Trivia
Steel strings or gut strings? That is the question
The strings used on violins and other instruments today are generally either steel strings or nylon strings. However, steel strings became popular only in the second half of the twentieth century. Until steel strings came on the scene, gut strings made from sheep intestines, were widely used.
Steel strings were available from the end of the nineteenth century, but it took a long time before they were widely used. In the late 1920s, the debate over steel strings versus gut strings raged on. On one side were performers who touted the soft tone of gut strings, while others swore by the superior performance of steel strings with their brilliant tone and durability. However, final victory through the volume and durability of steel strings would not come until much later.
Today, however, performances on instruments that are made to the same specifications as the early instruments, i.e. "original instrument performances," have grown in number, and the revival of the gut string is one of the notable effects. The gut string and its ability to bring back the tone of the good ol' days is once again gaining widespread recognition.

Musical Instrument Guide : Violin Contents
Origins
Structure
How to Play
How the Instrument is Made
Choosing an Instrument
Care and Maintenance
Trivia
- The f-hole used to be a C-hole or S-hole
- Why the f-hole?
- Violinists must bow to the horse
- Steel strings or gut strings? That is the question
- Is the chinrest the unsung hero of the violin?
- Most violin varnishes are also medicines
- Violin masterpieces: Solos I
- Violin masterpieces: Solos II
- Violin masterpieces: Solos III
- Violin masterpieces: Concertos I
- Violin masterpieces: Concertos II
- Viola masterpieces: Chamber music
- Viola masterpieces: Concertos
- Cello masterpieces: Concertos I
- Cello masterpieces: Concertos II
- Cello masterpieces: Solos
- Contrabass masterpieces: Concertos
- Contrabass masterpieces: Chamber music
- Orchestral masterpieces featuring the contrabass
- What do you call the part on the bow that you hold?