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RE: Any experiences with gut-strings? (in reply to M.S.A.)
In fact gut strings are not quieter. They, for all intents and purposes, are virtually the same.
The differences are that gut strings have more of a grip to them, so your intonation needs to be spot on and you can't use too little/much pressure when fretting or you will pull them out of tune.
tonally they have an interesting warmth and brightness that is just lovely in my opinion. imagine the classic lute sound or baroque guitar sound migrated to a classical/flamenco.
the real reasons we don't use gut are:
1. expense. they cost a lot more than nylon and aren't easy to produce 2. consistency. they are difficult to maintain and intonation goes fast 3. they wear out fast. 4. nylon is easier to kill than sheep
RE: Any experiences with gut-strings? (in reply to M.S.A.)
The sheep with nylon intestines are easier to kill, yes. However, their coats are polyester and that's just not as valuable as wool. Always a darn trade off.
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Joined: Mar. 13 2006
From: Vancouver, Canada
RE: Any experiences with gut-strings? (in reply to HemeolaMan)
quote:
ORIGINAL: HemeolaMan
In fact gut strings are not quieter. They, for all intents and purposes, are virtually the same.
The differences are that gut strings have more of a grip to them, so your intonation needs to be spot on and you can't use too little/much pressure when fretting or you will pull them out of tune.
tonally they have an interesting warmth and brightness that is just lovely in my opinion. imagine the classic lute sound or baroque guitar sound migrated to a classical/flamenco.
If I can hijack the thread for just one response, and if you've tried them, how would you compare the real thing to the nylgut (sp?) strings?
RE: Any experiences with gut-strings? (in reply to Exitao)
nylgut in my opinion is just a bad idea lol. I tried the nylguts from aquila... they didnt suit me well.
I can say that if you buy a nice set of gut strings from a lute string maker you will be ultra pleased. they are stringent in quality control (sometimes matching D'addario) and aquila... is not so particular. Tho, for thirty bucks you can have a set of silk and gut strings which are quite educational to play (from aquila). I recommend them but presently I'm trying luthier 20's
RE: Any experiences with gut-strings? (in reply to M.S.A.)
I've used gut strings on the vihuelas I've built and on lutes I've done repair work on. I also used to have my cello set up as a baroque cello with gut strings.
The archlute you played may have been in a tuning which would be two D minor triads and then chromatically descending basses, that is Baroque lute tuning. How anyone could play bulerias on that is wacky...
Nylgut strings feel strange, we always joke that they feel like stretched condoms, but then we are a perverse lot....
Modern flamenco guitars which are industrial strength made for nylon strings may not respond to guy strings as well as the lighter built guitars of the Torres thru Santos era. Newer, beasty and unsubtle guitars will not give you the most performance with gut strings. If you have a lightly built guitar with a light top you'll probably have more fun.
Gut strings are warm and lively, but you have to buy extras and get a micrometer to sort through diameters and false strings. The companies making gut stings now have pretty good quality control, but still plan on over buying to cover breakage and fret wear.
If you do a search on gut lute strings you find several companies which make them. Aquila, Boston Catlines, Daniel Larson, La Bella all make strings I've used at one time or another.
RE: Any experiences with gut-strings? (in reply to M.S.A.)
There's a difference between an archlute and a theorbo, but they get confused and the terms sometimes get mistaken. A theorbo has six or seven single strings on the short neck and an archlute has doubled courses on the short neck. They both have long diapasons on the extension.
The theorbo is a late Renaissance instrument used into the Baroque era. A Medieval lute is smaller and has a stalky neck and usually five or six courses. Then comes the six course Renaissance lute. The theorbo is essentially a large bowled ren lute with an extended neck.
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