As I said, I figure if I start putting money to the side now, and approx. so much that I’ll be good to buy a new set after a year or so, I’ll be fine. And every month they last longer actually puts me in the winning zone
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As I said, I figure if I start putting money to the side now, and approx. so much that I’ll be good to buy a new set after a year or so, I’ll be fine. And every month they last longer actually puts me in the winning zone
I'm not so sure that they really tighten up (though that might be possible). I think at least a big amount why they go up in pitch in dry places is that they loose humidity and therefor mass and that this is the reason they go up in pitch. If the tension does not go up and the load ability of gut is not reduced by the dryness (I have no idea if that is true or not) that means that the gut string should not break even if the pitch goes up in a dry environment. But there are many if's inside...
On the other hand I killed a lot of thin high viola da gamba gut strings by not tuning them down when I didn't play for longer time periods, but it might be that I was too inexperienced with bowed string instruments maintenance and setup at these times.
I never had a broken gut sting on my double bass, even not the high C, but I hardly use them at all.
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For the price of Eudoxas I would seriously consider a set of Gerold Genssler's strings. They are more stable in varying humidity and have a two year guarantee for the gut core strings.
The question is- Does he have anything to offer that provides Eudoxa Sound? Supreme Arco and Pizz at the same time?
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You better discuss that with Gerold. You might even consider a visit to him in Berlin preferably with your instrument. Not that far away from Copenhagen and worth if you want to spend that much money for a set.
For me they are simply too expensive.
I have read here on Talkbass that someone had a broken winding after a very short time of using an Eudoxas set and didn't got a replacement from Pirastro. So I think it would be wise to look for alternatives with a better customer support and less sensitive strings.
But I think that guy with the bad experience was from the USA probably with a higher humidity swing than we have in Europe.
It's up to you, but you might still want to consider it before you order the Eudoxas.
The only drawback with Gerold is that he instantly develops his strings and after a whil you won't be able to get the same kind of set again, only improved versions. Sometimes you might feel different about the improvement, but I'm sure you can find a way to God it back and get a different set from Gerold if you are not happy with his improved set.
Thank you DoubleMIDI, I have actually considered them before, but I remember reading here that there really isn’t anything that matches Eudoxa sonically (the silver winding has a part here, as I don’t know any other string that has silver- correct me if I’m wrong). And I have bought the Eudoxa set already, so now it’s a matter of how they behave further down the line. Sonically, it’d be a shame if they went dead prematurely.
I do agree though that the price borders on the obscene. In terms of their behaviour, that sets the stakes pretty high (they just cannot die under 2 years play time, if I’m supposed to buy them again).
Best
Sidecar
"But I think that guy with the bad experience was from the USA probably with a higher humidity swing than we have in Europe."
Exactly. My post was based on 40+ years experience in upstate New York and NYC with Olivs, Eudoxas and other gut strings as well. Humidity and temperature swings are rough on all types of gut strings, especially wound strings. High humidity makes them swell, and when they dry out in low humidity, the winding stays where it was when the string was larger, causing it to loosen.
Exactly. My post was based on 40+ years experience in upstate New York and NYC with Olivs, Eudoxas and other gut strings as well. Humidity and temperature swings are rough on all types of gut strings, especially wound strings. High humidity makes them swell, and when they dry out in low humidity, the winding stays where it was when the string was larger, causing it to loosen.
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I'm joining the "that guy" crowd: I had them on my orchestra bass for six months last summer - and it was tuning hell; and while I loved the sound, the instability was just too much of a headache (I am in LA)
While I still don’t have any sound clips to post, I can inform the interested that they already start to detune less, meaning settle in. Still not quite there, but much better than yesterday. I feel the sound actually gets a little more brilliant as well- not at all in a bad way.
I practiced standing facing a corner today to hear nuances, and the heft of the tone, for lack of a better term, the “weight” of each note, is fantastic. At the same time phenomenal clarity and sustain when pizz’d, and glorious Arco tone. Volume wise up there with the Dominants (the hitherto loudest string I have ever played), but where the Dominants can get a little barky at times, this is huge volume with delicacy and refinement.
And the bass is really loosening up as well.
Ah, it’s wonderful.
Best
Sidecar
I practiced standing facing a corner today to hear nuances, and the heft of the tone, for lack of a better term, the “weight” of each note, is fantastic. At the same time phenomenal clarity and sustain when pizz’d, and glorious Arco tone. Volume wise up there with the Dominants (the hitherto loudest string I have ever played), but where the Dominants can get a little barky at times, this is huge volume with delicacy and refinement.
And the bass is really loosening up as well.
Ah, it’s wonderful.
