A-Alto Viol A-6 Pistoy
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A-Alto Viol A-6 Pistoy

A-Alto Viol A-6 Pistoy Gut

AcademieSKU: C3620
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Gauge: Light
3-D Printed Ball End: No Ball End
String Varnish: No Varnish
Price:
$140.59 USD

Description

These A-Alto Viol gauges assume a vibrating string length of 48cm.

A-Alto Viol A-6 Pistoy Gauges
Light 2.16mm
Light+ 2.18mm
Medium 2.20mm
Medium+ 2.22mm
Heavy 2.24mm
Heavy+ 2.26mm

 

    • String Length: Single-Length, 48"/120cm

    • String Type: Pistoy Gut

    • String Material: Beef Gut

    • String Options: Ball End, Varnish

    • Tuning Designation: a=415

Pistoy strings are 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. The results is a very flexible string with a quick response and a full, round sound. The color ranges from clear white on thinner strings to opaque yellow on thicker strings.

The string comes with a plain, unknotted end. A 3-D Printed Ball End may be added for an additional charge. Instructions on how to tie a string knot are on the back of each package.

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.

Gamut Music

Tuning Considerations
Gamut Academie Gut Alto Viol Strings are designed for Baroque instruments by those musicians playing historical performance practice at a=415, and are perfectly suitable for modern a=440 practice, but the result will be a little bit more tension at a=440.

Technical Considerations
Pistoy strings have no space in the structure and therefore have 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.

These are our standard recommended gauges for this instrument/string. For gauges outside of this range, see our Custom Gauged Strings section.

All Gamut string set prices are based off of the individual string prices; there is no penalty for ordering strings à la carte.

Historical Considerations
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." 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.

Further Reading
Viola da Gamba / Viols
Early Music / Historically Informed Performance
Historical String-Making
Care and Cleaning of Gut Strings
String Calculator

See full details on Gamut Music's Return Policy, String Warranty, and Shipping Information.


Hand-made 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 Gamut Music recommends removing those devices before installing the gut string on the instrument.

All Gamut Academie strings (pure gut and gut/metal-wound) are made with beef gut (bovine serosa) 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 strings are made with beef gut.

Gamut gut string gauges are approximate (≈) diameter. Meaning, that while a ≈0.60mm string is polished in the workshop to a diameter of 0.60mm, changes in ambient humidity, temperature, shipping, and storage conditions can cause the string to expand or contract slightly.

Gimped gut strings and gut/metal-wound equal tension strings are gauged with the equivalent-gauge (=) system. This means that the gauge listed, such as =1.50mm, indicates that the string is approximately equal in weight to a plain gut string of that diameter. Of course, because the wire is much heavier than gut, the string will be much thinner than a plain gut string.

More information about the care and cleaning of gut strings, Gamut Music string types, and string gauges and tensions can be found on our FAQ/Articles page. Not finding an answer to your question? Please contact us.