on the outside.
This type of string has several advantages over the metal and Gut types of
strings.
Good Stability, Consistency of string manufacture, Middle weight availability,
a long Life and very reliable in humid environments, with a good performance
over changing temperature conditions.
An Example of this type of string is the “Dominant” string make, Developed by
the Thomastik-Infeld in Austria in 1970 which is an Aluminum winding over a
“Perlon “ multi-threaded Nylon core. This string type gives a “Bright sound “, and a warmth of tone.
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5. . Synthetic Strings (New arrivals on the String Scene)
In 1990 The Dutch company LARSEN Strings set up production and is now renowned for its high quality metal Cello strings.
D”Addario have introduced “Zyex”, which is a space age synthetic core which remains stable in changes of temperature, and humidity , also having a warm tone, which works well with bright new instruments. However it is a very expensive material.
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6.String Makers - Contact Details :-
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AQUILA CORDE ARMONICHE S.a.s. Gut String Makers
This web site contains many detailed articles on the
history of Gut strings
Via Aviano 16,
36030 Caldogno,
Vicenza, Italy
Phone: (0039) 0444 986972
fax (0039) 0444 986399
E-MAIL: aquila@aquilacorde.com
www.aquilacorde.com/home1.htm
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BOSTON CATLINES
Olav Chris Henricksen
34 Newbury Street
Somerville, MA 02144 USA
(617) 776-8688
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J.D'Addario & Company, Inc.
PO Box 290 ,
Farmingdale,
NY 11735
www.daddario.com
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DAMIAN DLUGOLECKI, STRING MAKER
520 SE 40th Street
Troutdale Oregon 97060
Tel : (503) 669-7966
Fax : (503) 665-2738
Email: damian@damianstrings.com
www.damianstrings.com
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DOGAL CORDE ARMONICHE
DOGAL®S.n.c.. -
Cannaregio,
6124/A - P.O. Box 318
- 30100 -
Venice - Italy
Tel. +39.041.5388281 -
Fax +39.041.935499
E-mail:info@dogalstrings.com
www.dogalstrings.it
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NAOKI FUJII
Stuyvesant straat 9/1
1058 AJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 20 689 2058
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GAMUT MUSICAL STRINGS
Dan Larson, String Maker
26 N. 28th Ave. E.
Duluth, MN 55812 USA
Phone: (218) 724-8011
Toll free phone/fax in the USA: 888-724-8099
Email: dan@daniellarson.com
www.daniellarson.com
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CHD STRINGS
Carl Hellweg
Postfach 720145
Lütgendortmunder Hellweg 12
44388 Dortmund
Germany
Phone: 02 31 63 2562
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BERND KURSCHNER GbR
Strings for musical instruments
Speciality: gut strings
Obere Waldstrasse 20
D-65232 Taunusstein
Germany
Phone: +49-6128-6910
FAX: +49-6128-8207
E-mail: kuerschner@kuerschner-saiten.de
www.kuerschner-saiten.de
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NORTHERN RENAISSANCE INSTRUMENTS
Excellent Web site recommended for Detailed information on Strings.
6 Needham Avenue
Chorlton
Manchester M21 2AA U.K.
Phone: 44+ (0)61 881 8134
e-mail: post@nrinstruments.demon.co.uk
www.nrinstruments.demon.co.uk/Guide.html
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E. & O. MARI, INC. / LA BELLA STRINGS
256 Broadway
Newburg, NY 12550 USA
Phone: (914) 562-4400
FAX: (914) 562-4491
www.labella.com
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PYRAMID STRINGS
PYRAMID Junger GmbH
P.O.Box 6
D-91088 Bubenreuth - GERMANY
Phone: 0049 (0) 9131 24064
FAX: 0049 (0) 9131 206642
E-mail:sabine-pyramid@junger.de
www.pyramid-strings.de
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PIRASTRO GmbH
Senefelderstrasse 80
D-63069 Offenbach am Main
Germany
Tel +49 (0) 69 - 84 00 90 0
Fax +49 (0) 69 - 83 16 63
email: info@pirastro.com
www.pirastro.com/homeset.html
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SAVAREZ S.A.
Avenue Barthélémy Thimonnier -
BP 133 - 69643
Caluire et Cuire Cedex
France
Tèl : (0033/0) 4 37 40 32 00 -
Fax : (0033/0) 4 37 40 32 10
www.savarez.fr/anglais/index.html
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