Viola da Gamba Treble - Aquila Corde - HU Gut Sets

In 16th to 19th century Italy, string making was a revered craft, strictly utilizing whole, unsplit animal intestines, primarily from goats and sheep. This method, dictated by tradition and quality, meant that only the finest guts were used for delicate strings, such as those for violins. Contrary to this, any deviation, specifically splitting the gut, was severely penalized. Statutes from Rome and Lisbon outlined harsh punishments for those who breached this standard, including fines and expulsion from the string makers' guild, underscoring the seriousness with which this tradition was upheld.

While Italy enforced these strict standards, other European countries like Germany innovated by splitting intestines to accommodate larger animal sizes and material scarcity. This method, later celebrated in Germany, was considered fraudulent in Italy, highlighting a stark contrast in values and approaches to string making across Europe. Italy's stringent practices reflect a deep commitment to preserving the authentic sound and quality of strings, a testament to the country's dedication to musical craftsmanship.

The HU Lamb Gut Strings by Aquila Corde harness the historical essence and unparalleled quality of unsplit lamb gut, closely mirroring the practices of Italian string makers of bygone eras. This approach not only pays homage to traditional methodologies but also unveils strings with superior acoustical and mechanical properties, a remarkable achievement when contrasted with those crafted from gut strips.

The HU Lamb Gut Strings stand as a testament to Aquila Corde's commitment to fusing historical fidelity with modern production excellence. They are ideally suited for musicians devoted to achieving a sound that is both authentically historic and rich in quality. Catering to the discerning tastes of early music performers as well as those who revere the legacy of historical musical instruments, these strings embody the perfect blend of past and present, offering a sonic experience that is as genuine as it is captivating.

HU LAMB GUT

Oiled gut strings

The production of Aquila Corde HU lamb gut strings emphasizes minimal surface smoothing, ensuring authenticity while providing just enough refinement to prevent any inconsistencies in sound. Each string undergoes a slight oiling to preserve its natural qualities and enhance its playability.

The HU type strings have a surface that has been smoothened only the minimum needed to guarantee that the string is not false; the string is then slightly oiled.

Standard length is 120 cm up to diameters of 2.00 mm. On diameters greater than 2.00 mm, the standard length will be 180 cm only.

 

CLOSE WOUND "F"

Pure silver close wound

The close woud "F strings" by Aquila Corde feature a pure silver close wound design, meticulously crafted to echo the traditional materials and proportions found in 18th and 19th-century wound strings.

Emphasizing authenticity, these strings boast a gut core encased in round-section silver wire, eschewing any silk intermediary for a direct metal-to-core contact. This design choice ensures a balance between the metal and the core that mirrors historic practices, a balance informed by extensive research and analysis of original string fragments housed in museums and private collections.

Distinct from modern string designs, these "F strings" draw upon historical sources and ongoing measurements to offer a genuinely authentic playing experience, capturing the essence of period performance.