The New Gut Violin String from Pirastro:   PASSIONE The unique gut string for the future! Since some time, a new trend evolved especially amongst young classical violinists who search for a full and complex sound to start to experiment with violin strings with a gut core. Baroque strings or gut strings for a historical set up are not meant here, but modern gut strings for the classical violinist in the tradition of our Eudoxa and Oliv strings. As the leading gut string manufacturer in the world Pirastro has now picked up this trend and developed a new gut core string called Passione.

Our development of the Passione aimed at reducing the playing-in-time of traditional gut strings and to increase their tuning stability without loosing the beauty of the gut sound. The gentle processing of the gut core is key to the conservation of the ravishing beauty of gut strings’ sound. Our expertise has been developed since 1798 and has been carefully protected over generations within Pirastro’s employees.

The combination in manufacturing of modern synthetic and traditional gut technology made it possible to retain the sound beauty of gut core strings and to increase significantly the tuning stability and the break-in-time. Passione strings possess a fascinating diversity of sounds, which allows musicians to alter their tone as desired. To such an outstanding extent this is still only possible with gut core strings. The core sound is full, round and warm and has a complex overtone spectrum causing brilliance and clarity and a great power of projection.

Passione’s sound can be big and powerful as well as gentle and tender. Passione is a modern reliable gut string for the demanding violin professional. The set is well-balanced; the response is easy on all levels of the dynamic range. The accuracy of contact point is easily manageable, similar to Obligato, Wondertone Solo and Evah Pirazzi.

Gauges and technical information:

The A, D and G strings are available in five gauges with a difference of ¼ PM each. Please refer to the table below. The E string “silvery steel” is available in 25.5 and 26 and 26.7.

This plurality of gauges allows musicians to choose their preferred gauge and makes it possible to respond to the individual tension requirements of their instruments.

As a rule of thumb:

• The thicker a string is, the more powerful is the sound and the higher is the tension.
• A thinner string will produce a brighter sound, however this does not mean that the sound is weaker or looses power.

There is only the medium gauge available as a set:

Art. # 219021 – Violin Passione Set Medium E Ball-end packaged in envelope.
Art. # 219022 – Violin Passione Set Medium E Ball-end packaged straight.
Art. # 219025 – Violin Passione Set Medium E Loop-end packaged in envelope.
Art. # 219026 – Violin Passione Set Medium E Loop-end packaged straight.

All A, D and G strings come with a ball end in order to facilitate the installation.
The E string is available with loop or ball end.

The length of the coloured peg end of the Passione G string is different than the length of the A and D strings. This is on purpose and part of the construction of the G string. The special length of the G string’s colour winding at the peg end Prevents the string from breaking in the peg box. At the latest after two to three days the stretching process will be finalized. As a result the silk winding will no longer reach over the nut. We have made numerous tests with this special G on various violins all differing in size and the string has always fitted.On some violins it takes longer, with other violins the string even fits from the beginning.

There is no need to change the height of the bridge for using Passione strings.

We advise to use our “Oliv/Evah” rosin (Art. No. 9001) with the Passione set.

The strings come in envelopes (BTL; last digit of the article # is a 1 or 5) or
straight (LANG; last digit of the article # is a 2 or 6).

Pirastro’s Passione color code at the tailpiece end: White with Havana spiral
Pirastro tone color at the peg end: E – green; A – black; D – rose-colored; G – brown

Comment from Wren Canzoneri about PASSIONE Violin strings:

'My congratulations to you and Pirastro on these new strings,
which I think are remarkable. Modulation of dynamics is the best
of any strings I have used in many years. These strings are fun
to play, and make me sound more expressive with less physical effort.'

Manual for the optimal use of the new PASSIONE string set from PIRASTRO

The new PASSIONE strings follow an emerging trend of an increased interest in gut core strings. The strings possess a high degree of modulation, an outstanding richness in sound, high level of playing ease and a quick response. Musicians are enthusiastic about the short playing-in-time and the tuning stability of these gut strings. Please find below recommendations for the use of PASSIONE strings:

• Only remove one string at a time!
When changing strings, remove only one string at a time with all the others up to pitch, keeping the tension on the top.

• Please pay special attention to NOT over-stretch the strings higher than normal pitch!
While stringing the instrument, avoid tightening strings above normal pitch. During the first 5-10 minutes, you may expect these strings to stretch more than other strings. Please retune them constantly during this period. However, within half an hour most of the stretching process is completed. You may expect these strings to reach their tuning stability after two days. By then their full complexity, the beauty of the gut sound and big and powerful tone will have evolved.

• Take care that the bridge and nut grooves as well as the string holes in the peg are smooth!
It is important that the bridge and nut grooves are not overly deep, and that they match the string gauge. Sharp edges will damage fine strings. Graphite of soft pencil marking is recommended for the grooves of the bridge and nut to help strings slide smoothly.

• Check the position of the bridge!
The position of the bridge is important for the sound characteristics of your instrument. The top of the bridge may pull toward the scroll as you put on new strings. This should be checked and corrected so that its back is perpendicular to the top (or very slightly tilted towards the tailpiece). Properly positioned, the bridge feet should rest on the top without gaps.

• Clean your strings regularly.
To preserve the excellent quality of volume and response, we recommend using string cleaner on a regular basis to remove excess rosin from the strings. Please take care that the cleaner does not come in contact with the varnish of your instrument as most string cleaners contain alcohol.

• Which rosin to use?
From our range of rosins we recommend to use our Oliv / Evah Pirazzi rosin, which has the ideal compound of ingredients to fit the PASSIONE strings.