Which Strings Are Sheep Gut, Which Are Beef Gut?

Sheep Gut Versus Bovine Gut

TL;DR: All Gamut Academie strings (pure gut and gut/metal-wound) are made with beef gut unless they specifically say "sheep gut." All pure gut Tricolore violin and viola strings are made with sheep gut; Dependable Coated Violin Strings, gut/metal-wound Tricolore, and all Red Diamond Bass Strings strings are made with beef gut.

A common question we receive is: "Which strings are sheep gut, and which strings are beef gut?" In an effort to distinguish the different types of Gamut gut strings for our customers, please be aware:

    • Academie Strings
      All Gamut Academie strings (pure gut and gut/metal-wound) are made with beef gut (bovine serosa) unless they specifically say “sheep gut” (ovine serosa).

    • Academie Gold Sheep Gut Strings
      All Academie Gold strings are made with sheep gut.

    • Dependable Coated Violin Strings
      All Dependable Coated Violin Strings are made with beef gut.

    • Tricolore Strings
      All pure gut Tricolore Violin and Viola strings are made with sheep gut; gut/metal-wound Tricolore strings are made with beef gut.

    • Red Diamond Strings
      Red Diamond Bass Strings are made with beef gut.

"Is This [Instrument String] Available in Sheep Gut?"

A frequent followup question is whether a particular instrument string is available in sheep gut:

    • All Gamut gut/metal-wound strings are made of beef gut.

    • Sheep gut strings are generally only made for the upper strings of instruments, and are available for Violin, Viola, Cello, Treble, Tenor, and Bass Viola da Gamba, and Pardessus de Viole, as well as Custom Gauged.