“I couldn’t play without varnished strings. Yes, I know they are not historically correct, but there is no other way for me, as my hands are so sweaty and I am so busy, that I move from hard air-conditioned to hot and humid environments even trice per day.”Is this familiar to you? I hear this

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Varnished strings

What can we do to have longer lasting strings? So many factors determine the length of the life of the strings, but if you look at them one at a time, you will find that it is quite easy to understand what’s wrong and what we can improve. Often it’s something we can improve straight

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strings breaking too often?

Just found this on YouTube: maybe this way to make the loop knot of the string is easier than mine, though less elegant  here, to the post on how do I make it:  go to knot post

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Loop Knot

Is Gauge what really matters most when we are looking for the right string? Yes, of course, Gauge is an objective measurable factor in a string. Easy measurable. And it is the thing early music brands use to label a string, so it is universally accepted as THE thing we should matter of. I am not

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Is Gauge the main thing?

How to measure a string without a Micrometer How can I measure a string if I don’t have a micrometer? Well, having a micrometer, a simple mechanical one, not a digital, is the most simple and trustable way to measure a string. But if you really can’t find one, here is a way to do it: Take

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No Micrometer?

How could we know which string it is starting only from the gauge? (sorry being this originally a fb live video it’s side-reversed… but if you have questions just write in the comments below)

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Which string is it?

…or what else?A special knot from iconography Do you miss your wolf tone eliminator device? Would you like a bit stiffer string but you cannot get another one right away? Maybe old painting are giving us a suggestion… If you have other ideas about this knot, please share in the comments below this video, there’s

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Wolf-tone eliminator?

Why if you work in difficult climate conditions it is fundamental that you use strings from only one company and you don’t do fancy mix up… Every strings tends togo back to its past conditions, so as every string maker twist them and stretches them differently, it’s really complicate to deal with strings from different

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Fancy mix is not a good idea

What to check and what to avoid when you are choosing your strings. The most important thing to check is that the twisting of your string is even in the whole vibrating lenght. No white spots, no open twist, no different angles. You can easily feel those by Mersenne’s test. What is less important is the

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Quality of the string

How to get new strings promptly in tune How long does it takes to your new strings to stay in tune? I feel that many of us would find one day a reasonable time, but not if that day is the day of the recording, of the rehearsal, the only day to practice properly…. So, even one

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How to get new strings promptly in tune

Can I put Gut strings on my modern violin?  Yes, of course you can! …and I believe both your violin and your playing will get a big advantage from this. Gut strings in fact will reveal you a new voice. I am speaking about the paste of the voice as well as of course articulation and phrasing.  When (and

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Can I put Gut strings on my Modern violin?

A simple method to find the string gauges perfectly fitting your instrument Did you ever had the sensation that something was not balanced in your set of strings, but you couldn’t decide wether going thinner o thicker? It happened so many times to me, until I learned this simple trick! You will need no maths or treatises,

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Choosing string Gauges

How to use correctly a Micrometer.  There’s a common mistake about how to handle the Micrometer while measuring the string, and it can affect the result.  This is a very short video but it can make the difference!

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The Micrometer

What happens to a string while polishing. (one more way to save money) The difference between a slightly polished string and a perfectly smooth string and why it is definitely worth to choose the first One. Want to know more? There’s a downloadable report here, it’s free, no opt-in required!

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Polished or Rough Strings

(Warning: don’t do this with wound strings!) Concerned about the short life of your strings? Do your strings get hairy in minutes in the summer? Your strings could last much longer, you need only some olive oil, and some time…. It may seem complicated, especially if you are always touring and you are never at home… but think for

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Save Money and Overcome Moisture with Oil Soaking

Listen to the sound of your strings before even using them! Described from Marin Mersenne in Harmonie Universelle (1636), this test is used by string-makers to check if the string is even or false, by watching if the fuse of the string is regular or not. But there’s something more for a sensible musician: try

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Mersenne’s test

Where can I stock the extra-lenght of the string? (especially for Viola players!!) The eternal problem for viola players: how do I make 2 D strings out of a 120cm string? it’s not enough!  If you just remember not to cut your string at the half, you can stock your extralenght around the scroll. It will not spoil,

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Exralenght of the String

How to install correctly the string in the peg.(don’t do this with wound strings!) This is the most efficient way to stop the string in the peg. Try always to be as tidy as possible, as overlapped string could result in breaking the back of the pegbox if there is no enough space behind the

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The Peg

How to make a professional loop knot to your string. This is the official pro technique. The one I use for my strings is slightly different: instead of the pencil I use my teeth to keep the loop open, more practical.

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The Loop Knot