Tricolore Violin a-2 Gut

I studied Baroque violin in college and always used Academie strings, but post-college I'm back playing in modern orchestras. I've been using synthetics (of course, it's what I was raised on) but I was never satisfied with my tone, color palette, and bow response of synthetics. I changed the A string to this bare gut A (heavy gauge) and even my partner's eyes widened.

I'm not sure what the commotion around gut string's supposed lack of stability, but this string honestly settled more quickly than most synthetic A strings I've used (Obligato, Dominant, Evah Pirazzi, Evah Pirazzi Gold, Tonica, Zyex, Larsen Il Cannone, and PI all didn't settle or respond as quickly). I think the conversation should rather be based around the quality of gut, and evidently the highest quality of gut string as produced by Dan Larson is better than these gut strings that won't stay in tune - that's a reflection of poor manufacturing rather than an innate downside of gut in my opinion.

Furthermore, suggestions of "sluggish bow response" I find false. I personally feel that gut strings are by far the most sensitive, the issue is rather that of less refined bow technique, but once you negotiate the string's response you'll find anything else feels stiff, one-dimensional, and that a technique is just a technique, not expression.

In conclusion, I don't know if I could bear using any other strings. I'm messing around with the whole set to figure out the combination of gauge and winding (or lack thereof) and will be happy to review once I've found my setup with comments about different combinations and how they responded on my instrument.

good quality

wonderful strings so glad they keep on making them

This is my first experience with a plain gut string and I’m enjoying it. At first I was put off by the slightly scratchy sound but as it played in it sounds clear, full and responsive. There is still a very slight “swishing” sound every time I play a note on this string but I actually enjoy it. I bought this in conjunction with the Tricolore e, heavy wound gut d and heavy wound gut g. I like it enough that I’ll likely try the heavy plain gut d next.

I am an exclusive user of Gamut strings NOT because I'm retro----but because they are the best sounding strings on the market-----perlon or other artificial strings go dead after two weeks they should be--- together with shoulder rests thrown in the garbage

Very high quality gut string, better than most on the market. The heavy gauge has a very warm sound, and has very fast response to the bow. Break-in time is quite long at around a week or to until the tone stabilises, but after that a long life could be expected from the string.

Honest to goodness gut strings that let your violin and your hands determine the sound, rather than being stuck in the brassy constraints of synthetic strings. They have not changed in years, and they never need to. I like to treat mine with a little walnut oil every now and then to keep them going a little longer than their natural lifespan.

Excellent projection and resonance. No issues with tuning stability whatsoever, which is great! Choice of gauge makes a small but noticeable difference in response, which is up to the preference of the player.

I don't understand why people fall for absurd sales pitches for nasty-sounding synthetic strings nor do I understand why manufacturers keep on coming with new "improved" ones all the time. My recommendation: Stick with the glorious sound of the great gut strings, especially the tricolor ones. They sound big and beautiful.