Are Pirastro Olives for me?

[natselection]

I want to start looking for the best classical (arco) string. I play a lot of jazz and classical but in choosing a string, I want the best for the bow. My teacher recommended me to the Olives, or Olivs (?). I'm willing to spend the $$ if the strings are worth the tone and playability. What do you guys think? Should I start searching for the perfect arco string elsewhere?

[KSB - Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by natselection

I want to start looking for the best classical (arco) string. I play a lot of jazz and classical but in choosing a string, I want the best for the bow. My teacher recommended me to the Olives, or Olivs (?). I'm willing to spend the $$ if the strings are worth the tone and playability. What do you guys think? Should I start searching for the perfect arco string elsewhere?

While the Olivs bow well on the G and D, the A and E are extremely thick and may be a bit thuddy on the pizz end if your Bass is at all dark. They are also harder to Bow being so thick and high tension. I have used the entire set as well as the Oliv tops and Eudoxas on the bottom.

I think that the Gut Core strings are short lived because the outer metal wrap will not move when the Gut core shrinks or expands as Gut does. At this point, you will get some separation and eventually breakage.

Does your teacher use Olivs for Orchestra?

I think the best bet are the Regular Flexocor 92s for the Bow. If the E is too soft on your Bass you have two options. Put the E on the upper A peg tuner and switch with the A string and/or get the Stark gauge 92 E to begin with. Another Choice for tension and volume that also bow well and might cost less with the Dollar/Euro problem are the Helicores. If your Bass is tight, get the Solo gauge Orchestra set, if not get the regular Orchestra set. they Pizz good as well. I have tried the solos on two different older basses and the regular Orchestra on several other newer basses. They are loud and sound pretty good. The Flexocor's have a better/sweeter tone if you need that. Either will work but I do not suggest you spend double the amount on Gut core strings like Olivs.

[Jake deVilliers]

Hey Nat, you might want to check out the Belcanto/ Evah Pirazzi thread.

Those two strings are giving the Flex '92s a run for their money.

[Michael Binder]

Hi Nat.
I play the Olivs now for one year and I really like them. Better than Evahs or Belcanto. Sure they are a bit tricky, but when you get used to them its no problem anymore.
They are thick, very thick, but I like this felling ofreally feeling the string.
If you have enough money,buy them and try it. If not try what Ken recommended.
Greetings, Mike

[marvin spangles]

The olives might well be a great string but imho they are overpriced. I currently use evahs but was able to purchase an olive g and d through my school otherwise I would not have laid out that kind of money. for the first few days the pitch slips though that should not be a problem if you monitor yur tuning constantly. I used the g for about a month before putting the evah g back on. I thought the sound fo the olive was quite nasal on my bass. The evah was richer and more mellow sounding. But more importantly they are half the price. I honestly think that we get duped by some of the hyperole written on this forum. It may well be that other bassists have a different viewpoint but i just think that you can get good strings for half the price of the Olives.

[paulunger]

I recommend you choose a good arco string that has a pizz sound you can live with, rather than trying to find one that advertises as a hybrid. I have tried the Olives (and other gut strings) and have found that it requires a different feel in your bow technique and doesn't work well enough for heavy orchestral playing. (In my humble opinion).
Look at what players are using in the bass sections of the major orchestras. It is primarily Flex 92's, Original Flex or Belcanto. Less seen are the Original Flatchrome, Evah's and Permanents. I rarely see professionals using Helicore's anymore.
So here is my two cents:
1. Belcanto
2. Permanent (if you want a brighter string)
3. Flex 92

Good luck!

[Jason Sypher]

I'm using the Belcanto's on the D and G and Spiros on the E and A. The B's bow a little better but the mix is nice and strong for both pizz and arco. I played Oliv's for awhile. Liked them, mostly for the feel, but they unwound under key notes after a few months.

[larry]

I have been using an Oliv D & G for a couple of years now. I have had no problems with the windings getting loose ore breaking. I was careful to make sure the slots were not pinching, and I put a lot of graphite in the slot. I like to think that I pull them pretty hard too. No problems.

I love them, but I'm a jazzer so that opinion means squat if you need them for arco. I just wanted to chime in about the durability.

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by larry

I just wanted to chime in about the durability.

I wonder if being in a constantly humid climate (or is it?) has anything to do with it as the guts don't shrink and expand as they would in changing northern climates.

[Marc Piane]

I used Eudoxas on the D and G. I had no problems with durability. They were great under the bow. They we a pain in the !@# to keep in tune during the Spring and Fall in Chicago. Lots of weather swings. I also couldn't get them to amplify well but that doesn't seem to apply to you.

[larry]

Originally Posted by ehochberg

I wonder if being in a constantly humid climate (or is it?) has anything to do with it as the guts don't shrink and expand as they would in changing northern climates.

Well, we do get a "winter" of sorts. The average temperature from about Nov. to Feb. will often require the heat to run in the house, especially at night. I won't say it gets as dry as it does elsewhere, but the swings in humidity can be extreme.

I bought a humidifier to guard against cracks in my bass when big cold fronts move through. I only need it a few nights out of the year - but it was cheaper than a repair.

[AndreasH]

I know both (strictly) classical and jazz players that combine Eudoxa E and A with Oliv D and G. I think this is a good combination if you want to get away from the steel sound and if you play orchestra.

A friend of mine who is a fulltime classical musician (bassist) told me playing solo classical with Oliv D G doesn't really work that well. But for orchestral and baroque it's fine.

I myself have never tried the Olivs but I've tried the Eudoxa E and A and they have a warm sound arco and a softer feel than steel string when played pizzicato.

The Olivs would probably be about the same as it is the same brand and materials as the Eudoxa.

[anonymous12251111]

Originally Posted by AndreasH

I know both (strictly) classical and jazz players that combine Eudoxa E and A with Oliv D and G. I think this is a good combination if you want to get away from the steel sound and if you play orchestra.

A friend of mine who is a fulltime classical musician (bassist) told me playing solo classical with Oliv D G doesn't really work that well. But for orchestral and baroque it's fine.

I myself have never tried the Olivs but I've tried the Eudoxa E and A and they have a warm sound arco and a softer feel than steel string when played pizzicato.

The Olivs would probably be about the same as it is the same brand and materials as the Eudoxa.

The Oliv G is a fraction lower in tension than the Eudoxa. It's the same gauge, a tad "sweeter" sounding with less focus than the Eudoxa. I agree that you cannot play modern solo repertoire with these strings. They actually sound nice for classical concerti, Vanhal, Hoffmeister etc. But if you're looking to play the Brahms Cello Sonata, Paganini etc, you're not going to get that uber bel-canto romantic singing sound that you would from a thinner gauge steel string. Gut cores work nicely for beefy orchestra playing, but you can't have the best of both worlds with these strings, it just goes against how they're made and what they were intended for. It seems that in the ideal world we could all have a Solo bass and Orchestral bass, each with a distinct sound and feel of their own. For the rest of us something like Flexocores would be a good compromise. I took Ken's suggestion to heart and tried them and they do work well!

[Barcza]

Try Pirastro Original Flat-Chromes, I think is the best for orchestral and solo arco playing, and mutch cheaper than Olivs, but I dont recomend the Flat-Chromes for jazz pizz, but the G, D could work for both pizz and bow. Or if you really dont like to go for steel strings, Obligatos and Evah Pirazzis are also could work.