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Sheep gut versus Beef gut: when, why and the differences
The long time diatribe about strings: sheep gut versus beef gut: first video of serie of 3 discussing when, why, and the differences between the two.
We are covering this because it will help us to analyze the changes of 20th century so that we can later discuss the problems of strings today.
Sheep gut versus beef gut, part two: why
After WWII the demand of gut strings was so wide the string makers could not satisfy it any more only with sheep: surgery, tennis, mechanics, and, music strings.
They also found beef being more easy to work as the strands of beef, cut by a machine, were more regular so gave strings more strong as they needed less polishing. So it was an upgrade and not just a concession to the industrial needs...
Sheep gut versus Beef gut part 3/1: the differences.
Color, strength, sound: are there any other differences you noticed between the two? Comment below!
Sheep gut versus beef gut part 3/2: the real difference.
The beef gut, with its standardized measures, it's easier for an industrial production, and it's easier for today, when the musicians buy strings by gauges and not by quantity of strands. Having standard width of strands helps in determine the gauge to be.
The real difference between the two is in the working process. That part of process needed before the string maker can really start his job, which unfortunately will determine the quality of the string as much as the work of the string maker himself...
No matter where the gut comes from, the real difference for the quality of the string is in how the gut is processed.
Tags
baroque music, double-bass strings, early music, gut strings, gut strings history, gut strings maintenance, gut strings manufacture, viol strings, viola da gamba strings, viola strings, violin strings, violoncello strings
That’s me , or at least this is what I was in Aquila from 2002 up to 2016… On gauge imposed on a string by the polishing process… why half polished are definitely better and why the quality control and the polishing must be done by the same person. Want to know more? There’s a
Read MoreHere is the video from the famous BBC serie “How it’s made” , recorded in April 2012 in Caldogno (Vicenza, Italy) at the Aquila strings factory. We tried to prepare everything to show them the whole process, but they didn’t want to film the smelly initial part. I’m the one who plays and who scrapes the guts
Read MoreHistorical gut strings manufacturing: cleaning with the thimble The last cleaning passage of the fresh gut was made using a copper thimble, pressing hard the thumb on the index finger. They did this 3 times a day for almost one week, using chemicals, and standing behind big tables with a parapet to protect them… G.
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