Historical gauges requirements
Warning
It 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Moreover, according to historical documents we suggest that the strings are kept as low as possible on the fretboard, as long as they do not buzz.

Modern strings angle upon the bridge

Baroque strings angle upon the bridge
Baroque Violin historical set
Strings calculated according to pitch 415 Hz. Vibrating string length: 32 cm
The diameters suggested here were the norm for violin setup between the Mid-Eighteenth and the end of the Nineteenth century, as indicated by the rich documentation of that time. In particular, the gauges in normal tension are the same we measured in April 2002, which belonged to Nicolò Paganini. The gut strings suggested in these sets are made of unsplit lamb gut type HU which have a surface only partially smoothed to imitate the old hand smoothing system. Through this method the quantity of damaged surface fibre is considerably reduced compared to the rectified strings made according to today procedure. The advantages consist of greater stability at climatic changes, longer life of the string, better acoustic performance. The fourth string is made according to the directions reported by F. Galeazzi (Rome 1792) and Louis Sphor (1832).
To learn more read our F.A.Q.
Violin historical set light tension
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
66HU | 66HU - Unsplit gut string | 0.66 mm | 120 cm | €9.70 + VAT | |
85HU | 85HU - Unsplit gut string | 0.85 mm | 120 cm | €11.60 + VAT | |
112HU | 112HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.12 mm | 120 cm | €18.80 + VAT | |
16FU | 16FU - G baroque violin string light tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 1.70 mm equivalent gut | 55 cm | €29.39 + VAT | |
Violin historical set normal tension
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
70HU | 70HU - Unsplit gut string | 0.70 mm | 120 cm | €9.70 + VAT | |
88HU | 88HU - Unsplit gut string | 0.88 mm | 120 cm | €11.60 + VAT | |
116HU | 116HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.16 mm | 120 cm | €18.80 + VAT | |
17FU | 17FU - G baroque violin string medium tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 1.75 mm equivalent gut | 55 cm | €29.39 + VAT | |
Violin historical set superior tension
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
73HU | 73HU - Unsplit gut string | 0.73 mm | 120 cm | €9.70 + VAT | |
91HU | 91HU - Unsplit gut string | 0.91 mm | 120 cm | €14.60 + VAT | |
124HU | 124HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.24 mm | 120 cm | €21.20 + VAT | |
18FU | 18FU - G baroque violin string heavy tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 1.80 mm equivalent gut | 55 cm | €29.39 + VAT | |
Baroque Viola historical set
Strings calculated according to pitch 415 Hz. Vibrating string length: 36 cm
The diameters suggested reproduce the medium ones deduced from historical sources dating back to Eighteenth – Nineteenth century. The examination of documents of that time made it possible to ascertain that the viola used the same gauges of the violin omitting the treble ‘E’ and adding a wound string ‘C. The gut strings suggested in these sets are made of unsplit lamb gut HU type: they have a surface only partially smoothed to imitate old hand smoothing system. Through this method the quantity of damaged surface fibre is considerably reduced compared to the rectified strings made according to today procedure. The advantages consist of greater stability to climatic changes, longer life of the string, better acoustic performance. The third and fourth strings are made according to the directions reported by F. Galeazzi (Rome 1792)
To learn more read our F.A.Q.
Viola historical set light tension
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
85HU | 85HU - Unsplit gut string | 0.85 mm | 120 cm | €11.60 + VAT | |
112HU | 112HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.12 mm | 120 cm | €18.80 + VAT | |
34FU | 34FU - G baroque viola string light tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 1.70 mm equivalent gut | 65 cm | €30.69 + VAT | |
40FU | 40FU - C baroque viola string light tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 2.60 mm equivalent gut | 65 cm | €37.39 + VAT | |
Viola historical set normal tension
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
88HU | 88HU - Unsplit gut string | 0.88 mm | 120 cm | €11.60 + VAT | |
116HU | 116HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.16 mm | 120 cm | €18.80 + VAT | |
35FU | 35FU - G baroque viola string medium tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 1.75 mm equivalent gut | 65 cm | €30.69 + VAT | |
41FU | 41FU - C baroque viola string medium tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 2.70 mm equivalent gut | 65 cm | €37.39 + VAT | |
Viola historical set superior tension
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
91HU | 91HU - Unsplit gut string | 0.91 mm | 120 cm | €14.60 + VAT | |
124HU | 124HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.24 mm | 120 cm | €21.20 + VAT | |
36FU | 36FU - G baroque viola string heavy tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 1.80 mm equivalent gut | 65 cm | €30.69 + VAT | |
42FU | 42FU - C baroque viola string heavy tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 2.75 mm equivalent gut | 65 cm | €37.39 + VAT | |
Baroque Cello historical set
Strings calculated according to pitch 415 Hz. Vibrating string length: 68 cm
The diameters suggested reproduce the medium ones deduced from historical sources dating back to Eighteenth – Nineteenth century. The gut strings suggested in these sets are made of unsplit lamb gut HU type: they have a surface only partially smoothed to imitate the old hand smoothing system. Through this method the quantity of damaged surface fibre is considerably reduced compared to the rectified strings made according to today procedure. The advantages consist of greater stability to climatic changes, longer life of the string, better acoustic performance. The third and fourth wound strings are made according to criterion of Eighteenth- Nineteenth century.
Cello historical set light tension
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
120HU | 120HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.20 mm | 120 cm | €21.20 + VAT | |
165HU | 165HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.65 mm | 120 cm | €26.40 + VAT | |
58FU | 58FU - G baroque cello light tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 2.45 mm equivalent gut | 110 cm | €48.09 + VAT | |
64FU | 64FU - C baroque cello light tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 3.65 mm equivalent gut | 110 cm | €61.39 + VAT | |
Cello historical set normal tension
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
124HU | 124HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.24 mm | 120 cm | €21.20 + VAT | |
170HU | 170HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.70 mm | 120 cm | €26.40 + VAT | |
59FU | 59FU - G baroque cello medium tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 2.55 mm equivalent gut | 110 cm | €48.09 + VAT | |
65FU | 65FU - C baroque cello medium tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 3.75 mm equivalent gut | 110 cm | €61.39 + VAT | |
Cello historical set superior tension
SKU | Name | Gauge | Length | Price | Buy |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
132HU | 132HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.32 mm | 120 cm | €21.20 + VAT | |
180HU | 180HU - Unsplit gut string | 1.80 mm | 120 cm | €30.30 + VAT | |
60FU | 60FU - G baroque cello heavy tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 2.75 mm equivalent gut | 110 cm | €48.09 + VAT | |
66FU | 66FU - C baroque cello heavy tension silver close wound type "FU" historical | 4.10 mm equivalent gut | 110 cm | €61.39 + VAT | |