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Why Do Gut Strings Break?
Gut music strings can have a long life if they are properly cared for and stored. But, being made from a natural material, false strings and breakage can occur. Here are some common reasons why natural gut strings may break:
Natural Wear: Over time, gut strings can weaken due to the constant tension and vibration they experience during playing. This normal wear can lead to eventual breakage.
Corrosion: Sweat and oils from your fingers can contribute to the breakage of strings, especially if they are not cleaned regularly. Corrosion can weaken the structural integrity of the strings and make them more prone to breaking. Our string varnish option helps mitigate this effect.
Environmental Factors: Changes in temperature and humidity (especially big swings) can affect the tension and condition of the strings, and can lead to the deterioration of gut strings and increase the likelihood of breakage. The proper care and storage of strings can increase their longevity.
Incorrect Installation: Improper installation of gut strings, such as incorrect (or cross-) winding, or excessive tension during tuning can lead to breakage. 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.
Sharp Edges or Burrs: If there are any sharp edges, protrusions, or burrs at all on an instrument's bridge, nut, or tuning pegs, they can cause excessive stress on that part of the string, leading to breakage. This is one of the most common culprits of string breakage with gut strings on a new (to you) instrument. (See How to Stop Breaking Strings! with Brandon Acker.)
Overstretching: Rapid and excessive tuning changes can cause gut strings to be stretched beyond their physical limits, leading to breakage. It's essential to tune your strings gradually.
The general reasons for string breakage applies to all types of strings. Regular maintenance, proper playing techniques, and a temperature and humidity controlled environment can help minimize the frequency of string breakage.
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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.