Protetto: Considerations on current use of gut strings

I decided to comment on a post recently discussed on Facebook because it gives many examples of different ideas on gut strings usage today. 

This gave us the opportunity to discuss the effect of different twisting applied on strings, on different tension currently in use, and of course different gauges. This post was also commented by Oliver Webber who shared the gauges he is presently using, giving a clear idea of the vast difference there is between British gut players and, probably, the rest of the world.

The guy who started the post is an Italian violinist using very thin, almost inconsistent, gauges. Probably the situation that Takumi is experiencing in Japan could be similar: due to the high humidity of their weather, Japanese players' preference usually goes to transparent, low twisted, varnished strings.

Below here is a chart to compare Pirastro's tensions, Aquila's sets, and equal tension inspired sets.

Keep in mind that these are always theoretical speculations: strings calculated on paper do not take account on the arching of the bridge, on the different projection of the neck and height of the bridge, and last but not least different techniques used to make the string (twisting, stiffening treatments, varnish...).

Empirical investigation always gives the best results!