Pirastro Oliv "Stiff" sheep gut viola strings are made by hand. The strings have a fascinating variety of timbres, which offers the violist opportunities to explore the boundaries of the timbre spectrum. With the correct bowing technique, the strings produce a full, warm, brilliant, powerful and beautiful sound, and are very quickly stable and easy to tune. The following versions are available in the medium diameter/string tension, indicated in PM (Pirazzi meter = 0.05 mm):

• D string : sheep gut core with gold/aluminium winding, ball-end (17 PM);
• G string : sheep gut core with gold/silver winding, knot-end (16 1/4 PM);
• C string : sheep gut core with tungsten/silver winding, knot end (21 PM);
• The D string is fitted with a ball and the G and C-string with a knot.

The Oliv "Stiff" viola strings sound darker and more powerful, and come in plastic tubes.

Click here for the datasheet of Pirastro Oliv "Stiff" viola strings.