NaturdarmSaiten

NaturdarmSaiten are strings made from natural animal gut, typically sheep or cattle. They have a long history as the standard material for many Western string instruments and are still used today mainly for Baroque and historically informed performance, as well as by players seeking a traditional, warm tonal character. They are used on violins, violas, cellos, and some plucked instruments, in plain gut or wound forms.

Construction and variants: gut strings are produced by selecting and twisting animal intestine to form a core, which may be wound with metal (silver or copper alloys) or with a synthetic material to improve durability and stability. Plain gut strings offer immediacy of response, while wound strings tend to be more resistant to breaking and to pitch stability in varying humidity. Gut strings are more sensitive to humidity and temperature than synthetic or steel-core strings.

Playing characteristics and maintenance: players describe a warm, rich overtone spectrum and quick response, with strong projection in the lower registers. They require careful storage in a controlled environment, regular tension checks, and more frequent retuning than modern strings. They also typically have shorter lifespans and higher cost.

Availability and context: natural gut strings are produced in smaller batches and remain comparatively expensive. They are favored for Baroque ensembles and historically informed performances, where their tonal qualities are valued and best realized with instrument setup appropriate to gut strings.