yo string addicts, new Pirastro Passione string?

[jmpiwonka]

the passione...cheaper alternative it seems...
anyone know anything about them?

http://quinnviolins.com/qv_passionebass.shtml

[Bobby King]

I saw these and have been wondering myself. It's the devil!

[ElMon]

Man, wish I would've seen those a week ago when I dropped serious $$$ on a 5string set of Olivs with Quinn!!!

[Marcus Johnson]

First I've heard of 'em.

[jmpiwonka]

yeah i can't find any info on them.
sent an email to pirastro to see if they can give anymore info.

[salcott]

ARRRRRRRGHH!!!

must not order.... must not order.....

[George700DL]

These are wound, correct?

[CrazyZeke]

I just spoke with Chris at Quinn Violins and here's what he had to say:
1. The strings are set to arive today (7-3-2010),
2, No info was provided by Pirastro to Quinn prior to the DB strings shipment. He stated this is very unusual and the he hoped a data/spec sheet will accompany the order,
3. Chris was not able to tell me what the core of the strings are, especially the E and A strings.

He told me he will call me once the shipment arrives to give me more info about the type, material and misc stuff for this new string and I'll do my best to report his findings ASAP.

I also googled "Pirastro Passione" and the word "bass" to see who else has these strings. Result: desert wasteland. Abosultely nothing on the search turned up for DB strings. So, the mystery remains unsolved!

I'm VERY interested in wound guts at a $200 price.

[Phil Rowan]

Yowza! That's a deal right there.

[JayB]

Interesting to see Pirastro get into the budget gut market..... wonder what the compromise is .

[Francois Blais]

I edited the thread title if you don't mind.
I got a prototype of these strings a few weeks ago and they have a steel core.
There are aimed at the *orchestral* bassist.
Pizz tone if dark and *very* powerful.
I wouldn't recommend them for pizz unless you are comfortable with muddiness on the lower strings.
The D and G could be great for a gut-like tone though.

[jmpiwonka]

thanks for the info francois.

[TroyK]

Originally Posted by Francois Blais

The D and G could be great for a gut-like tone though.

Francois, what about the gauge/tension?

[Phil Rowan]

Holy typo Batman!

[jmpiwonka]

i see quinn has changed their description now and are not calling them gut core anymore.

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by TroyK

Francois, what about the gauge/tension?

For a steel string, they're relatively thick, and tension seemed normal.
The special construction gives them a powerful tone I think.

Originally Posted by jmpiwonka

i see quinn has changed their description now and are not calling them gut core anymore.

Yes, I told him about the mistake on his website and he took my description.

[CrazyZeke]

Francois is correct. Chris fron Quinn left a message yesterday on my work phone and confirmed everything that Francois said. Chris added these strings are intended for orchestrial playing and arco. Not at all for pizz at all.

[jmpiwonka]

here is what i just got from pirastro...sent email yesterday.

Thank you for your mail and interest in our brand new Passione double bass
strings.
First of all Passione for double bass are steel strings and not gut strings.

These steel strings are mainly developed for orchestra players playing with
the bow. They offer a rich, broad and colourful sound together with a free
and open response and an enormous strong projection. They are very easy to
bow and the pizzicato sound is warm and big.
The set is very well balanced:
- non-metallic but colourful sounding G and D strings on the top
- big and powerful sounding A and E strings on the bottom.

the attached pdf says...

Developing the Passione for the orchestra bassist we have
not made any compromises in the construction of the string
in order to offer optimal sound and playability
characteristics. The result is a set of double bass strings
which offers outstanding arco playability, an inspiring
diversity of sounds and it allows the bassist to use all
possible bow strokes to create the desired sound.
The core sound is full, round and warm and has a complex
overtone spectrum which results in a deep and noble sound with great projection and power.
The sustain characteristics of the string allow a strong, big and warm pizzicato – Bass
PASSIONE is a modern and very reliable steel core string suitable for the demanding bassist.
The response is incredibly easy and flexible, the notes are separate and distinctively clean when
played in fast passages. No matter whether playing Spiccato or Legato, the sound can be
altered as desired independently from the bowing speed. The big advantage of the Passione
strings is that the sound does not need to be developed by using excess bow pressure as the
strings vibrate freely and easily. The set is extremely well-balanced concerning tension and
sound. Immediate playability and exceptional tuning stability are important additional advantages
which offer great comfort to the bassist.
The core material of the Bass PASSIONE strings is a high-tensile and very flexible rope core.
Pirastro’s Passione “Bass” color code:
At the tailpiece end: brown spiral on white
Tone color at the peg end: Orchestra: G – brown; D – red; A – black; E – green;
H5/low B – yellow; E 2.10m – green

[martinc]

I realize these strings are designed for blowing and not for pizz..but Pirastro say for pizzicato they have a" warm and big sound"?
Unless they mean for pizz "passages" when bowing.
I also wonder if these strings are their answer to Bel Canto's?
They are also designed for bowing but the G is the best sounding pizz G I have found for my bass.

[Francois Blais]

Originally Posted by martinc

but Pirastro say for pizzicato they have a" warm and big sound"?
Unless they mean for pizz "passages" when bowing.

Hi Martin.
I'm sure that's what they meant.

They are also designed for bowing but the G is the best sounding pizz G I have found for my bass.

I also like the D very much!
However that A and E were not much interesting for pizz, even if I like dark strings.
Not enough definition for mainly pizz usage.