Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Gamut’s FAQ/Articles pages combine practical information on Gamut gut strings for performers, along with research on string making, instrument making, and historically informed performance practice. Many referenced documents are based on early published works, academic analyses, and historical treatises.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Care and Cleaning of Gut Strings - Practical care, humidity, removing rosin, fine-tuners

• How Are Gut Strings Made? - Historical overview and modern practices

• Gamut Glossary - Terms and descriptions

• 15% Education Discount - Students, educators, and institutions

• Where Did “Catgut” Come From?

• Animal Products and the Environment

• Do Gut Strings Smell?

• Warranty For Gamut Strings

• Expedited String Services

Tuning & Tension

• Understanding Tunings: A=440, A=415, and More

• What Is Mensur? (Vibrating String Length)

• Converting String Gauge Measurements - Pirazzi-meter, millimeter, thousands of an inch

• What’s In a String Gauge?

• What Is Equal Tension?

• Approximate Diameter (≈) / Equivalent Gauge (=)

String Information

• Can I Combine Tricolore + Academie Strings?

• What String Gauge Should I Select?

• Is This [Instrument String] Available In Sheep Gut?

• What Is a Gut/Metal-Wound String “Underlayer?”

• Which Strings Are Double-Length?

• Extra Heavy or Extra Light String Gauges?

• Do You Offer Custom Gauged Strings?

• My Metal-Wound Bass String is Buzzing, Can it Be Fixed?

• Why Do You Not Recommend Using Fine Tuners?

• How Does Varnish Affect Gut Strings?

• Why Do Gut Strings Break?

• Soaking Gut Strings in Oil??

  • String Oil in History

• What Are Those Little Black Squares That Came With My String? - Anti-tarnish strips

• How Do I Remove a Buildup of Rosin On My Strings?

Index of Other Gamut FAQ/Articles Sections

• Gamut Glossary

• Introduction to Gamut Strings

• String Types & Options

• String Calculator, Gauges & Tensions

• Tying Strings / Changing Strings

• Playing With Gut Strings

• Introduction to Early Music / HIP

• Instruments / General Information

• Violin (Baroque, Classical)

• Viola (Baroque, Classical)

• Cello / Violoncello / Cello da Spalla

• Contrabass / Violone / Viennese Bass

• Viola da Gamba / Viols

• Viola d'Amore

• Lute (Baroque, Renaissance)

• Guitar (Baroque, Classical) / Vihuela

• Banjo

• Intabulations / Historic Music

• Historical Music Theory

• Historical String-Making

• String Physics

• Building Historical Instruments

• Gamut Recordings & Friends

• Miscellaneous / Heifetz / Further Reading

• Organizations

• Publications