Re: Pirastro violin strings

Jon Teske wrote:

> On 2 Dec 2003 20:18:37 -0800, [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Troy) wrote:
> 
>>I'm really wanting to try out some gut violin strings. Perhaps
>>Pirastro. But all I can find are Pirastro viola. Could I use viola
>>strings on violin?
> 
> No They are somewhat thicker and would increase tension string for
> string.

If we are talking about plain gut strings, this utterly depends on the 
gauge.  The gauges used of plain gut A and D for viola and violin 
overlap considerably.  Also, the viola A (first string) doesn't have to 
be a low-twist string as the violin E (first) does for reasons of 
strength: the forshortened scale of the viola compared to the violin 
insures that the viola A isn't anywhere near as close to its breaking 
pitch as the violin E is.

Needless to say, you substitute a viola A for a violin A, and a viola D 
for violin D, not a viola second string (D) for a violin second string 
(A)!!!
 
>  If not where are some placed that I could get
>>fairly cheap gut strings?
> 
> They must be around for the early music crowd.  We spent the better
> part of 400 years getting strings superior to gut. 

And some day we may get there, possibly around the time that sheep 
become extinct.

-- 
Roland Hutchinson              Will play viola da gamba for food.

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