DRAGO Viola A String »Cantini di Napoli« – Plain Gut String Made from Beef Gut
The DRAGO A string “Cantini di Napoli” is designed for musicians seeking a clear, projecting yet warm natural sound
in the upper register on the Baroque viola or a historically set-up viola. Due to the comparatively high tension placed on thinner gut strings,
DRAGO uses high-quality beef gut for this A string, combining stable playing behaviour with an authentic historical sound aesthetic.
Cantini di Napoli strings are known for their exceptional acoustic performance in high positions:
an overtone-rich, colourful sound with clear response, natural projection and excellent blend within historical ensembles.
What Makes »Cantini di Napoli« Special
The name “Cantini di Napoli” refers to the famous historical “cantini” strings, produced in Naples and highly valued throughout Europe.
They were renowned for their combination of tonal beauty, projection and durability. A key feature is the use of whole gut structures
rather than gut cut into strips. This creates a string with a particularly open vibration, rich tone and natural warmth.
Highlights
- Plain gut string – direct contact and authentic sound development
- Beef gut – proven natural material for high stability in thinner strings
- Exceptional acoustic performance in high tones – clear projection and rich overtones
- Optimised drying & sulphuring – for high sound quality and good material cohesion
- For historical instruments – Baroque viola, viola da gamba, medieval & ethnic instruments
- Handmade in Italy
Technical Details
- String: A (La)
- Series: DRAGO »Cantini di Napoli«
- Type: Plain gut string
- Material: Natural beef gut, twisted from whole gut
- Available diameters: 0.82 mm (medium) or 0.85 mm (forte)
- Standard length: 140 cm
- Origin: Handmade in Italy
Important Usage Notes
- Release tension: During longer playing breaks, it is recommended to loosen the string by one 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 versions may be too short for many violas.
- Playing-in period: Gut strings stretch at first and need a few days to stabilise.
- Climate: Temperature and humidity changes affect natural gut more than synthetic materials; this is typical of the material.
Note on Durability
The lifespan of a plain gut string depends on the instrument, string length, string action, playing intensity and climate.
Many musicians value Cantini di Napoli for their colourful historical sound character and use them especially for
concerts, recording and historically informed performance practice.
Sound Character: Clear, Colourful and Lively
Compared with modern A strings, Cantini di Napoli offers a distinctly more natural and less brilliant sound,
characterised by rich overtones, warmth and differentiated articulation.
Its combination of direct response and historical sound aesthetic makes this string an excellent choice for musicians seeking an authentic Baroque sound.
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