Please Note: Gamut strings are hand-made to order — shipping timelines are calculated from when your order leaves the workshop, not when the order was placed.

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Contrabass d-2 Pistoy

Academie

10 reviews Write a Review
SKU:
A422_
$209.95
Contrabass d-2 Pistoy
Width:
8.00 (in)
Height:
8.00 (in)
Depth:
0.10 (in)
Shipping:
Calculated at Checkout
$209.95

Description

Table of Contrabass Gauges
  Light Light+ Medium Medium+ Heavy Heavy+
d-2 Pistoy 2.80mm 2.86mm 2.90mm 2.96mm 3.00mm 3.06mm

 

This is a single-length (80", 200cm), double twist, Pistoy-style contrabass (double bass) string made with beef serosa available with either a natural or varnish finish.

Plain gut strings are available with a natural or varnish finish. Natural strings are hand-rubbed with a light oil. Varnished strings have three coats of finish before being hand polished with the oil. There is an additional charge for varnished strings. 

In order to secure the bass string in the tailpiece, Gamut Music has developed the use of a leather washer as a stop. A washer is an option you can choose if you do not want to tie a knot at the end of the string as a securing feature. Bass strings are quite thick and sometimes stiff, and tying a knot can be complex and inelegant. The leather washer is a reliable and secure solution to the problem of securing the string at the tailpiece.

The Pistoy string is a unique development of Daniel Larson at Gamut Music. It is named for the town in Italy which was famous for producing the best string for basses, being "flexible, smooth, and well twisted." Our reproduction is made of three strands of gut twisted in one direction, and then the three combined together by twisting in the other direction in rope fashion. When dry, the string is polished down to the specific gauge required by the instrument. The results are a very flexible string with a quick response and a full, round sound. The string is characterized by a noticeable twist and flexible feel.
 
This is not a polished catline as some think. At first glance this might look like such a thing. However, the Pistoy is fundamentally a different kind of string. It shares one trait with the catline in that the string is made with two directions of twists. This is where the similarity ends. The Pistoy has no space in the structure like the catline does, and therefore has the same density as any plain gut string. The Pistoy string is expensive to make because it takes a lot of time to sort the gut into small bundles to twist and retwist. The gain is in the flexibility. Even in thick gauges the string remains supple and responsive. The color ranges from clear white on thinner strings (1.00mm to 1.10mm) to opaque yellow on thicker strings.

Academie strings are manufactured in the USA by Gamut Music, Inc., a leader in the revival of early music strings and instruments. Gut strings are not intended to be used with fine tuners or string adjusters and those devices should be removed before installing the gut string on the instrument.

More information about Gamut gut strings, string types, gauges, and string tensions can be found on our articles page. Not finding an answer to your question? Please contact us directly: support@gamutmusic.com.

Extra Information

Brand:
Academie
Width:
8.00 (in)
Height:
8.00 (in)
Depth:
0.10 (in)

    10 Reviews

  • Posted by Noah Schenker on May 11th 2023

    5

    Pistoy D light +

    I love these strings! I’ve been through a few of the Pistoy Ds over the last few years, and they seem to sing more than other gut Ds I’ve used. I play mostly pizz, and I like the tone all the way into thumb position.

  • Posted by Nathan Cregger on Jan 27th 2023

    5

    D-2 Varnished Light+ Pistoy

    By far the best D string I’ve ever used! For my needs (pizzicato and slapping) it checks off everything I need without compromising tone, clarity, or volume. It has just the right amount of sustain, and with proper muting techniques it can have the quick decay without being too “thuddy.” I liked it so much so that I immediately ordered a matching G-1 to balance the sound on my bass. The string is still settling in but day after day it keeps getting warmer. I’m very excited to hear it once it has fully aged. Great work from Gamut again! Well worth the money for fantastic (probably the best one can find) craftsmanship and customer service!

  • Posted by Todd on Jan 7th 2023

    5

    Pistoy gut strings

    Couldn’t be happier with my purchase. These strings sound fantastic. Great company to deal with

  • Posted by Bobby King on Nov 15th 2021

    5

    Pistoy Bass D

    Best gut D string ever. Expensive? Yes! Still worth it.

  • Posted by Dirk Dickson on Nov 2nd 2021

    5

    D bass string

    Marvelous.

  • Posted by Unknown on Oct 2nd 2020

    5

    Best D string ever

    Absolute class

  • Posted by Dennis James on Oct 25th 2019

    5

    Pistoy D string medium gage

    Beautiful arco sound and great jazz pizz sound

  • Posted by Bobby King on Dec 22nd 2017

    5

    The Best Plain Gut D You Can Buy

    A plain gut D string can be frustrating if it’s not high quality. They can have indistinct pitch and insufficient tension. As a gut user, over the years I would occasionally find a “new old stock” gut D that was good quality, but it becomes increasingly hard to find those as the years go by. Fear not, you can buy one as good, in fact better than the guts of yesteryear from Gamut Music. The Pistoy plain D is the best! Accurate pitch, and not floppy in tension. It’s available in several gauges so you can find the best one to match whatever other strings you’re using. My only complaint is that it cost about as much as a full set of steel strings. Far be it from me to understand what goes into making one of these that makes it so expensive :), but it’s worth it, and it will last a very long time if taken care of properly. A+

  • Posted by Andrew S on Dec 12th 2017

    5

    Exceptional quality gut string

    After trying several gut and steel D strings, the Gamut Pistoy Light + D sounds the best on my bass. The string is a work of art with a great sound. It's loud and fully defined to the octave. Very pleased with my purchase.