The 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 (tungsten)/silver winding, knot end (21 PM)

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.