Good Strings for Classical and Jazz?

[Marta P.]

Hello all!

I am currently in the process of purchasing my first carved bass and I need some advice on string choice.

For the duration of my upright career I have been playing the same strings on my Engelhardt ES-9 (used principally for bluegrass) without really knowing what they are. I am now buying a very old and very recently restored German bass from Wayne Holmes in Milan, Tennessee (much more on him in a later thread) and we are trying to decide what strings might suit me and my playing best. This bass will be used for solo and orchestral classical playing as well as for jazz so they would need to work for pizzicato and arco equally well. Helicores, Evah Pirazzi, and Belcantos have been mentioned as well as the possibility of mixing different strings. Any ideas for a good "in-between" sort of set with which I could avoid string changes?

Thanks!

Marta

[Bijoux]

I am sure there tons of threads on this one...
anyway, I have Obligatos in one of my basses, and they are the best string for pizz and bowing in my experience.

[Andrew McGregor]

Spirocore Weich. Not easy to bow, but it can be done and the results are worth the hassle.

[drurb]

Evah Pirazzi weichs for sure. Excellent pizz. and they bow like a dream.

[Phil Rowan]

I'm currently back to regular E.P.'s with a Helicor Orch Heavy gage E. Seems to do the job well for both. A lot depends on the bass too, though.

[Francois Blais]

As you can see, you'll get many very different answers ...

But, please define what is a good jazz tone for you.
If you like a warm, gut-like pizz tone, you may be perfectly well with pure orchestral strings.

Nobody mentioned Corellis yet, by the way...

[Michael Glynn]

Originally Posted by Francois Blais

As you can see, you'll get many very different answers ...

But, please define what is a good jazz tone for you.
If you like a warm, gut-like pizz tone, you may be perfectly well with pure orchestral strings.

Exactly. In these "what kind of strings should I use" threads, I think we could use the following information to help us help you:

1. What are you using the bass for (you already answered this).

2. What kind of sound are you looking for (bright, dark, sustain, etc.).

3. What kind of feel are you looking for (high/low tension, thick/thin gauge, etc.)

4. What strings have you used in the past and what did you like/dislike about them (Since you don't know what was on your old bass, try to find out what strings are currently on your new bass and let us know what is good or bad about them).

[Francois Blais]

+1

Problem is that this kind of stuff is VERY subjective.
When people say they want something that works well with both pizz and arco, without defining what's "well" for them, it doesn't mean anything.
(no offence to the OP, we see this everyday)

[Marta P.]

Thank you all for your replies and advice. I do like pretty warm pizz tone, but I also like a strong attack and good sustain. I understand that string choice is very subjective and I have read a few threads on the subject, but I wanted to get a feel for what different players like and why.

As far as the tone I want is concerned, I like the pizz. attack to be defined, but not too trebly; a rounded sort of sound with decent sustain. I like to get volume out of my bass, but it really isn't the most important aspect for me at this point. I would like to be able to bow smoothly and easily without having to exert too much effort to set the string vibrating properly. I would prefer the gauge to be more thick than thin, but every bass I've played has had different gauges and I've had to make them work, so I don't have a specific preference at this point (the strings on the Engelhardt fall somewhere in the middle of the "gauge spectrum," as it were). I would like to be able to get a nice, dark arco sound while still being able to pull out nice, clear highs. I realize that a good deal of this will depend on my bass and the way I play, but I thought I should give a clearer picture of what I'm looking for.

At this point I think I will definitely try Evah Pirazzis on the G and D strings. I do understand that in the end it will just take me trying out different types of strings and string combinations until I find a set that plays well for me and suits my tone and style, but thank you all for your help. Any other suggestions?

[Eric Hochberg]

From the above description, I say start with Evah Weichs.

[Francois Blais]

I'd like to add Permanents to the list.
Helicore orchestrals are another option.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Marta P.

At this point I think I will definitely try Evah Pirazzis on the G and D strings... Any other suggestions?

I suggest that you not start your string adventure with mixed sets-- especially when it comes to the EPs. They are a very balanced set. If you're going with the EP's, and I think that would be a good choice based on your tastes (see ehochberg's comment), then I suggest starting with a FULL SET of the weichs.

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by drurb

I suggest that you not start your string adventure with mixed sets-- especially when it comes to the EPs. They are a very balanced set. If you're going with the EP's, and I think that would be a good choice based on your tastes (see ehochberg's comment), then I suggest starting with a FULL SET of the weichs.

+1.

Until the Evah Weichs were introduced, I always would suggest Spiros for the first set. Now, I feel that the EP Weichs are a viable alternative in that capacity.

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by Francois Blais

I'd like to add Permanents to the list.
Helicore orchestrals are another option.

Francois, I think that the above strings don't have "decent sustain" as the OP requests.

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by ehochberg

Francois, I think that the above strings don't have "decent sustain" as the OP requests.

Hmm, maybe.
Decent sustain for her may be insufficient sustain for you, who knows?

[Johnny L]

Originally Posted by Marta P.

Any ideas for a good "in-between" sort of set...?

I've seen Edgar Meyer use spirocores on the 2 lower strings and permanents for the top 2. He uses solo strings, though. I don't have a lot of experience with solo strings. I've tried that combo in orchestra tuning, but I don't care much for the permanent D and went looking for something different.

I've tried using superflexibles in orchestra with pretty good success. They are relatively thick and higher tension than I like, and so I've had to "warm up" to them over a year or so and have had to adjust my bowing technique to get an arco sound I like when playing in higher positions. Now I really like them and use them for everything, pizz and arco. They've got a good, dark sound with the bow and pluck like spirocores!

Corellis are another great hybrid string IMO, especially if you like low tension. Bow great and have good pizz sustain. They do have a tone though that, to me, is different from other steel strings. Sometimes I like the sound, sometimes I prefer something a little more "traditional" sounding.

I have tried dominants and liked them a lot, but they break on me. I haven't tried the EP's but everyone here who has seems to love them as a hybrid string. I've tried belcantos and like them for arco, but I got spoiled by spiros and sf's with their sustain and can't appreciate their hybrid capacity.

Helicore hybrids are another great hybrid string IMO. I like all the tensions and think they are way under-appreciated. They have great sustain and bow great. I don't use them only because I don't like the green colored threads (or orange or red, for that matter). I think blue and purple thread colors match my bass better.

Guts are the original hybrid string...you can bow them, pluck them, slap them, whatever. They do it all like no other string can, if you can afford them and afford the hassle they bring. I can't, myself.

[Marta P.]

Thanks for all of the input, everybody!