bel cantos vs. eudoxas or other set

[davidzgeorge]

I've always wanted to try out a set of Eudoxas, but they are SO expensive. Wanted to know what people think about eudoxas primarily for orchestral playing?

i'm using bel cantos right now (at Jeff Bradetich's suggestion) and they're working alright, but sometimes I feel like they lack in power and in clarity, especially for orchestral strokes. any thoughts on bel cantos vs. eudoxas, or other suggestions for other strings to try? i don't want anything too bright or too mellow...

thanks guys

[Felessan]

bump, why did no one answer this question? It's a good question.

-Trevor

[Hampton]

I've tried Eudoxas twice. Beautiful sounding strings. But both times the windings separated several places along the D and G strings. I had to return them within 2 weeks. Tant pis.

If you find the Bel Canto's unfocused (I do) you might consider Evah Pirazzis. Great focus, warmth, power in the fundamental, exceptionally responsive under the bow all over the instrument. The pizz has a dark pointed front end with a warm moderate sustain.

[GriffithLea]

Nothing sounds like Eudoxas and Olivs, but they require more of you than steel or synthetics. First of all, the price. You could try just one string to start. Try replacing your G with an Oliv. If you like that, go for the D. For the A and E, you might instead prefer Eudoxas (the A and E Olivs are incredibly thick).

Then, you MUST make sure that your bridge and nut grooves are wide enough, and you MUST make sure that you put plenty of pencil lead in those grooves.

Don't even think of changing in a new Oliv or Eudoxa within a week of a concert. Leave at least a day or two before a rehearsal. These strings take a while to get to where they stay in tune.

Even then, they are more sensitive to changes in climate than steels or synthetics. Particularly with respect to humidity.

To me, they're worth it. But they won't be to everyone.

[Eric Swanson]

Originally Posted by davidzgeorge

I've always wanted to try out a set of Eudoxas, but they are SO expensive. Wanted to know what people think about eudoxas primarily for orchestral playing?

i'm using bel cantos right now (at Jeff Bradetich's suggestion) and they're working alright, but sometimes I feel like they lack in power and in clarity, especially for orchestral strokes. any thoughts on bel cantos vs. eudoxas, or other suggestions for other strings to try? i don't want anything too bright or too mellow...

thanks guys

What about Permanents? They seem brighter than the BC's. Anyone here who can compare these two options?

The video I saw recently of Jeff Bradetich seemed to show Permanents on his instrument. Of course, every bass is different...

I was using Bel Cantos, liked them, but found them a bit undefined up in TP and a little "ducky" sounding. Nice all around but they do lack a bit of clarity (on my bass).

Also seemed to choke a bit if I really sat down on the bridge with the bow. Switched back to an antique set of Spiro Weichs for now, which are piercingly clear but sound a bit nasal on the lower strings, on my bass. Of course, this set of Weichs is very likely DOA, considering their age and number of basses they've ridden.

Am considering Permananents now myself. Anyone who can do an A/B between the Permananents and BC's for both arco and pizz? I have searched the threads, but can't find this A/B...

[anonymous12251111]

Originally Posted by davidzgeorge

I've always wanted to try out a set of Eudoxas, but they are SO expensive. Wanted to know what people think about eudoxas primarily for orchestral playing?

i'm using bel cantos right now (at Jeff Bradetich's suggestion) and they're working alright, but sometimes I feel like they lack in power and in clarity, especially for orchestral strokes. any thoughts on bel cantos vs. eudoxas, or other suggestions for other strings to try? i don't want anything too bright or too mellow...

thanks guys

Hi David, I completely agree with you in terms of your opinion of Bel Canto's. I've had them on my bass for a year and a half; for the most part I'm satisfied by them but they lack certain qualities on my bass:

1) The tone is very generic...there's really not much identity to it, it seems like it would be a good auditioners string because the tone lends it self to a wide variety of audiences.

2) They didn't have enough fundamental especially during pizz passages.



I currently have a full set of Eudoxa's on...let me tell you they're the finest ORCHESTRAL strings I've ever used...You need to keep them oiled other wise they dry out. I don't know why people complain that they go out of tune easily...I found that you need to take a lot of time to tune them at first but then they stay stabilized throughout a concert or practice session...They have the BIGGEST, loudest, roundest pizz tone there is, and I've never heard a string with so much fundamental. The drawbacks?? They're fairly bulky strings so they definitely would not work for any kind of solo playing: sonata's. concerto's etc....They ONLY work for jazz or purely orchestral playing. You need to have a refined bow technique because if you don't bow parallel to the bridge they're known to make a squawking sound. I'm considering keeping the E and A Eudoxa and trying a G and D Permanent...Seems like the best of both worlds....You have two upper strings that can solo really nicely, and two bottom strings that can REALLY POUND...