Equal Tension ViolinGut String Set Gauges Violin e-1 Gut Light 0.52mm Light+ 0.54mm Medium 0.56mm Medium+ 0.58mm Heavy 0.60mm Heavy+ 0.62mm Violin a-2 Gut Light 0.78mm Light+ 0.82mm Medium 0.86mm Medium+ 0.88mm Heavy 0.90mm Heavy+ 0.94mm Violin D-3 Pistoy Light 1.18mm Light+ 1.22mm Medium 1.26mm Medium+ 1.30mm Heavy 1.36mm Heavy+ 1.40mm Violin G-4 Gut/Silver Light =1.76mm Light+ =1.84mm Medium =1.90mm Medium+ =1.96mm Heavy =2.04mm Heavy+ =2.10mm Violin e-1: Treble Gut / Double-Length, 48"/120cm Violin a-2: Treble Gut / Double-Length, 48"/120cm Violin D-3: Pistoy Gut / Single-Length, 24"/60cm Violin G-4: Gut/Silver-Wound / Single-Length, 20"/51cm; Knot to Stocking, 15.75"/40cm; Stocking, 4.75"/12cm String Material: Beef Gut, Silver Wire String Options: Ball Ends, Varnish Tuning Designation: a=415 Equal Tension strings are designed according to the recommendation of historical theoreticians such as Mersenne, who felt that for the instrument to be balanced and respond in proportion, all the strings on the instrument should have the same tension. Plain gut strings come with unknotted ends. 3-D Printed Ball Ends may be added for an additional charge. Instructions on how to tie a string knot are on the back of each package. Gut/metal-wound strings come with a 3-D Printed Ball End. Plain gut strings are available with a natural or varnish finish. Natural strings are hand-rubbed with a light oil. Varnished strings have three coats of finish before being hand-polished with the oil. Tuning ConsiderationsGamut Academie Gut Violin Strings are designed for Baroque instruments by those musicians playing historical performance practice at a=415, and are perfectly suitable for modern a=440 practice, but the result will be a little bit more tension at a=440. Technical ConsiderationsTreble Gut is processed to be a little harder than the other kinds of gut. The string also has a lower twist of about 15 degrees. This construction gives it the strength and resistance it needs to stand the strain in the treble register. The color ranges from clear white to opaque yellow. Pistoy Gut strings are made of three strands of gut twisted in one direction, and then the three combined together by twisting in the other direction in rope fashion. The results is a very flexible string with a quick response and a full, round sound. The color ranges from clear white on thinner strings to opaque yellow on thicker strings. Gut/Silver-Wound strings feature a gut core with sterling silver wire wound onto the gut in tandem with a thin silk layer between the core and the wire. Because the wire is round, the surface of the wire is polished so that the string has a smooth, "half-wound" feel. The tone is warm and full. Gut/metal-wound equal tension strings are gauged with the equivalent-gauge (=) system. This means that the gauge listed, such as =1.50mm, indicates that the string is approximately equal in weight to a plain gut string of that diameter. Of course, because the wire is much heavier than gut, the string will be much thinner than a plain gut string. Because of the added diameter of equal tension strings, your instrument may need some adjustment at the tailpiece, bridge, or nut to allow for the extra mass of the strings. The instrument may also need sound post or other adjustments to bring out the most responsive tone. These are our standard recommended gauges for this instrument. For gauges outside of this range, see our Custom Gauged Strings section. All Gamut string set prices are based off of the individual string prices; there is no penalty for ordering strings à la carte. Historical ConsiderationsEqual Tension is a concept that was used on violins historically, and the idea is that each string on the instrument has an equal amount of tension. The customary way to tension strings is to decrease the tension from the top string, which has the most tension, to the bottom string in decreasing amounts on each string. From the 16th to 19th centuries there are writers who mention or recommend equal tension, and this seems to have been one aesthetic that some players used. Regardless of the extent of the historical use, many modern players find that this system of string allows a quicker and louder response from the instrument. The extra tension on the lower strings allows the bow to play more on top of the strings resulting in quicker bowing. Further ReadingViolin (Baroque, Classical)What is Equal Tension?Early Music / Historically Informed PerformanceHistorical String-Making Care and Cleaning of Gut Strings String Calculator
