Catgut Guitar Strings represent a fascinating chapter in the history of guitar music. Dating back to the earliest guitars, especially classical and Spanish guitars, these strings were crafted from a rather unexpected source: the intestines of sheep or cattle. Imagine a meticulously prepared sausage casing, stretched and refined to produce musical tones – that’s essentially the concept behind catgut strings. The methods for making these strings have evolved over centuries, with Europe playing a central role in their early development.
The creation of catgut strings is an intricate process centered around achieving maximum cleanliness of the intestinal material. Removing excess fat from the muscle tissue is a demanding task. Traditionally, the intestines are submerged in water for extended periods and treated with ash water. Subsequently, the guts undergo stretching, scraping, and twisting. The final stages involve bleaching with a sulfur dioxide solution, drying, sanding, and a final treatment with olive oil.
Even today, some acoustic guitarists still appreciate the unique qualities of catgut strings, and complete sets are available. In sets designed for guitars, the lower strings typically utilize a catgut core overwound with a fine metal wire. Visually, catgut strings are easily identifiable by their distinctive yellow tint.
However, catgut strings are not without their drawbacks. Their primary weakness lies in their reliability. Over time, these strings are prone to becoming dry, fragile, and brittle. Anecdotally, unwrapped catgut strings are also known to leave a faint, peculiar scent on the fingertips after prolonged playing. Despite these limitations, their sonic character is highly prized – often described as warm, resonant, and evocative of the Renaissance era. In modern times, some players have adopted the term “Organic Strings” to refer to these traditional gut strings.
Unraveling the “Catgut” Name:
For those concerned about feline welfare, rest assured that catgut strings have no connection to cats. The origin of this curious name is shrouded in some mystery, but several theories attempt to explain it:
Theory #1: The “Kit Gut” Evolution
One theory traces the name back to the 13th century and the earliest known forms of guitar strings, which were indeed made from animal intestines. According to historical sources, the Italian word for violin was “kit.” Therefore, it’s suggested that “kit gut” was the original term, referring to strings made from gut for the “kit” (violin). Over time and through linguistic shifts, “kit gut” supposedly transformed into “catgut.”
Challenge to Theory #1: The letter “k” is not a standard part of the Italian alphabet, making the Italian origin of “kit” questionable.
Theory #2: The Catagniny String Maker
Another theory proposes that “catgut” is a reference to a string maker from Catagniny, Germany (or sometimes spelled Catigniny). Historically, violinists often sourced their strings from this reputable German maker.
Challenges to Theory #2:
- “Catagniny” is not a recognized place name in modern Germany, raising questions about its historical existence.
- The letters “c” and “y” are not typical in German orthography, making “Catagniny” sound linguistically unusual for German.
Theory #3: The Saddler’s Secret
Around the 1300s, European saddlers discovered that sheep gut from mountainous regions was ideal not only for strong saddle twine but also for musical instrument strings. To protect their source material and discourage competitors, they purportedly fabricated the story that they were using cat intestines.
Challenge to Theory #3: This theory presents flawed business logic. Claiming to use cat gut might deter musicians due to ethical concerns or perceived quality issues, rather than deterring other string makers.
Historical Ambiguity:
Like many aspects of early history, the precise origins of catgut strings are interwoven with folklore and uncertainty. The use of gut for strings predates the guitar itself. In essence, the true beginnings of catgut strings remain somewhat enigmatic, lost in the mists of time.
