Notes on the treatment and care of gut strings

Gut strings are made from the natural intestines of sheep or cattle.

They have a special internal structure - the gut string is alive!

In order not to impair the quality, the mechanical strength and consequently the sound behavior the sound, please observe the following instructions:

Make sure that there is only minimal friction on the tailpiece, bridge and top nut! The grooves must be well rounded. To ensure that the string glides smoothly, graphite can be applied to the groove with a soft pencil.

It is also important that the strings run freely in the pegbox. Crossing or jamming leads to increased tension and rapid string breakage. When mounting the strings, 3 to 4 adjacent windings on the peg shaft are sufficient.

Gut strings are attached to the tailpiece with knots. Please make sure that there are no sharp edges on the tailpiece, as these can create a shearing effect and damage the string.

A certain break-in period and retuning is necessary and normal for gut strings.

Temperature and humidity have an influence on this process, as gut strings are hygroscopic. If the humidity is too high, gut strings can break more quickly.

When tuning, make sure that the strings are not overstretched!

The life of the gut string can be extended by taking good care of it. Clean and oil the gut strings regularly with acid-free oil. They should be stored in a foil bag (at a normal humidity of 40 - 60 %) and at temperatures of 15 to 25 degrees Celsius.

Be careful when stringing fragile, often repaired and thinly built instruments. Excessive string tension due to the thick diameter of the strings could damage the instrument. If in doubt, consult an instrument maker.