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Gut Strings Set

Rediscover the sound of antiquity with premium natural gut strings, carefully selected and approved by the LUTHIEROS master luthiers and virtuoso lyre players after years of research, testing, and collaboration with some of the world’s finest string makers.
Handcrafted from natural animal gut, these strings bring you closer to the sound of ancient Greece and other civilizations of antiquity. Unlike many modern, highly refined gut strings, the LUTHIEROS-approved sets preserve a more natural, less polished surface and tactile character, offering a playing experience that feels closer to the instruments and techniques of the ancient world.
Why musicians choose LUTHIEROS gut strings:
  • Warm, complex tone with a distinctly organic character
  • Immediate attack and clear articulation
  • Rich tactile feedback under both fingers and plectrum
  • Excellent responsiveness for harmonics, tremolo, vibrato, and other expressive techniques
  • A more natural, textured surface for an authentically tactile playing experience
This more natural surface is also part of their character and their trade-off. Because the strings are less smooth and refined, they are generally subject to greater friction and wear, and may therefore have a shorter lifespan than smoother modern alternatives. For many players, this is a worthwhile compromise for the distinctive feel, response, and tonal character of natural gut.
Our gut strings are designed for all LUTHIEROS lyres, as well as the barbitos, the phorminx, the pandura, the kithara, and other ancient-inspired instruments, while also being suitable for compatible instruments crafted by other professional luthiers.
Choosing the correct set
Each string set is specifically gauged for the instrument it is intended for. Please select the set that matches the number of strings on your instrument.
For example, a 14-string set is designed for a 14-string lyre and should not be purchased as a larger supply of spare strings for a 7-string instrument. Although some of the higher strings may be compatible, the lower strings are progressively thicker and may not fit the tuning pegs or string holes of smaller lyres.
If you need specific string gauges rather than a complete standard set, please contact our team at [email protected] before placing your order, or include a complete and detailed list of your preferred gauges in the Order Notes field during checkout.
For the best fit, balance, and playability, always choose the set that corresponds to your instrument.
Gut strings & sugar cane strings for the ancient Lyre or Kithara | Koumartzis family - www.LUTHIEROS.com
Gut strings & sugar cane strings for the ancient Lyre or Kithara | Koumartzis family - www.LUTHIEROS.com
The Lyre of Orpheus – Ancient Greek Lyre (Chelys – 9 strings) – Top Quality HandCrafted Musical Instrument - Koumartzis familia - www.luthieros.com
The Lyre of Thamyris – The Mortal Who Challenged the Muses – Ancient Greek Lyre (Chelys – 11 strings) – LUTHIEROS.com - Top Quality HandCrafted Instrument
The Lyre of Orpheus – Ancient Greek Lyre (Chelys – 9 strings) – Top Quality HandCrafted Musical Instrument - Koumartzis familia - www.luthieros.com

* To calculate the "Length of vibrating string”, you have to measure the distance between the crossbar and the bridge of your instrument. We always add at least 15 cm to that length to make the process of changing the strings quite easy. ** If you are looking for a specific tuning for your ancient or early musical instrument, let us know and our master luthiers will prepare a custom string set just for you!

All you need to know about your lyre's strings in a quick video: WHEN it is time to change a string, WHICH strings you have to change, WHAT are the steps to do it properly, HOW you have to treat every new string you add to your lyre, and HOW you can tune your lyre's strings to perfection?

Why LUTHIEROS-approved strings?

We acknowledge that every lyre, kithara, or other ancient/early musical instrument can be impressively improved in terms of sound and playability by using the right strings.

LUTHIEROS-approved strings are designed to meet the needs of every modern ancient and early music performer. We collaborate with top string manufacturers across Europe, and additionally, we run thorough tests using our complete range of ancient musical instruments to ensure premium quality and sound results.

Important notice: Our strings can be used on any low-to-medium tension stringed musical instrument (it is not recommended to be used with high-tension instruments such as modern harps, et cetera).

Endorsed by the Best

Great performers using LUTHIEROS strings

Thanasis Kleopas on a lyre with our strings, performing a traditional Greek song.

Yerko Lorca on a sambuca with our strings, during his visit with Kuan Yin at SEIKILO Museum.

Dr. Nikos Xanthoulis on his barbiton lyre with our strings, performing one of his own compositions.

Lina Palera performs “Asturias” on her lyre, strung with our premium strings — a concert piece renowned among master guitarists and a powerful showcase of fingerstyle technique.

Yannis Psimadas on his lyre with our strings, performing one of his own compositions during Olympics Torch Relay Ceremony (Tokyo 2020)!

Theodore Koumartzis on his lyre with our strings, improvising for the needs of Pausis Project latest album!

With Each Order You Will Receive

Lifetime support

Whatever you need about the strings, a luthier will be here to guide you.

Tuning guide

A thoughtful video with guidelines for how to properly tune your instrument.

Delivery

Worldwide delivery with package tracking at any given time.

Someone you can trust

We love what we do, and we truly care about every musician we serve.

"All of these beautiful lyres, lovingly hand-crafted by Luthieros are indeed, divine artifacts, reintroduced into the modern world… " - Michael Levy, a world-renowned lyre player. Read his extended review here.

"Electric guitars are very often provided with vibrato, tremolo or whammy bars. That concept was in fact invented by the ancient Greeks twenty four hundred years ago. Kithara was a musical instrument very popular during the Golden Age of Ancient Greece. This is a reproduction that was made by the Greek master luthier Anastasios Koumartizis of Luthieros Music Instruments." - Peter Pringle, a professional Canadian musician, and well-known ancient instruments player. Watch his extended video review here.

"Can't be happier with my lyre! Learning how to play this amazing piece of art! The lyre has amazing finishes and you can feel it's made with love and skilfull hands." - Jaume Gual Bennàssar, Balearic Islands, Spain (verified review through Etsy.com).

Our family is world-renowned for its dedication, love and care. Here are some amazing reviews concerning our whole product range!

"It’s handcrafted with such care and the materials are fine and well chosen. It arrived to us safely all the way from Greece and we were able to track it all the way so we always knew what was happening." - Rachel Loeb, Los Angeles, U.S.A. (verified review through Etsy.com).

"Amazing company! I was very skeptical about ordering an instrument online but it was packaged very safely and arrived in such a timely manner! Luthieros also has some of the best communication skills I've ever encountered with a company, I had many questions that were all answered with great detail shortly after I asked them." - Batherus Batherus, New York, U.S.A. (verified review through Etsy.com).

"The Koumartzis familia have been making replicas of ancient Greek instruments for many years, used by famous lyre players. They also contribute to their musical passions through research and collaborations." - Ancient History Encyclopedia. Read the extended tribute here.

"My ancient Kithara, handcrafted by Luthieros Music Instruments, is for me a very interesting challenge. As an instrument is both old and new. It carries a history of many centuries and at the same time_ it is a very modern challenge that requires a creative approach to musical archetypes. After many experiments […] I discover that this instrument has but many extensions and features that are not noticeable at first glance. The construction is both sturdy and thin, and made of quality woods, which are eclectic, stylish and durable." - Ross Daly, a professional world musician of Irish descent.

"Absolutely fantastic! A truly wonderfully crafted instrument. I can’t put it down. It feels wonderful to play and is transporting me back in time." - Sarah Tilsley, West Sussex, U.K. (verified review through Etsy.com).

Ready to Own

Something Truly Unique?

Gut Strings Set

Price range: 51.00 € through 100.00 €

Ancient Lyre, Ancient Greece, Luthieros Music Instruments, Koumartzis, Ancient Harp

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