Scan 107
The violin & its story : or the history & construction of the violin, 1905
14 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. Printed page 91. See the scan on archive.org.
1The best violin firsts are made by Priali, of Padua; and there are most excellent strings made in the factories of Naples, Rome, and Milan.
3So far as regards string manufacture in Germany, it is quite certain that with the requisite care we can produce A, D, and G strings equal to those of the Italian factories. But we must get our E strings from Italy—those at any rate, which are used by virtuosi for concert-playing, so long as we neglect to use the entrails of young and thin lambs, and fail to bestow as much attention to temperature during the process of fermentation as the Italians do.
5The remarks of Spohr, in his well-known "Autobiography," on the subject of the selection of strings, are worthy the close attention of all violin players. For the accurate adjustment of the proportionate thickness of the four strings, a string-gauge is always necessary.*
7As gut strings, if kept too long, lose their colour and elasticity (and the thinnest strings lose them soonest), it is never advisable to lay in a stock which will last longer than five or six months. Old and "exhausted" strings may be known by their yellow, faded look, and by their want of elasticity.
9Strings should be (1) pure in themselves, and (2) pure in fifths.
11A string is pure in itself (without overtones), as we have already stated, when its vibrations are regular and normal; and the vibrations are only regular and normal when the string is throughout of equal strength and thickness. To ascertain whether the vibrations of a string are regular and normal or not, take the ends of it between the thumb and finger of each hand, stretch it as tightly as possible, and set it in vibration with the fourth finger.
13* If an instrument possesses any value at all, it is always worth while to take it to a good dealer, let him by trials prove what gauge and quality of strings best suit it, and sell you a string-gauge marked with the results. It pays best in the end.—Translator.
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