Being new to gut strung baroque instruments and a total klutz at tying knots, I am seeking instructions on how to tie the knot for A and D strings for the tailpiece. The E string I just use a quick double hitch which seems to be popular with players, and the all the G gut strings I have come with the knot already done (thank goodness). It's the ones in the middle supplied as lengths with no knots that have me in diffculty. The knots I see seem to be bowlines, but I only rarely see the string passed through the loop as well, and the bowline knot seems to only serve as a stopper for the small tailpiece hole (I am only referring to baroque violins in this post). So I am confused and inexperienced, and wondering why you need a bowline anyway, apart from the fact that it does not slip. Any pointers/videos/diagrams and so on most appreciated!
Aquila has a video of how to tie a bowline, but it's about sailing knots, with thick flexible rope, and I just cant get it on thick gut, which is very stiff.