Questions and answers about violin building
Bows
- My bow is losing hair!
- My bow can no longer be tightened!
- The hairs no longer properly grip the strings while playing!
Violins
- My Violin rattles!
- My varnish has become dull and gummy!
- Inexplicable scratches are occurring on the bottom of the violin cover!
- How must the bridge be positioned?
- The bridge is no longer straight after tightening the strings!
- Where must the sound post be positioned?
- Do I own a genuine Stradivarius?
- My pegs no longer hold properly. They slip and cant be turned!
- Problems in Winter
- String Studies
- Which string is recommended for my instrument?
- How did Stradivari build his intruments?
Answers
String Studies
One differentiates between four types of strings:
- Pure gut strings are still used today in instruments that are played at historical performances. Popular brands include the Pirazzi and Kuerschner companies
- Gut-core strings are covered in metal (usually silver or aluminum). The highest gut-core string is the a-string. The e-string is always a steel string. For exception see 1). The Pirazzi company manufactures the popular brands Eudoxa and Oliv, please see our online shop at Eudoxa and Oliv
- Steel-core strings are covered in metal. The Thomastik Company makes the Spirocore or the Superflexible strings, both Jargar and Larsen produce strings for the cello
- Synthetic-core strings, strings where the synthetic core is covered with silver or aluminum (Thomastik manufactures the Dominant string, Pirazzi manufactures the Tonica/Obligato and Evah strings). Have a look at Dominant string and Tonica/Obligato and Evah.
Last update on 2011-01-28 by Haat-Hedlef Uilderks.
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