Early Music – Faq
1. Why are gut strings so expensive?
Because their manufacture is still mostly handwork and require a high degree of specialization: there are only a few of us left, worldwide, who know how to make the appropriate gut strings for historical stringing.
Moreover, the whole string making process requires at least 10-12 uninterrupted days of work.
2. From which sources do we know that the…
What is the FL product?
“I installed some new high-quality strings, the nut is perfectly polished and graphite has been correctly applied, but the first string keeps breaking when I get near to the final tuning: why?“
“I bought a small harp for medieval repertoire, but unfortunately the strings on the first octave will break right after being installed, even if they are from a well-known famous brand: why does that…
Renaissance and Baroque Lute
Strings for Renaissance and Baroque LuteBecause 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…
Nicolò Paganini e le corde di budello
the history of a happy find
by Mimmo Peruffo
PDF document to read or download
(Updated version of the original article in Recercare IX, 1997, pp.155-203)
Download the article in Recercare XII, 2000, pp.137-147
Thanks to a series of fortunate circumstances, abetted by the tenacity of Dr Tatiana Berford, correspondent in Novgorod of the Istituto di Studi Paganiniani in Genoa, and later of Dr…
Tipologie, tecniche manufatturiere e criteri di scelta delle montature di corda per violino tra il XVIII e XIX secolo in Italia
Documento in formato PDF da leggere o scaricare.
TIPOLOGIE, TECNICHE MANIFATTURIERE E CRITERI DI SCELTA DELLE MONTATURE DI CORDA PER VIOLINO TRA IL XVIII E XIX SECOLO IN ITALIA
di Mimmo Peruffo
‘Questa picciol’arte, che contribuisce tanto al nostro piacere è forse una delle men note, attesochè coloro che la professano ne serbano le pratiche a guisa di segreto’ Francesco…
Sets according to gauges found in historical documents (HU type only)
Historical gauges requirementsWarningIt is not possible to use historical gauges (that are usually thicker) before checking and possibly modifying the angle of the strings on the bridge, that should be “widen” so that the pressure of the bridge on the harmonic table is not excessive so to dampen the sound and make the bow attack too difficult (please contact your trusted luthier).
Moreover,…
How to correctly install gut strings in order to avoid breakages and at the same time assuring a fast and stable intonation
At times here in Aquila we are told: “I installed the first string and it broke, so I tried with a second one and it ended up the same way. I have been playing the [violin/viola/cello/gamba] in the last thirty years and I sure know how to install a string…”
But being expert musicians and performers is enough to be considered expert installers of gut strings as well?
Critical…
Whole unsplit lamb gut: only a myth from the past, or are they really different?
In the production cycle of the XVI, XVII, XVIII and XIX centuries, the animals whose intestines were commonly used in the string-making industry in Rome, Naples, Lyon, Munich, etc. were both goat and sheep intestines. The latter category was then subdivided into lamb gut, sheep gut and finally mutton gut.
In the slaughterhouses they used to treat any animal, always for alimentary…
Basso baroque strings in lamb gut
Basso baroque strings in lamb gutVibrating string length: 70 cmThe usage of unsplit lamb gut, besides being closer to the historical reality of the string makers of the past, has also led to strings with unexpected superior acoustical and mechanical properties, as compared to those produced with gut strips. The HU type strings have a surface that has been smoothened only the minimum needed to…
Did you know that the six strings of the guitar do not have all the same tension?
Did you know that the six strings of the guitar do not have all the same tension?
Contrary to what one might think, the strings of a classical guitar set do not follow an equal tension profile.
Tension evaluation method:
The most common method used to evaluate the degree of tension of a string on a guitar, is to apply a pression, using the right hand fingers, right near to the bridge: a set is…