DRAGO Viola G String »Cordoni di Roma« – Plain Gut String Made from Natural Gut
The DRAGO G string “Cordoni di Roma” is designed for musicians seeking a powerful, deep and historically authentic natural sound
on the Baroque viola or a historically set-up viola. Made from high-quality natural gut, it combines a sonorous tonal foundation
with quick response, strong projection and an overtone-rich Baroque tonal character.
Cordoni di Roma strings are inspired by historical Roman gut strings, which were primarily used for lower registers and bass strings.
Characteristic is their strongly twisted gut construction, which provides distinctive vibration behaviour, substantial tonal depth
and a direct, responsive feel.
What Makes »Cordoni di Roma« Special
Historical sources document the production of Cordoni strings in Rome as early as the 17th century.
These strings were intended for the lower registers of musical instruments and were manufactured using heavily twisted gut structures.
The result is a sound particularly appealing to musicians who wish to perform Baroque music in a
historically informed and philologically accurate manner.
Compared to modern wound strings, the DRAGO »Cordoni di Roma« offers a more immediate and natural tonal aesthetic:
warm, powerful, overtone-rich and full of historical character.
Highlights
- Plain gut string – for authentic historical sound development
- High-quality natural gut – traditional material for a warm and lively sound
- Historical Cordoni construction – inspired by 17th-century Roman bass strings
- Powerful low-end foundation – ideal for the viola G string
- Fast response & strong projection – suitable for ensemble and solo performance
- For historical instruments – Baroque viola, viola da gamba, medieval and ethnic instruments
- Handmade in Italy
Technical Details
- String: G (Sol)
- Series: DRAGO »Cordoni di Roma«
- Type: Plain gut string
- Material: Natural gut
- Available diameters: 1.65 mm or 1.70 mm
- Length: 140 cm
- Origin: Handmade in Italy
Important Usage Notes (Natural Material)
- Reduce tension: During extended playing breaks, it is recommended to loosen the string by one whole tone.
- Manufacturer's note on viola length: Corde Drago recommends ordering 140 cm strings for viola. They can be cut in half if required; shorter lengths may be too short for many violas.
- Playing-in period: Gut strings require several days after installation to achieve full tuning stability.
- Climate: Natural gut reacts more strongly to changes in temperature and humidity than synthetic materials; this is normal and characteristic of the material.
Durability Note
The lifespan of a gut string depends on the instrument, playing intensity, climate and maintenance.
Many musicians choose Cordoni di Roma for their powerful, historical and overtone-rich tonal character
in concerts, recordings and historically informed performance practice.
Sound Character: Powerful, Deep and Historical
The DRAGO »Cordoni di Roma« G string offers a warm, deep tonal foundation with an overtone-rich Baroque sound,
quick response and natural projection. It is the ideal choice for musicians seeking an authentic historical viola sound
with depth, character and expressive presence.
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