Strings for Renaissance and Baroque Lute
Because of the wide variety of instruments in the Lute family, it is not possible for us to indicate standard diameters that will certainly suit your instrument. However, we would like to point out some settings that will probably work well if the instrument fits into the specified vibrating length and pitch indicated.
If you would like a specific suggestion, you can contact us by indicating:
- Type of instrument and vibrating length or lengths
- Intonation of the first string and reference pitch (for example: G 415 Hz)
- Working Tension
- Unison or octave disposition of courses.
- Type of strings required (NNG, CD, D, etc.)
Notice: If you wish to use as bass strings Venice-type strings go here
Renaissance Lute
Vibrating length 60 ÷ 63 cm
Reference Pitch: 440 Hz
We offer both synthetic strings (type NNG) and gut strings (type HL).
1° Course
This course uses a single string, but we recommend an additional spare treble.
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
42NNG | 42NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.42 mm | 110 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
42HL | 42HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.42 mm | 90 cm | €4.60 + VAT | |
2° Course
Recommended quantity: 2pcs
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
50NNG | 50NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.50 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
50HL | 50HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.50 mm | 120 cm | €5.00 + VAT | |
3° Course
Recommended quantity: 2pcs
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
64NNG | 64NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.64 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
64HL | 64HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.64 mm | 120 cm | €7.70 + VAT | |
4° Course
The fourth course can be:
Unison: 2 strings 79NNG
In octave: 46NNG + 79NNG
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
46NNG | 46NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.46 mm | 110 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
79NNG | 79NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.79 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
46HL | 46HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.46 mm | 90 cm | €5.00 + VAT | |
79HL | 79HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.79 mm | 120 cm | €9.20 + VAT | |
5° Course
The fifth course can be:
Unison: 2 strings 100NNG
In octave: 54NNG + 100NNG or 54NNG + 100CD
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
54NNG | 54NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.54 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
100NNG | 100NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 1.00 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
54HL | 54HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.54 mm | 120 cm | €5.90 + VAT | |
100HL | 100HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 1.00 mm | 120 cm | €11.60 + VAT | |
100CD | 100CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.00 mm | 120 cm | €7.50 + VAT | |
6° Course
The sixth course can be:
In octave: 73NNG + 140CD or 73NNG + 140D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
73NNG | 73NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.73 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
140D | 140D - Wound string for lute | 1.40 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.20 + VAT | |
73HL | 73HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.73 mm | 120 cm | €7.70 + VAT | |
140CD | 140CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.40 mm | 120 cm | €8.30 + VAT | |
7° Course
The seventh course can be:
In octave: 82NNG + 160CD or 82NNG + 160D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
82NNG | 82NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.82 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
160D | 160D - Wound string for lute | 1.60 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.70 + VAT | |
82HL | 82HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.82 mm | 120 cm | €9.20 + VAT | |
160CD | 160CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.60 mm | 120 cm | €8.30 + VAT | |
8° Course
The eighth course can be:
In octave: 88NNG + 175CD or 88NNG + 175D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
88NNG | 88NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.88 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
175D | 175D - Wound string for lute | 1.75 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.70 + VAT | |
88HL | 88HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.88 mm | 120 cm | €9.20 + VAT | |
175CD | 175CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.75 mm | 120 cm | €8.30 + VAT | |
9° Course
The ninth course can be:
In octave: 94NNG + 185CD or 94NNG + 185D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
94NNG | 94NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.94 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
185D | 185D - Wound string for lute | 1.85 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.70 + VAT | |
94HL | 94HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.94 mm | 120 cm | €11.60 + VAT | |
185CD | 185CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.85 mm | 120 cm | €8.90 + VAT | |
10° Course
The tenth course can be:
In octave: 104NNG + 200CD or 104NNG + 200D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
104NNG | 104NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 1.04 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
200D | 200D - Wound string for lute | 2.00 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.40 + VAT | |
104HL | 104HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 1.04 mm | 120 cm | €11.60 + VAT | |
200CD | 200CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 2.00 mm | 120 cm | €8.90 + VAT | |
11 and 13 course Baroque Lute without extended neck
Vibrating length 69 ÷ 73 cm
Reference Pitch: 415 Hz
We offer both synthetic strings (type NNG) and gut strings (type HL).
1° Course
This course uses a single string, but we recommend an additional spare treble.
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
42NNG | 42NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.42 mm | 110 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
42HL | 42HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.42 mm | 90 cm | €4.60 + VAT | |
2° Course
This course uses a single string, consider whether to order an additional spare string.
