Equal Tension Treble Viol e-3 Lyon
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Equal Tension Treble Viol e-3 Lyon

Equal Tension Treble Viol e-3 Lyon Gut

AcademieSKU: E8310
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Gauge: Light
3-D Printed Ball End: No Ball End
String Varnish: No Varnish
Price:
$28.05 USD

Description

ET Treble Viol e-3 Lyon Gauges
Light 1.00mm
Light+ 1.04mm
Medium 1.06mm
Medium+ 1.10mm
Heavy 1.14mm
Heavy+ 1.18mm

 

    • String Length: Single-Length, 32"/80cm

    • String Type: Lyon Gut

    • String Material: Beef Gut

    • String Options: Ball Ends, Varnish

    • Tuning Designation: a=415

The Lyon-style of gut string is a high twist, single spin construction that offers a tone that is full and warm with a powerful fundamental and complex, pleasing upper partials. The color tends towards opaque light to medium yellow.

Equal Tension strings are designed according to the recommendation of historical theoreticians such as Mersenne, who felt that for the instrument to be balanced and respond in proportion, all the strings on the instrument should have the same tension.

The string comes with plain, unknotted ends. 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 Treble 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
Both Lyon and Pistoy can be used for the same string positions, but the Lyon string is not as flexible as the Pistoy string. The Lyon should be preferred when a little extra stiffness is required under the bow or finger. This string is made from gut specially processed in our shop to be soft and responsive for the optimum combination of durability and flexibility, and is characterized by a tight and visible twist.

Because of the added diameter of equal tension strings, your instrument may need some adjustment at the tailpiece, bridge, or nut to allow for the extra mass of the strings. The instrument may also need sound post or other adjustments to bring out the most responsive tone.

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
This type of string is named after the town in France which was famous for a particular type of flexible gut string. From the 16th century these strings were recommended as being some of the best strings for basses.

Equal Tension is a concept that was used on violins historically, and the idea is that each string on the instrument has an equal amount of tension. The customary way to tension strings is to decrease the tension from the top string, which has the most tension, to the bottom string in decreasing amounts on each string. From the 16th to 19th centuries there are writers who mention or recommend equal tension, and this seems to have been one aesthetic that some players used. Regardless of the extent of the historical use, many modern players find that this system of string allows a quicker and louder response from the instrument. The extra tension on the lower strings allows the bow to play more on top of the strings resulting in quicker bowing.

Further Reading
Viola da Gamba / Viols
What is Equal Tension?
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.