| 3-D Printed Ball End |
Modern replacement for a knotted end. |
Secures string in the tailpiece. |
| Academie Gold Strings |
Gamut sheep gut strings. |
Historically manufactured gut strings; produce a warm, rich tone with traditional elasticity. |
| Academie Strings |
Gamut beef gut strings. |
Includes both plain and gut/metal-wound options. |
| Anti-Tarnish Strips |
Small black squares included with gut/silver-wound strings. |
Prevents oxidation of silver windings. |
| Approximate Diameter (≈) |
Physical polished diameter of plain gut. |
Minor variance occurs with humidity/environment. |
| Bass Rewind |
Service to replace worn winding on contrabass gut/metal-wound strings. |
Extends the life of gut/metal-wound bass strings while preserving the original gut core. |
| Beef Gut (Bovine Serosa) |
Outer membrane of cow intestine used to make strong, durable gut strings. |
Standard material for Gamut Academie strings. |
| Bridge / Nut Slots |
Contact points where strings rest. |
Must be smooth and rounded to avoid gut string breakage. |
| Burrs / Sharp Edges |
Protrusions on an instrument's bridge, nut, or tuning pegs that can put excessive stress on a gut string. |
Make sure all contact points are smooth. |
| Catgut |
Traditional, but misleading term historically used for gut music strings. |
Not made from cats. |
| Cleaning Gut Strings |
Wipe strings after playing to remove rosin and dirt. |
Prevents buildup and protects string varnish. |
| Custom Gauged Strings |
Gamut strings (Treble, Lyon, Pistoy, Sheep, etc.) beyond standard listings. |
Precise diameter selection for personalized tension or tone. |
| Dampits |
Soft rubber tubes soaked in water and inserted into an instrument for humidity management. |
Not recommended as they can damage the instrument. |
| Dependable Coated Violin Strings |
Beef gut violin strings with polymer coating for protection. |
Adds durability and resistance to moisture while retaining gut tone. |
| Diapason Gut |
An extra-long, plain gut string used for archlute, theorbo, lautenwerck, etc. |
Same processing as Treble/Lyon and Gimped gut strings but longer. |
| Double-Length |
A double-length treble gut string. |
Designed to be cut in half for two uses. |
| Early Music |
Broad term for repertoire predating the modern era, typically Renaissance and Baroque. |
Commonly performed using gut strings and period instruments. |
| Equal Tension |
Historically designed to carry a similar pulling force across all strings when tuned. |
Provides even feel and tone across the set. |
| Equivalent Gauge (=) |
For wound or gimped strings, gauge equals the plain-gut equivalent in mass. |
The string will have a smaller diameter, as the wire is heavier. |
| Fine Tuners |
Tailpiece screws used to adjust string pitch in small increments on synthetic/metal strings. |
Not generally recommended for gut strings, as incremental tuning and metal edges can damage the string. |
| Fret Gut |
Beef gut for tying frets on instruments. |
Used on lutes and viols. |
| Gimped Gut |
Gut string with a light metal thread partially wound into the string. |
A transition between plain and wound strings; adds mass while retaining gut tone. |
| Gut/Metal-Wound Strings |
Beef gut core strings wound with metal wire such as silver, copper, or silverplate. |
Adds mass for lower pitches without excessive thickness. |
| Historically Informed Performance (HIP) |
Playing style and equipment based on documented historical practice. |
Often uses pure-gut strings and period tuning of a=415 Hz. |
| Humidity Sensitivity |
Gut is hygroscopic, it absorbs and releases moisture from air. |
Causes pitch and tone fluctuations; store strings in a cool, dry environment. |
| Knotted End / String Knot |
Traditional loop knot at the end of a gut string used to anchor it to the tailpiece. |
Instructions are included on all Academie string inserts. |
| Lyon Gut |
A gut string twisted in one direction to a high twist. |
Not as flexible as the Pistoy; preferred when a little extra stiffness is required. |
| Mensur |
The vibrating length of the string between nut and bridge. |
