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What is Mensur?

In the context of stringed musical instruments, “mensur” refers to the vibrating string length (usually expressed in centimeters). The mensur is the distance between the inside edge of the nut (the point where the strings start at the top of the fingerboard) and the inside edge of the bridge of the instrument. This measurement is crucial because it affects the pitch or frequency of the notes produced when the strings are played.

The mensur — or vibrating string length — can vary from one instrument to another and may also be adjusted on some instruments to achieve different tunings or tonal qualities. Instruments with longer string lengths generally produce lower-pitched notes, while those with shorter string lengths produce higher-pitched notes.

Musicians and luthiers pay close attention to the mensur when building and setting up instruments to ensure proper intonation and tonal characteristics.

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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 those devices should be removed before installing the gut string on the instrument.

All Gamut Academie strings (pure gut and gut/metal-wound) are made with beef serosa unless they specifically say “sheep gut.” All pure gut Tricolore violin and viola strings are made with sheep gut; gut/metal-wound Tricolore and all Red Diamond strings are made with beef serosa.

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 to string to expand or contract slightly.

Gimped gut strings and custom gauged 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 Gamut gut strings, string types, gauges, and string tensions can be found on our FAQ/Articles page. Not finding an answer to your question? Please contact us directly: support@gamutmusic.com.