Oliv Violin Strings Genuine gut strings for professionals. Brilliant tone. Set Includes . . . Gold-Plated Chrome Steel E - Medium Gauge (Loop or Ball) Gut/Aluminum-Wound A (13.5PM) (Ball End) Gut/Gold-Aluminum D (16.75PM) (Knot End) Gut/Gold-Silver G (15.75PM) (Knot End) Oliv Options We highly recommend the stiff versions of the Oliv G and D strings for most players. They produce a richer and somewhat darker tone. They are also more powerful and can take a heavier bow stroke without crushing the sound. For a more brilliant sound, consider using the silver-wound D with the stiff G. The Oliv D comes in three options. The silver-wound is the most brilliant in color. The standard gold-aluminum-wound D is warmer and more complex. The stiff, gold-aluminum-wound D is the richest in tone color and offers the greatest dynamic range. Oliv String Ends Oliv E strings come in a choice of ball or loop end. It is important to purchase the correct string for your setup. Oliv A strings are made with a ball end. Oliv D and G strings come with a knot end, which should be installed in the same fashion as a ball-end string. (Do not install as a loop-end string.) Manufacturer's Description Olive - The Noble Sound finely wound and polished, handmade gut strings brilliant sound a wide range of sound colors The sheep gut core of the Oliv strings is manufactured, wound and polished in the traditional way, by hand. Musicians such as Ilya Gringolts use Oliv strings as they offer the possibility "to explore the remotest corners of sound". The sound is brilliant. Oliv strings offer the typical beautiful sound of gut strings. The tone is rich and complex. The silver D-string is richer in overtones and has easier response than the Gold-Aluminum D-string