Aquila Guts

[Bruce Lindfield]

Originally Posted by AndreasH

So, Since I live in Europe I figured that it would be better to buy strings made here instead of paying lots of $$ .....

Aren't most of the best-known brands made in Europe anyway...like Velvet, Pirastro, Thomastik etc. ?

[AndreasH]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

Aren't most of the best-known brands made in Europe anyway...like Velvet, Pirastro, Thomastik etc. ?

Yes, but I'm talking specfically about the "boutique"-guts or what to call them. Smaller companies like Gamut and Dlugolecki in the U.S. and Aquila and Kuerschner here in Europe. Pirastro Chorda is good and I would love to try a Calros Henriquez set someday, but I don't know, I have this feeling with them that they are "factory"-guts. Don't know how to explain it...

My point is, I tried a Gamut G, I loved it. But the shipping expenses turned me off and I didn't buy more Gamuts. I would like to find a European maker with that same superoir quaility and I find Aquila very interesting.

[Bruce Lindfield]

I looked at the web-site and they make a big thing of the strings being "hand-made" - but is this a good thing ....human error ?

Wouldn't a machine or computer-controlled process eliminate say, "Friday afternoon" strings.... ?

[AndreasH]

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I looked at the web-site and they make a big thing of the strings being "hand-made" - but is this a good thing ....human error ?

Wouldn't a machine or computer-controlled process eliminate say, "Friday afternoon" strings.... ?

As far as I'm concerned, there are only "hand-made" guts. Maybe those companies stressing the point that they're hand made is putting more effort into it. I play guts because I want a sound that is alive, wooden and organic. Them being hand-made isn't a bad thing to me, certainly not when they're well made.

[TenorClef]

Yeah i got the strings on now, well the D & G anyway. I noticed that the Clef gut is more supple than the Emerson, i had to soften the last couple of inches of my D & G string with warm water to facilitate a knot, i also soaked them over night in olive oil to try and soften them. They seem a little tough but they play fine, no problems so far. I heard one or two people say the Emerson are made from Beef serosa but Emerson states its mutton serosa.

[MR PC]

Originally Posted by AndreasH

I play guts because I want a sound that is alive, wooden and organic.

I love those qualities as well with the guts. That's why I bought an***inexpensive*** but great bass to put them on..............when I had the chance to do so.

But on the other hand, players like Ron Carter, Buster Williams, Dave Holland, Rufus Reid, Miroslav Vitous ect, seem to consistently get those qualities in their sound without using guts. And most likely they all spent time early on using gut strings.

If D'Addario enters the market again with a gut string set (PLEASE), we will for sure be hearing more players using guts, and they probably will NOT be completely handmade.

[TenorClef]

This makes for interesting viewing about Aquila-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Cwe...layer_embedded

[AndreasH]

Originally Posted by TenorClef

This makes for interesting viewing about Aquila-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_Cwe...layer_embedded

Yes, that one is great

[bassist14]

Originally Posted by AndreasH

Yes, that one is great

+1!!!!

[Nathan Parker]

Very cool video. Quite an interesting process. Thanks for finding/posting it.

[Marcus Johnson]

Well, that video clinches it. If you're going to shell out that much $$$ for a set of premium guts, you might as well have some that have been handled by the lovely Daniela....

[txstatebass]

Cool vid. I may be renewing a gut jones...

[SRL]

Can anyone comment on the Aquila gut strings? Having searched a bit it seems there are one or two users out there but few comments....