The attack is less noisy, the sound quality and ease of playing is greatly improved, and the specific gravity is so much lower that it's now become possible to string the instruments in a more historical fashion ( with thicker strings). Thanks to these strings Gesina's instrument making has also changed; the viols now sound warmer and are more flexible. Besides, the unwound bass strings for consort and other instruments from the pre- 1600 period are very comfortable, and sound beautiful, providing the instrument's playing string length is long enough. Nowadays wound strings are once again being made in historical fashion (thus without a synthetic sleeve around the gut core), and this has a positive effect on the sound.

The Toro strings are available in varying twists: LT = low twist, NT = normal twist, HT = high twist, XXHT = extra high twist. More twist is less resistance and more flexibility. High strings need low twist, the thicker the string the more twist you want.

Aquila makes SR= semirettificato or HR, unsplit=without splitting the gut, C=loaded and V=venice

Stoppani makes the best bass strings

Cordedrago makes for top strings ritorte di Salle (beef gut), second strings cantini di Napoli (sheep gut), third strings catlines di Bologna (high twist, smooth but not sanded), fourth cordoncini di Roma (roaped), and for the basses Cordone Cordedrago (extra high twist roaped) and Appesantiti di Rame (loaded).



All these strings have no varnish.  It's advisable to soak the strings in sweet almond oil or olive oil for at least two weeks before applying tension. This increases their life span.
As a rule, these strings are not as heavy as traditional  gut strings - to achieve an equivalent tension in kilos you need a thicker string. For example: a d' bass viol string could be .70 thick if using old fashioned type strings, a comparable modern string would be Toro .76 LT or.78 LT.

In spite of the careful process of selecting the raw gut, these strings can be more vulnerable than one would wish. Strings breaking, without apparent cause, within two days after first use for unwound strings or a week for wound strings will be replaced free of charge.
In case of complaint the string must, of course, be returned.« Less