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
52NNG | 52NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.52 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
52HL | 52HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.52 mm | 120 cm | €5.00 + VAT | |
3° Course
Recommended quantity: 2pcs
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
60NNG | 60NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.60 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
60HL | 60HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.60 mm | 120 cm | €6.20 + VAT | |
4° Course
Recommended quantity: 2pcs
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
73NNG | 73NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.73 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
73HL | 73HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.73 mm | 120 cm | €7.70 + VAT | |
5° Course
Recommended quantity: 2pcs
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
85NNG | 85NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.85 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
85HL | 85HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.85 mm | 120 cm | €9.20 + VAT | |
6° Course
The sixth course can be:
In octave: 56NNG + 120CD or 56NNG + 120D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
56NNG | 56NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.56 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
120D | 120D - Wound string for lute | 1.20 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.20 + VAT | |
56HL | 56HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.56 mm | 120 cm | €5.90 + VAT | |
120CD | 120CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.20 mm | 120 cm | €7.80 + VAT | |
7° Course
The seventh course can be:
In octave: 62NNG + 135CD or 62NNG + 132D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
62NNG | 62NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.62 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
132D | 132D - Wound string for lute | 1.32 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.20 + VAT | |
62HL | 62HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.62 mm | 120 cm | €6.20 + VAT | |
135CD | 135CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.35 mm | 120 cm | €7.80 + VAT | |
8° Course
The eighth course can be:
In octave: 68NNG + 150CD or 68NNG + 150D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
68NNG | 68NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.68 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
150D | 150D - Wound string for lute | 1.5 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.20 + VAT | |
68HL | 68HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.68 mm | 120 cm | €7.70 + VAT | |
150CD | 150CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.50 mm | 120 cm | €8.30 + VAT | |
9° Course
The ninth course can be:
In octave: 76NNG + 170CD or 76NNG + 170D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
76NNG | 76NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.76 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
170D | 170D - Wound string for lute | 1.70 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.70 + VAT | |
76HL | 76HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.76 mm | 120 cm | €9.20 + VAT | |
170CD | 170CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.70 mm | 120 cm | €8.30 + VAT | |
10° Course
The tenth course can be:
In octave: 82NNG + 180CD or 82NNG + 180D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
82NNG | 82NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.82 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
180D | 180D - Wound string for lute | 1.80 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.70 + VAT | |
82HL | 82HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.82 mm | 120 cm | €9.20 + VAT | |
180CD | 180CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.80 mm | 120 cm | €8.30 + VAT | |
11° Course
The eleventh course can be:
In octave: 91NNG + 200CD or 91NNG + 200D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
91NNG | 91NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.91 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
200D | 200D - Wound string for lute | 2.00 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.40 + VAT | |
91HL | 91HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.91 mm | 120 cm | €11.60 + VAT | |
200CD | 200CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 2.00 mm | 120 cm | €8.90 + VAT | |
12° Course
The twelfth course can be:
In octave: 94NNG + 200CD or 94NNG + 200D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
94NNG | 94NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.94 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
200D | 200D - Wound string for lute | 2.00 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.40 + VAT | |
94HL | 94HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.94 mm | 120 cm | €11.60 + VAT | |
200CD | 200CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 2.00 mm | 120 cm | €8.90 + VAT | |
13° Course
The thirteenth course can be:
In octave: 100NNG + 210CD or 100NNG + 210D
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
100NNG | 100NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 1.00 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
100HL | 100HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 1.00 mm | 120 cm | €11.60 + VAT | |
210D | 210D - Wound string for lute | 2.10 mm equivalent gut | 105 cm | €3.40 + VAT | |
210CD | 210CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 2.10 mm | 120 cm | €8.90 + VAT | |
Baroque Lute - extended neck for basses
Vibrating length: 95 ÷ 105 cm
Reference Pitch: 415 Hz
We offer both synthetic strings (type NNG) and gut strings (type HL).
