Quick question: Pirastro Jazzer vs. Obligato Orchs in terms of Tension?

[James Gibson]

How do Pirastro Jazzers compare to Regular Orchestra Obligatos in regard to string tension? I have experience with the Oblis but none with the Jazzer. They interest me though.

Also, since the Jazzers are all steel strings, I would assume they would have a longer life. Would that be a correct assumption?

thanks!
James

[Jake deVilliers]

Obligatos are so stretchy that its hard to compare them with a steel string. Jazzers are in between Spiro Mittels and Weichs in tension and feel but they don't quite have the 'life' that Spiros have.

You should wait until TROIKA comments - he's recently gone back to back with Jazzers and Weichs on his bass.

[TroyK]

Well, there are people who claim to get year+ out of Obligatos, but most (and I) found them to be over and done with very quickly, especially the lower strings. I've contemplated before Jazzer E and A with Obligato D and G, if you look at gauges (not tensions) that seems like it could be nice. I had EPs with the low Jazzers for a while and it worked pretty well.

All in all, Jazzers are much longer in life (1-2 years easy) and behave like steel strings in terms of feel and stability. I've never seen tension measurements for them, but I think they are something less than Spirocore Mittels and something more than Spirocore Weichs. They are that type of string, but have their own special flavor. I can recommend them, without hesitation if you want a good bright, steel pizzicato string. I didn't have any arco difficulties with them either, though I'm not doing symphony auditions or anything.

I want to like Obligatos, on the other hand, but I just can't. Too short of life, rolling on E and A strings drives me batty and they sound a little plasticy after you tune your ear to them.

Hope that helps.

[James Gibson]

Thanks Troyk, that does help.

Right now I'm using my trusty Spiro Mittel E and Obligato A, D, G. The tone with this setup is alright, but I've been using either EP Weichs or Oblis for a little over a year now and I'm wanting to go back to bright steel strings. The main thing i like about the Spiro E/Obli A, D, G setup is the tension. I was contemplating going to Spiro E/Jazzer A, D, G. What can you tell me about that configuration?

[TroyK]

I haven't done it, but it could work. I would try a full set of Jazzers first, though. Keep the Spirocore E, of course, and put it back on if you feel you're lacking something with the Jazzer E.

They are similar to Spirocores, but not the same. Have you considered a blend of Spirocore Mittels and Weichs?

[martinc]

James:

I play pizz only and found the Obligato's have a bit more tension than the Jazzers.
I agree completely with Troy's comments on their short lifespan.
The Jazzers are bright initially but they lose a lot of it after a couple of weeks. Not as zingy though as broken-in Spiro Weichs.
I did a CD recording session in two stages recently. The first session I had Spiro Weich A and D on with a Spiro Mittel E and a Bel Canto G. On the second I substituted the Jazzer A and D for the Spiro Weichs. The end result on the recording was a more solid sound with the Jazzers.
Funny thing is I went to Correlli Forte 380's (nickel) after on the D and A that and love them. Very solid but responsive.
But I could still live with the Jazzers.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by martinc

James:

I play pizz only and found the Obligato's have a bit more tension than the Jazzers.
I agree completely with Troy's comments on their short lifespan.
The Jazzers are bright initially but they lose a lot of it after a couple of weeks. Not as zingy though as broken-in Spiro Weichs.
I did a CD recording session in two stages recently. The first session I had Spiro Weich A and D on with a Spiro Mittel E and a Bel Canto G. On the second I substituted the Jazzer A and D for the Spiro Weichs. The end result on the recording was a more solid sound with the Jazzers.
Funny thing is I went to Correlli Forte 380's (nickel) after on the D and A that and love them. Very solid but responsive.
But I could still live with the Jazzers.

Weich to Jazzer to Corelli in a hurry - you're obviously a very sick man!

[martinc]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Weich to Jazzer to Corelli in a hurry - you're obviously a very sick man!

Jake: I was not too crazy over the two Weichs after I heard the playback of the initial recordings and I had a couple of Jazzers that were new laying around from when I had my old King. They sounded much better on the later recordings.
The Corelli's ...I used and liked many years ago on a 1952 Kay Swingmaster I had so I ordered a couple around the same time as I did the second session.
Very solid...just the way I like it and the tension is about the same as the Weichs and Jazzers. Bingo.
I hope I have now cured my string sickness. Probably not though. There would be no challenges left.

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by martinc

Jake: I was not too crazy over the two Weichs after I heard the playback of the initial recordings and I had a couple of Jazzers that were new laying around from when I had my old King. They sounded much better on the later recordings.
The Corelli's ...I used and liked many years ago on a 1952 Kay Swingmaster I had so I ordered a couple around the same time as I did the second session.
Very solid...just the way I like it and the tension is about the same as the Weichs and Jazzers. Bingo.
I hope I have now cured my string sickness. Probably not though. There would be no challenges left.

You don't need to justify anything to me, I'm not your sponsor!

[James Gibson]

Originally Posted by TroyK

...Have you considered a blend of Spirocore Mittels and Weichs?

Yes, I've also kicked around an all Spiro setup; Mittel E, Weich A and D, and Mittel G. I'm sure I'll never get away from the Spiro Mittel E. It's been on and off my bass with literally every set of strings I've used (Helicore Orchs, EP Weichs, Obligatos, Bel Cantos) since buying the bass. It eventually finds it's way back on to my bass no matter what and I'm always happy to have it back. As for the Mittel G, I feel like it will work better on my bass and feel better to my hands than the smaller Weich.

Originally Posted by martinc

...end result on the recording was a more solid sound with the Jazzers.

That's what I'm looking for. More punch and a more modern, steel-string sound than the Obligatos but with similar low tension.

[TroyK]

Originally Posted by James Gibson

Right now I'm using my trusty Spiro Mittel E and Obligato A, D, G. The tone with this setup is alright, but I've been using either EP Weichs or Oblis for a little over a year now and I'm wanting to go back to bright steel strings. The main thing i like about the Spiro E/Obli A, D, G setup is the tension. I was contemplating going to Spiro E/Jazzer A, D, G. What can you tell me about that configuration?

So, I was trying different things today and will find my old Jazzer thread to update it with more detail, but I did in fact have a SMittel E on with Jazzers A - G briefly today. I think it worked fine. I think generally that Spriocore E is a very good string and will work well with most thing.

The SMittels in my experiment today revealed themselves to be much stiffer than Jazzers, which is not the same thing as tension, but they also seem to have more tension. Tough to say how much. In my experiment between SWeichs, SMittels and Jazzers, I'd suggest that the Jazzers are just about in the middle between the two in tension, but perhaps they are a bit closer to the mittels, but more supple, so they feel more like the weichs. Tough to say.

Out of the pack, the Jazzers are much more supple than the mittel spirocres. The gauge is smaller than, but nearly SMittels.

I've got a full set of Jazzers back on now. I don't feel the need for the Spirocore E string on there.

They are a bright, durable, long life steel string. They sound different than Spirocores. Tough to describe. I like them, but I also like Spirocores. I'm sure I'm not through with swapping back and forth.