Savarez Tenor viol E - Tension 8

Genuine Gut: The Historical Choice of Viol Players

Before the rise of modern synthetic strings, genuine gut established itself as the standard for historical instruments, including the viola da gamba. Its organic structure promotes a rich vibration, with a less "metallic" attack and a nuanced palette highly valued in early music. On a tenor viol, this type of setup (plain gut for the treble strings and silver-wound gut core for the bass strings) respects the traditional balance between clarity, warmth, and harmonic support.

For Which Musicians and Repertoires?

This set is aimed at viol players seeking an authentic sound and a lively touch : intermediate to advanced level musicians, conservatory students, specialized ensembles, or enthusiasts of historically informed performance. It is particularly suited to Renaissance and Baroque repertoires, where a flexible articulation, beautiful resonance, and a fine bow response are expected. The 68 cm scale length guides the choice toward a tenor viol with compatible dimensions to preserve tuning accuracy and string tension.

Sound Characteristics

The oiled gut strings (D1, A2, E3) favor a round and immediate sound production, with a subtle grain that highlights attacks and ornaments. The silver-wound gut core strings (C4, G5, D6) provide more density and depth in the lower register while maintaining the organic response typical of gut. Together, they promote a warm timbre, a beautiful blend between voices, and expressive behavior, ideal for polyphonic playing and singing bass lines.

Technical specifications

Intended for	tenor viol	D1	0.071 mm (0.0279")
Recommended scale length	68 cm	A2	0.094 mm (0.0370")
Delivered string length	120 cm	E3	0.109 mm (0.0429")
D1, A2, E3	oiled gut	Type	genuine gut string
C4, G5, D6	gut core, silver-wound