The perfect solution for gut bass strings is the one seen in for example in some Asian instruments, where a wire core is wrapped with gut, silk or some other material. I have tried some Pipa strings made like this that were very nice, but not available in all sizes. You get the greater strength and weight of the string without the metallic surface. Since there is a huge boom in baroque and renaissance instrument making in China right now, I'm sure different types of strings could be commissioned.
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