Affects required gauge and tension. |
| Modern Performance Practice |
Contemporary playing approach using current setups and expectations. |
May combine gut or synthetic strings for flexibility; a=440 Hz tuning. |
| Mucosa / Submucosa / Serosa |
Layers of intestine involved in gut string manufacture. |
Gut strings are made from the serosa of beef and sheep. |
| Nylon Strings |
Polished DuPont Tynex® 612 nylon, rectified to precise gauges. |
Synthetic alternative to gut; stable under humidity; consistent tension. |
| Over-Tightening |
Putting too much tension on a string when tuning. |
Allow the string settle and tune gradually. |
| Pistoy Gut |
A double-twist string providing great flexibility and quick response. |
Supple and lively under the bow; often used for middle or lower strings. |
| Plain Gut |
Natural gut (Treble, Lyon, Pistoy, Gimped) string. |
Does not include a metal winding over the gut core. |
| Polishing / Finishing |
Workshop process that smooths and sizes gut. |
Ensures uniform diameter and feel. |
| Red Diamond Bass Strings |
Contrabass gut and gut/copper-wound strings. |
Designed for modern players seeking warmth and stability at a=440 Hz tuning. |
| Removing Rosin |
Wipe strings after each playing to remove rosin. |
Cotton or microfiber cloth recommended |
| Settling |
The period of time it takes a gut string to settle at tension on an instrument. |
Larger strings will take more time. |
| Sheep Gut (Ovine Serosa) |
Made from sheep intestine. Sheep gut has a slightly different structure than beef gut — tighter fibers, more translucency. |
Historical gut material; the tone has a warm and rich sonority. Used for Academie Gold and Tricolore pure-gut strings. |
| Soaking in Oil |
Unrecommended practice of immersing strings in oil. |
Weakens gut fibers and shortens life. |
| Solvents |
Avoid alcohol or strong solvents on gut strings. |
Can weaken gut cores or strip varnish. |
| String Calculator |
Online Gamut tool for estimating string length, gauge, and tension. |
Helps users match gauge and tension for a specific instrument setup. |
| String Gauge |
The diameter or thickness of a string, measured in millimeters. |
Determines tension and tonal response. |
| String Storage |
Keep strings cool, dry, and away from sunlight. |
Extends lifespan. |
| String Leader |
A short, thin piece of gut tied to the end of a string to facilitate attaching to the tailpiece. |
Common on historical instruments. |
| String Length |
Total string length expressed in inches or centimeters. |
Not to be confused with vibrating string length (mensur). |
| String Oil |
Applied during the finishing process. |
Gamut discourages additional string oil. |
| Tail Gut |
Plain beef gut used to secure the tailpiece to the end button on violin- and viol-family instruments. |
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| Tension |
Force applied to a string when at pitch, expressed in pounds-force or Newtons. |
Determines how much stress the string and instrument are under. |
| Treble Gut |
A low-twist (15º) natural gut string available with either a natural or varnish finish. |
Suited for higher-tension instruments to stand the strain in the treble register. |
| Tricolore Strings |
Modern performance violin and viola strings, modeled on historical 1930s-era Tricolore strings. |
Offered in pure-gut (sheep) and gut/metal-wound (beef). |
| Tunings |
Standard reference pitches such as a=440, a=415, a=392 Hz. |
For modern and historical performance; affects string selection and tension. |
| Underlayer |
A layer of silk between the gut core and the metal winding. |
Provides internal damping which gives the string a warmer tone. |
| Varnish |
Protective finish on gut strings. |
For environmental and moisture resistance. |
| Whiskers |
Little hairs or loose fibers that develop on a gut string. |
Use nail clippers to carefully trim them. |
| Wound Strings (Gut/Metal-Wound) |
Beef gut core strings wound with metal wire such as silver, copper, or silverplate. |
Adds mass for lower pitches without excessive thickness. |
