STRINGS for string players

Musical instruments, which have strings, are named stringed instruments. For the strings of the different bowed stringed instruments such as violin stringsviola 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

Gut strings are usually produced by a traditional method. Here,  intestines of ungulates, mostly sheep, are cleaned until the muscular coat, then cut it into strips and in the wet state twisted into ropes. After this, they are dried. The subsequent process is very delicate: the raw string is cylindrically ground. It is already sufficient that the diameter differs by a hundredth of a millimeter least that the string is no longer purely quint.
A disadvantage of the gut string is its ability to absorb humidity, which reduces the tension. Unfortunately, this effect becomes particularly noticeable at concerts. When the hall is filled, the instrument can get out of tune due to the humidity of the air increased by respiration and transpiration.

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

Outstanding properties of steel strings are their resistance to weathering and perspiration, so they are very in tune. The long lifecycle, the brilliance of tone and long sustain are more characteristics. Due to these features the steel strings became popular. Already back in the 20s of last century, the steel string for the violin e-string put through.
In order to produce steel strings, it requires a lot of skill and knowledge. As raw material you need crucible steel. With the help of several dies and the drawing diamonds it is always drawn thinner and gets more and more compressed. One can imagine that the development of the braided string was very complicated and it took many tries before the required quality was achieved.

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

The different strengths of the strings have a decisive impact on the sound.

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:

Strings violin

Strings viola

Strings cello

Strings double bass

Category: Public, Strings, Accessories
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