9° Course
The ninth course can be:
In octave: 58NNG + 120CD or 58NNG + 120D120
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
58HL | 58HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.58 mm | 120 cm | €5.90 + VAT | |
120D120 | 120D120 - Wound string for lute | 1.20 mm equivalent gut | 120 cm | €3.90 + VAT | |
58NNG | 58NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.58 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
120CD | 120CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.20 mm | 120 cm | €7.80 + VAT | |
10° Course
The tenth course can be:
In octave: 62NNG + 135CD or 22NNG + 132D120
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
62HL | 62HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.62 mm | 120 cm | €6.20 + VAT | |
132D120 | 132D120 - Wound string for lute | 1.32 mm equivalent gut | 120 cm | €3.90 + VAT | |
62NNG | 62NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.62 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
135CD | 135CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.35 mm | 120 cm | €7.80 + VAT | |
11° Course
The eleventh course can be:
In octave: 68NNG + 150CD or 68NNG + 150D120
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
68HL | 68HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.68 mm | 120 cm | €7.70 + VAT | |
150D120 | 150D120 - Wound string for lute | 1.5 mm equivalent gut | 120 cm | €3.90 + VAT | |
68NNG | 68NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.68 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
150CD | 150CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.50 mm | 120 cm | €8.30 + VAT | |
12° Course
The twelfth course can be:
In octave: 76NNG + 165CD or 76NNG + 165D120
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
76HL | 76HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.76 mm | 120 cm | €9.20 + VAT | |
165D120 | 165D120 - Wound string for lute | 1.65 mm equivalent gut | 120 cm | €4.50 + VAT | |
76NNG | 76NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.76 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
165CD | 165CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.65 mm | 120 cm | €8.30 + VAT | |
13° Course
The thirteenth course can be:
In octave: 82NNG + 175CD or 82NNG + 175D120
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
82HL | 82HL - Oiled smooth gut string | 0.82 mm | 120 cm | €9.20 + VAT | |
175D120 | 175D120 - Wound string for lute | 1.75 mm equivalent gut | 120 cm | €4.50 + VAT | |
82NNG | 82NNG - New Nylgut® synthetic string | 0.82 mm | 120 cm | €3.30 + VAT | |
175CD | 175CD - Loaded synthetic bass string | 1.75 mm | 120 cm | €8.30 + VAT | |
THE LUTE AND ITS GUT SETUP: OUR POINT OF VIEW (with the equivalent realized in synthetic material )
Our philosophy concerning gut stringings (but also their synthetic equivalents) for the lute family and 5 coursees guitars is simple: to reproduce, as far as possible, the typical sounds of historic instruments as they were in use.
This task has obviously its limitations, set both by our limited knowledge of ancient stringmaking technologies and by the fact that the lute (taking the 6 coursees as starting point) went through very different fashions and developments all along its long history.
Sill, within those limitations, research in the field of historic stringmaking made some important progress in recent years and, although we cannot claim we know exactly what the sound of the dolce strumento was like (a speculative point rather than a concrete one, anyway, since there must have been different opinions among lutenists in the past, too), we can fairly confidently define the acoustical region, common to all lutes, which was imposed by the stringmaking technologies of the past.
First of all, let us rule out the materials whose sound definitely cannot match the characteristic sound qualities of the lute:
- PVDF -Fluorocarbon (just called ‘Carbon’ from musicians) strings: much too bright in comparison with any type of gut string.
- Nylon: produces a somewhat duller and darker sound than gut.
- Nylgut: thin strings sound very close to gut, but does not quite compare by increasing diameters.
- Wound on Nylon multifilament: almost all the strings of this type are much too bright and possess too much sustain – the opposite of what revealed by research on 18th century wound strings, which were fundamental-heavy and needed octaves for brightness, and had limited sustain.
And then let’s consider some other parameters pertaining to the sound of the lute:
- Working string tension: today’s criteria, when working out lute stringings, rarely follow the idea of feel of equal stiffness on every coursees, like advocated by the ancients. The modern rule is, in general, to calculate the string diameters by applying the same tension, expressed in kilograms, to each string (this criterion is first described by Maugine & Maigne ‘Nouveau manuel complet du luthier’ in Paris, 1869) and completely ignores the variability of some typical factors, such as the different amount of reduction of the string diameters under working tension and how different strings of different manufacture and/or length feel under the fingers.
- Octave strings: the modern tendency is to apply a noticeably lower tension than on their respective fundamental strings (Virdung, 1511 seem to suggest that the diameter of the octave string should be half that of its fundamental).
- Trebles: when single strung, modern tendency is to apply too low a tension, giving an unbalanced feeling between the treble and the other coursees.
- Stringing criteria: the principle of grouping the strings into three well defined Sorts (like advocated in the old treatises, in Trebles, Meanes and Basses) is usually ignored. Thus, we often see strings of one Sort invading the field of another, thus altering the timbric and dynamic balance of the instrument (wound strings on the 4th coursees, wound long diapasons &c).
In conclusion: the acoustical qualities of today’s lutes are, in general, remarkably brighter and have more sustain in the bass and, because of the wound strings, also in the mid-register, thus failing to achieve the timbric and dynamic homogeneity we believe was typical of the past.
At the top end, trebles can be much brighter (PVDF or so called‘Carbon’) or duller (Nylon) than gut. We have created a new sound that doesn’t have very much in common with that of the past.
No criticism at all on this choice: the lute can well be played like this, too.
MP