Trip Meter Music

Catgut…that word leads one to believe that the ASPCA is going to hunt you down if you even consider using strings made of catgut. In reality, feline intestines are not used, so you can breathe a sigh of relief now.
Originally, sheep gut was stretched, twisted and tied to make violin strings. Although the tone of catgut strings is rich and full of body, they are sensitive to weather conditions which affects their tuning. During the 16th century, silver wire was added to the lower strings to add thickness and delay breakage. “Catgut” strings are still used today but they are a bit different from days of old in that they have a gut core but have other metals wrapped around them. Violinists who play early music or Baroque style tend to prefer catgut strings for the sound.
Pirastro Passione is one brand of gut string that might be worth a try. They claim to have more core reliability to reduce tuning problems. Pirastro also makes Eudoxa and Olive brands, the former offers a warm tone while the latter holds up to aggressive bowing. Any one of these brands of catgut string might give you the sound you are trying to achieve.
Steel core strings are quite popular with the non-classical violinists because they have a clear, distinct sound with little overtone, although the steel strings that are wound tend to have more body to them. These strings last longer than catgut and are able to stay in tune longer.
D’Addario has a brand of steel core strings labeled Helicore. Their unique winding gives them more depth than you would ordinarily find in a steel core string.
Another brand of steel core string is the Supersensitive Red Label which tends to be preferred by fiddlers as they are almost indestructible and are inexpensive. Classical violinists usually do not appreciate the bright, almost harsh sound of the steel strings. Jargar also has a brand of steel string that is noted for its warm tones, unlike the Red Label strings.
In the early 1970s, the Austrian company Thomastik-Infeld created the Dominant, a synthetic core string made from nylon perlon. This changed the way violinists felt about non-catgut strings because the Dominant string has the sound of catgut, but did not have the sensitivity to atmosphere that catgut has. It was warm, rich and full-bodied, without the steel sound or inability to stay in tune. With technology moving along at a fast pace, other manufacturers have jumped on board and created different lines of synthetic strings using composite materials and other high-tech nylons. One such company is Evah Pirazzi. They have a synthetic core string that is stable, easy to play and sounds brilliant, although they must be changed often.
Larsen Tzigane has a brand that supposedly has a longer playing life while Pirastro Violino,Tonica, and Obligato strings continue to be very popular. It has been said that the most popular brand of strings in the world is the Dominant, so please keep them in mind as well.