Ancient China
Silk strings emerged in ancient China more than two thousand years ago — on the qin and se zithers. There they were the classical, noble material for strings.
In the baroque tradition
Silk strings, made by hand.
The baroque tradition of the silk string — a forgotten voice, read anew. Each string made by hand, from silk preparation to winding.
Sound and character
Silk has its own unmistakable voice.
In Europe
In Europe silk strings were rare — an expensive, specialty material. On Polish fiddles and Swedish nyckelharpas the highest string was traditionally silk, and manufacture continued in Italy, France, and Germany into the 1950s. Gut remained the standard.
Bright and voluminous
A bright, full tone with rich upper overtones — the unmistakable silk character, with a retro note that modern synthetic strings don't carry. Musicians who have tried these strings describe the sound as lush, refined, alive — hanging in the air.
Soft and pliable under the hand
Physically supple. Fast to respond under the bow, gentle on the left hand — a real benefit over long playing sessions.
The sets
Available to order.
Ready for violin, viola, and cello. A double-bass set is in development. Other instruments — on request.
VIOLIN
Violin
€165
Balanced as a chord, with a silken top.
| String | Diameter | Core / winding |
|---|---|---|
| E | 0.68 mm | plain silk |
| A | 0.96 mm | plain silk |
| D | 0.88 mm | wound silk |
| G | 1.20 mm | wound silk |
+ Includes a reserve silk E (chanterelle).
A four-string set, tuned E–A–D–G. E and A in plain silk, D and G with silver-finished copper winding. Balanced as a chord — the set holds together in solo and in chordal playing.
timbre
Bright and voluminous, with rich upper overtones. The plain silk top string shapes the character of the whole set.
VIOLA In development
Viola
In development.
A viola set is currently in development. Expected in a future release.
In development
CELLO
Cello
€329
Voluminous lows, with a silken top.
| String | Diameter | Core / winding |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1.02 mm | plain silk |
| D | 1.12 mm | wound silk |
| G | 1.40 mm | wound silk |
| C | 1.68 mm | wound silk |
A four-string set, tuned C–G–D–A. A in plain silk, D, G, and C with silver-finished copper winding. The low end stays voiced rather than boomy, with bow response held across the register.
timbre
Deep and voluminous, with bright overtones. The silk A keeps the high register alive under the bow.
DOUBLE-BASS In development
Double bass
In development.
A double bass set is currently in development. Expected in a future release.
In development
From the workshop
A continuing line.
workshop · hands
Fibroin continues the work of Alexander Raykov — a maker in upstate New York whose life's work is the silk string: its history, its making, and its use on early and baroque instruments — lutes, viols, baroque violins, and guitars. This is a continuation of historical recipes and traditions.
A silk string isn't a single recipe. It's a line of knowledge — taken up and carried forward.
Every string passes through many stages: silk fibre selection, forming, drying, drawing, polishing, varnishing, winding. The process resists automation — every step is done by hand, with diameter, tension, and consistency checked along the way.
Diameters and tensions are checked across the set — strings should sound as a chord, not as separate voices. Each set is heard by practising musicians before it's released.
made by hand · one at a time
Contact
Make an enquiry.
Orders are handled privately. Write a few lines about your instrument and what you'd like to try, and I'll reply with availability and price.