Musical instruments, which have strings, are named stringed instruments. For the strings of the different bowed stringed instruments such as violin strings, viola strings, cello strings, bass strings, different basic types are offered today: gut strings, steel strings, plastic strings and synthetic strings. The body of the instrument serves only the reinforcement of the oscillations which is caused by the strings. Therefore, the selection of the appropriate instrument strings is important to optimize the sound of the instrument and to realize personal sound ideas.
History
Gut is the oldest material for strings. For thousands of years people make gut strings for instruments. Perhaps this tradition stems from the production of the bowstring. Even in prehistoric times animal sinews were used as strings. So in the Near Eastern civilizations horsehair and intestines were used, and the ancient Mediterranean peoples used the gut. The grave of the Egyptian musician and artist Harmosis, who died around BC 1500, they found a lute on which the intact gut strings were activated. This instrument is now on display in the museum in Cairo. From the 18th century gut strings were also manufactured in Germany.
A linguistic curiosity is the English term for gut: "catgut". This term is misleading as the gut strings were never made of catgut. Legend has it that around 1300 the Italian saddler noticed in the town of Salle / Pescara that the intestines of mountain sheep in this region is not only suitable for saddle stitching, but can also be used as an excellent string for musical instruments. In order to hide the true origin of the string material and to maintain professional secrecy simply asserted that it was to catgut.
Gut string
Advantages of the gut string are its distinctive sound and its similarity to the human voice. Especially to name are also the differeciated response. It is very easy to grab and very modulationable.
The sound of the plain gut string is unmistakable: delicate, slightly damped, with a wonderful warm timbre. It is now considered classic, authentic stringing for baroque instruments.
Brand:
PIRASTRO Chorda for violin viola cello
Judging by the sound of today's expectations and the current technology, the covered gut string brings exactly the right elasticity. The sound is very powerful and noble, it provides a charming beauty of sound and sonority. The gut core is wound with various metals, usually aluminum or silver. As a result, the strings are insensitive to humidity and temperature changes.
Brands:
PIRASTRO Eudoxa for violin viola cello double bass
PIRASTRO Gold for violin viola
PIRASTRO Passione for violin viola cello
PIRASTRO Oliv for violin viola cello double bass
Steel strings
Today there is a very large qualitative spectrum of the covered steel strings. Both the students and the soloist, will find a good product for their requirements. Cellists and bassists strikingly often opt for this string. Here it is the first choice.
Brands:
CORELLI for cello double bass
D`ADDARIO Helicore for violin viola cello double bass
HILL E-string for violin
JARGAR for violin viola cello
LARSEN for cello
PIRASTRO Chromcor for violin viola cello
PIRASTRO Flat-Chromesteel for double bass
PIRASTRO Original-Flat-Chrome for double bass
PIRASTRO Flexocor for violin cello double bass
PIRASTRO Original Flexocor for double bass
PIRASTRO Permanent for viola cello double bass
PIRASTRO Piranito violin viola cello
PIRASTRO The Jazzer for double bass
THOMASTIK Spirocore for violin viola cello double bass
THOMASTIK Belcanto for viola cello double bass
WESTMINSTER E-string for violin
Plastic strings
Since the 60s, the plastic string is used. With the term "plastic" a wide variety of materials is meant from nylon, to perlon to polyester.
Usually, these strings are never used plain on stringed instruments, but covered with other materials. The material for winding contributes significantly to the quality of the string. But usually steel, stainless steel or aluminum and heavy metals such as gold or tungsten are used. Around the core ("soul") a coat is made of thin wire wrapped around. This reduces the rigidity and increases the oscillating mass of a string.
The sound of the plastic strings is similar to gut strings: rich in overtones and homogeneous, clear and yet soft. Noteworthy is the voluminous note and the vibrant sound they give the play. Its most impressive properties include their pronounced insensitivity to moisture and temperature changes. As a result, they stay in tune very well.
Brands:
CORELLI Crystal for violin viola
LARSEN for violin viola
PIRASTRO Aricore for violin viola cello
PIRASTRO Synoxa for violin viola
PIRASTRO Tonica for violin viola
THOMASTIK Dominant for violin viola cello
THOMASTIK Infield red for violin
THOMASTIK Infield blue for violin
THOMASTIK Peter Infield for violin
Synthetic strings
For the latest generation of synthetic strings a string core made of most modern synthetics (e.g.: PEEK = PolyEtherEtherKeton) was developed. These materials can withstand extreme loads as we know from the aviation industry and they are very well suitable for high temperature resistant gasket material. The advantage is obvious: these strings have a very long life.
The sound is warm and simultaneously brilliant and quite similar to that of gut strings. The sound volume is powerful at the same time easy response. An outstanding feature is its enormous tuning stability. Therefore, they also enjoy increasing popularity with for professional musicians.
Brands:
CORELLI Alliance Vivace for violin viola
D´ADDARIO Zyex for violin viola
PIRASTRO Evah Pirazzi for violin viola cello
PIRASTRO Obligato for violin viola cello double bass
PIRASTRO Violino for violin
PIRASTRO Wondertone Solo for violin
THOMASTIK Vision for violin viola
THOMASTIK Vision Titanium for viola
String gauges
Due to the lower mass, a light, thin string may in fact swing stronger and longer. But the disadvantage is that it emits less energy to bridge and instrument. The result is a good response and long sustain. The sound is rather quiet. Note: The thinner the string, the more likely it is consistent with our physical ideal string: they can swing better in their harmonics, the sound is rich in overtones.
If the string gauge increases at higher string tension we get a sound that is louder and more treble. This requires more power while playing. Note: a stronger, thicker string, while maintaining the tuning results in a greater sonority, because even more pressure on the instrument is exercised. But the response may also deteriorate.
It is important and ultimately crucial to find the appropriate strings or rather the ideal string tension for each instrument. How does it work? It is best to just try it out by tuning up-and-down (with violins and violas up to a quarter of a tone, cellos, up to a semitone):
Start with the two upper strings, after that continue with the two lower ones. If the stringed instrument sounds better after tuning down, you should try thinner, lighter strings. If it sounds better after tuning up, stronger strings are recommended. However, strings can be tuned up or down also individually.
In the mail order warehouse for strings Paganino, all the strings for bowed stringed instruments can be found:
Category: Public, Strings, Accessories
Key words: Gut strings, Plastic strings, strings, strings viola, strings cello, strings double bass, strings violin, steel strings, synthetic strings