Pirastro Olives

Aarongermain · #1 06-21-2006, 12:40 AM

The pirastro olives seem awfully expensive. Anyone think they are worth it? How do they compare to the velvets?
peace, Aaron

Bobby King · #2 06-21-2006, 07:43 AM

Olives are wonderful strings but I would recommend only using the G&D. The E&A are very thuddy and lacking sustain for pizz.

Some people will mix the Olive G&D with Eudoxa on the bottom or with steel strings like Superflexible. Eudoxa is a similar, gut-core string but brighter and more sustaining. I currently have Olives and Obligatos and I love the combination. Obligato is more similar in feel and tone to gut than a steel-core string.

The Olive G&D have a wonderful, fat and punchy pizz, with enough sustain for my taste, and they have a rich beautiful arco too. All gut and gut core strings tend to be expensive.

Velvet Anima is also a very good string. I'm not crazy about arco on Animas but they are bowable. They are definitely brighter and more sustaining than Olive, but they have more gut-like punch than a steel string. If you're coming from playing steel, and do mostly pizz, these are a good choice. They aren't cheap either, though!

larry · #3 06-21-2006, 08:15 AM

I have Superflexibles with an Oliv G. I bought the D but have not put it on yet. The G is perfect. I love everything about it. I'm hoping the D goes well.

ctxbass · #4 06-21-2006, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby King

Olives are wonderful strings but I would recommend only using the G&D. The E&A are very thuddy and lacking sustain for pizz.

I'll agree on the E, but I have Olive A&D with a Chorda G and I like the A. Different bass, different player.

Bobby King · #5 06-21-2006, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctxbass

I'll agree on the E, but I have Olive A&D with a Chorda G and I like the A. Different bass, different player.

This is true. The A is better than the E but still too thuddy for me. Excellent arco, though.

BTW ctxbass, what E do you use with that combo?

ctxbass · #6 06-21-2006, 04:53 PM

Ahh yes, the E. Always a bit of a problem for me. I try to keep the tension fairly consistant. Low tension is important since the string height E-G is 14-12 mm. I've had the best luck so far with Eudoxa, but i still find it a bit bright. It broke, so I tried a Flexocor solo F#. I really like the tone. The tension matches well enough, but it looks like I'd need quite a bit more scoop in the FB to eliminate rattling. It could then require major planing if I decide to change out that string, so I'm hesitant. Hmmm, I wonder if a Superflexible solo F# would work better. Right now, I have a Sensicore E and it growls too much for me. I guess I could just lower my bridge and use steel strings like I do on my Kay.

larry · #7 07-10-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larry

I have Superflexibles with an Oliv G. I bought the D but have not put it on yet. The G is perfect. I love everything about it. I'm hoping the D goes well.

Edit: D has been on for about a week. I'm digging it. There is a much stronger fundamental "thump" with the Olivs. Not sure what to do with the Superflexible E & A now. They are good enough, but I might try the Oliv A as well. I really love everything about these strings (except the price).

TroyK · #8 07-10-2006, 08:14 PM

How long are we getting out of out OLIVs these days before the windings come loose? I put a used G on at the beginning of April and it's doing great, but I'm waiting for the other shoe to fall.

In answer to the original question about them being worth the cost; for the cost of the G string, if I could get 9 months to a year out of it, I would say, yes. it's worth it. If I get less than 6 months, I could live with a less "great" G string. Between 6 and 9 months and I'll be pacing the floor and muttering curse words.

-tk

larry · #9 07-11-2006, 06:04 AM

I bought my G used. I put it on two different basses, so it's been on and off at least three basses. The windings are fine at the moment.

RShew · #10 07-12-2006, 11:04 AM

I have used Oliv's on and off for over 5 years now and never had a winding problem. I have gone through 4 sets of G and D only. I replace them only because they start to sound dead after about 1.5 years or so. I am always string searching and I keep coming back to the Oliv's. The positives out weight the negatives in my opinion.