La Bella Charango Nylon, C80

Reviews
SKU:
LAB_C80
UPC:
656295018444
Instrument:
Charango
Material 1:
Plain Nylon
$8.95 $6.27

 

NOTE

DESCRIPTION

DIAMETER INCHES

TENSION LBS

1st E

Plain Nylon

.019/.019

n/a

2nd A

Plain Nylon

.028/.028

n/a

3rd E

Plain Nylon

.033/.020

n/a

4th C

Plain Nylon

.024/.024

n/a

5th G

Plain Nylon

.030/.030

n/a

 

La Bella Strings

"The origin of the use of catgut for the strings of violins and kindred instruments has, from time to time, been explained in various ways.

The most interesting, and probably the most authoritative explanation seems to be the one known among violin makers in Italy for centuries, but little known outside the country. The story is related by Joseph Primavera, who gathered his material in the little town of Salle, Pescara, Italy, a town that has had for almost six centuries the making of catgut strings as its chief industry, and from which some of the finest strings in the musical world have come.

It all goes back to around 1300 AD, it seems, when Salle was already famous for its saddles. Not the least important feature of these leather products was the fact that a thread made from the intestines of a mountain sheep was used in sewing them. This thread was found to be far stronger than that made from more domesticated and better cared for sheep of the valleys.

Tradition at Salle says that at the dawn of the fourteenth century one Erasmo was employed in the chief industry of the town, the making of saddles. As this man was drying some sheep intestines in order to make his thread, some were carried away by the wind, and became lodged in a thorn bush.

Erasmo noticed that sweet musical sounds were emitted as the material was vibrated by the wind blowing through the bush. Being an observant man, and an ingenious one, the thought came to him that the threads used in sewing saddles might also be used as strings in the primitive instruments that were ancestors of the violin. Thus the business of making violins strings from "catgut" (more will be said later regarding the origin of the word itself) began, and so important did the industry become to the small town that eventually Erasmo was sainted, and St. Erasmo is not only the patron saint of the town, but also the profession of string making.

When asked regarding their strings, the people of Salle, so the tradition states, said that they were made of the intestines of cats, "catgut". There was good reason for this. The cat was viewed with superstition in Italy, and the slaying of a cat was supposed to be followed by a period of bad luck. The fiddle string makers of Salle reasoned that few indeed would attempt to copy their trade, if it involved slaying cats.

Mr. Primavera, by searching church records, found that from the beginning of the industry in the time of St. Erasmo, until about 1700, four centuries, the families of Berti, Dorazio, Mari, and Ruffini were famous for making violin strings. These families furnished the strings for products of Stradivarius and other master makers of violins during this period. About 1640 Mari Brothers became the leaders in the manufacture of "catgut" strings. This tradition is followed today by the same family. E. & O. Mari, Inc., located in Newburgh, New York, USA carries on the tradition. Many of their products are marketed under the world famous name "La Bella". These music strings are recognized as the finest the world over."

 

4.1
out of 5.0
7 Reviews
Reviews
Ratings Snapshot
5 Star
71% (5)
4 Star
0% (0)
3 Star
14% (1)
2 Star
0% (0)
1 Star
14% (1)
71.43%
of Reviewers
Recommend
Violin Tuning on a Uke
By Don
from South Florida
on January 19, 2022
Verified Buyer
I wanted to string my ukulele with nylon with a violin/mandolin tuning, but was unable to find a set designed for that purpose. I had tried gut violin strings, but the E string broke on installation.
I was able to use the charango strings for the E, A, and D strings, but had to use a classical guitar string for the G to get the right thickness for the pitch.
I’m happy to report that it all worked out great for me!
Pros
  • The strings stretch in in a reasonable amount of time, seem durable, and have a nice clear tone.
Cons
  • None
La Bella Charango Nylon,
By Bruce R.
from
on November 11, 2011
Picked up several sets. Complete waste of money as every one of the high E strings broke either as I was installing them, or shorty after - and in different places!
Can't play this one but it sounds great
By Seth B.
from
on October 12, 2011
I bought one of the real Charangos actually made from a lacquered armadillo hide at a thrift store. Living in a border state it was not long before I had it fixed up and in the hands of a new owner who could make it sound magical. This 10 string instrument with a re entrant tuning has a cousin that does not use the animal hide in a neighboring country. I think the Charango is Bolivian, but am not 100%. I saw another one with animal hide but it was very crude compared to the one I bought. I can get the Labellas locally living where I do. Next time I am ordering from Just Strings. I had no idea that thing would ever sell, and needed the strings ASAP. The true traditional Charango has an armadillo back for the back of the instrument with some odd native wood top. Some are much nicer than others. Wikipedia has a nice article on these. I did a non animal hide one with steel strings and a pick up, and put a D-TAR in the other one. Being so small they do not make a lot of volume, but the tone of a good one is delightful.
Charango strings
By joseluis
from
on June 20, 2011
Verified Buyer
Like the price!
Charango strings
By Isaac A.
from
on November 16, 2010
Verified Buyer
This is a new instrument I purchased and I love playing it once the original string's were no longer useful I was worried about finding replacements. You provided the best quality product with the best service.

Thank you
la bella charango strings
By Oscar
from
on May 17, 2010
I bought two sets of la bella strings and they started to break from tension not like the first strings from Chile which where thicker and could handle the tension. When I got the la bella charango strings and opened the package the strings already had visible weak spots all along them and when I was stringing them through the tuning peg holes (which have sharp edges) they could not take tension of being bent and a couple of them broke immediately.
charango strings
By mm
from
on November 9, 2009
Verified Buyer
these are nowhere near as good as the black ones a friend brought me from Chile....they make some flat wound strings for charango.....sorry I don't remember the brand...I've got two sets of the good ones..........I bought these to string up a mando with nylon........works for the top two pairs
Reviews