Prestoflex Strings

They sound from the description on the website a bit like Presto's attempt to make a Spirocore type string, with a Weich type version and a heavier gauge version http://presto-strings.com/doublebass.html

"Prestoflex strings are our new versatile steel string. Our design goal was to give them a warm, powerful but even tone in all registers, and a well balanced pizzicato sustain. They also have a very good bow response, so Prestoflex are perfectly suited for both Jazz and Orchestra. Prestoflex are made with a sleek polished chromesteel wrapping on a flexible steel rope core. Available in 3/4 length and in Light and Heavy gauge."

 

http://www.geba-online.de/forum.php?action=viewtree&id=37298&pagi_start=&instanz=0&search=prestoflex

 

Here's a customer's youtube clip:

 

I purchased a set of prestoflex strings from jonas at lando music and i have to say i love these strings. I had kolstein jazz/orchestra strings on before and they are actually more of a jazz string; zingy on the g and e, and i actually broke . What a difference when i put the prestoflex on; they bow exceptionally well, project in the orchestra, and while tight at first they do settle in and play well with jazz. They are loud too! I've never heard my bass so loud before. I recommend these strings to anyone who does orchestra and jazz work.

 

I put these on a few days ago. Unfortunately, they don't make an extended E so I can only talk about the G, D, and A.

On first blush, these are excellent pizzicato strings. Very loud and bright, with a ridiculous sustain. Great harmonic response. Somewhat metallic. Very similar to spirocore weichs, but not quite as easy on the left hand. Still, they're easier than most strings and don't have any rolling issues.

Not bad with a bow, but not great either. They project well, and the high register in particular is very nice. They can produce a lot of sound, but are harder to control on the soft side. The tone is similar to spirocores, but slightly warmer and not so edgy. They're a bit more fussy than I like, and not nearly as articulate as spirocores. Most off-the-string strokes are a little blurry -- it takes a few milliseconds for the string to respond. Trying to play a soft spicatto (like the Beethoven 3 scherzo) is frustrating. My bass sounds noticeably louder, but my wolves are also noticeably worse.

I'll keep them on for another week, then move them over to my EUB. I'll post an update then.

 

Update:

After a few more days with these prestoflexes, I decided to put my Spiros back on. There's some things about them I'm going to miss, but they're not what I need.

Once these strings had a few days to settle, the arco tone really warmed up and lost most of the metallic aftertaste they had at first. They gave me a very rich quality which was fantastic for lyrical solo material. Old school solo repertoire, like Misek or Koussevitzky, sounds great. At the same time, the pizzicato had a very satisfying, nearly electric, quality which would be great for the kind of jazz players who prefer low action. You can pull an enormous amount of volume, arco and pizz, with the strings set barely off the board.

There's a few reasons I had to take them off, but primarily it's because I just really like spirocores. I also couldn't find a way to make a nicely rounded, orchestral-quality pizzicato. I can finagle spiros into doing that, but the PF's sound like Jaco no matter what I do.

8/10 Would recommend for:
- Jazz players who like low action and steel strings
- Basses which need help in the volume department
- People looking for a (slightly) cheaper alternative to Spirocores

 

Thanks guys. What's your perceived tension comparison to other strings? Like spiro weighs? Less more?

 

Slightly firmer than that. Medium something, not too far from Bel Cantos.

 

Does anyone know of any US distributors that offer this string? Thanks.

 

I think only Jonas is selling them.
Presto Strings: contact us

 

Thanks for the quick reply. DK

 

Does anyone have a comparison between the Prestoflex and EP Weichs ?

 

Thought I would update on these strings...i broke the D string on a gig last night( think i need to not play so hard haha). The D sounded great up until that point, the G lost its punch, and the A and E were still in pretty good shape. Didn't last a year, but I'll attribute that to the frequency of use ad the way I play. Would buy these strings again, but I have a set of Presto Balance Hybrids that I've been waiting o try out. Will post update on how this sound.

 

Contact Jonas, you might get a new D. And Jonas also sells single strings and mixes from different sets if you prefer that.

 

Brian DeJesus and PaulCannon, was it the Heavy or Light Prestoflex set which you tried? I'm on 3/4 Spirocore Weich at the moment, though I've also used 3/4 Spiro Mittels. I'm addicted to the growly pizz thing but I also spend some time playing arco (in a non-classical context). Though there's still some life left in my current set of Spiros, the Prestoflex sound like they could be worth investigating somewhere down the line.

 

I think Jonas favours the Light Prestoflex. The original set should have been medium but were rather heavy. So if you are not a friend of heavy strings, better get the light...

 

For those who have the prestoflex balance sets, what color were the silk ends?

 

The Balance series is different from the Prestoflex series.
IIRC, the Orchestral ones were black with an orange twist, and the Hybrids blue with an orange twist.
Presto Double Bass Strings

 

Ah, I didn't catch that. Thank you, that's exactly what I was looking for.