Best
Sidecar
Some more observations:
The pizz sound is the ultimate best combination of fat, growly on the low notes and sustain across the board, IMO. Thumb Position pizz on Eudoxa makes Dominants seem thin and brittle in comparison- it’s the fattest sound I have ever achieved in thumb position.
Arco: While it’s hard to actually make them sound ugly, they have their specialties. Their sound on the wolf tones is easily choked if you don’t pay attention to pressure/arm weight. At the same time I feel as though it’s easier to control the wolves by playing with very light arm weight (Dominants just howl there, and it’s harder to make them sound good). They are far away from the brilliance of Dominants or Spiros, but they are still very much alive and singing- and they give a good feedback on technical issues such as bow angle, speed/weight ratio, or micro coordination between the hands, sloppy stopping etc. They sound fantastic when played really soft and can go really loud as well.
The E-string is maybe a little on the “sweet and tame” side, especially when coming from Dominants or Spirocores. It takes a little getting used to, to get more brilliance and cut-through. The sound is huge, though, and the E starts really fast as well.
To be fair, some of the strings I’ve tried through the years come close, especially in feel. The first association when I played them pizzicato was Compas 180, the actually feel very similar as far as I remember. (Sound wise- not so much). I have played somebody else’s bass with Evah weich, and their pizz sound is roughly in the same ballpark- haven’t tried them Arco though. Other than that... aged Dominants maybe. Though not as fat-sounding.
Best
Sidecar
The pizz sound is the ultimate best combination of fat, growly on the low notes and sustain across the board, IMO. Thumb Position pizz on Eudoxa makes Dominants seem thin and brittle in comparison- it’s the fattest sound I have ever achieved in thumb position.
Arco: While it’s hard to actually make them sound ugly, they have their specialties. Their sound on the wolf tones is easily choked if you don’t pay attention to pressure/arm weight. At the same time I feel as though it’s easier to control the wolves by playing with very light arm weight (Dominants just howl there, and it’s harder to make them sound good). They are far away from the brilliance of Dominants or Spiros, but they are still very much alive and singing- and they give a good feedback on technical issues such as bow angle, speed/weight ratio, or micro coordination between the hands, sloppy stopping etc. They sound fantastic when played really soft and can go really loud as well.
The E-string is maybe a little on the “sweet and tame” side, especially when coming from Dominants or Spirocores. It takes a little getting used to, to get more brilliance and cut-through. The sound is huge, though, and the E starts really fast as well.
To be fair, some of the strings I’ve tried through the years come close, especially in feel. The first association when I played them pizzicato was Compas 180, the actually feel very similar as far as I remember. (Sound wise- not so much). I have played somebody else’s bass with Evah weich, and their pizz sound is roughly in the same ballpark- haven’t tried them Arco though. Other than that... aged Dominants maybe. Though not as fat-sounding.
Best
Sidecar
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Really funny coincidence-
I am still in the process of rehearsing bows, and I’m going to get one of Jordan Scapinello’s. He’s a great player, and a phenomenal bow maker, and a fantastic guy. Anyways, I just visited him to get my last trial bow and told him about trying Eudoxa strings. First thing he says:
“You ever tried Dominants? They’re the best!”
Time will tell. But I can easily see myself go back to Dominants. I would miss Eudoxas feel, that’s for sure. It’s actually great and tough at the same time to have two holy grails.
About the “Queen Of Strings” (Pirastro marketing): They have settled in so that the tuning is not dropping disturbingly much anymore. Still feel great and sound great- although actually it seems like their break-in period yields more overtones instead of less like on other strings. Anyone here a gut expert who has some knowledge about this- maybe the core is hardening? If this goes on it might eventually become too much for my tastes.
Best
Sidecar
I am still in the process of rehearsing bows, and I’m going to get one of Jordan Scapinello’s. He’s a great player, and a phenomenal bow maker, and a fantastic guy. Anyways, I just visited him to get my last trial bow and told him about trying Eudoxa strings. First thing he says:
“You ever tried Dominants? They’re the best!”
Time will tell. But I can easily see myself go back to Dominants. I would miss Eudoxas feel, that’s for sure. It’s actually great and tough at the same time to have two holy grails.
About the “Queen Of Strings” (Pirastro marketing): They have settled in so that the tuning is not dropping disturbingly much anymore. Still feel great and sound great- although actually it seems like their break-in period yields more overtones instead of less like on other strings. Anyone here a gut expert who has some knowledge about this- maybe the core is hardening? If this goes on it might eventually become too much for my tastes.
Best
Sidecar
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Hats off for your gut experimenting @Mr Sidecar!!! I`d love to hear some clips!
Alright, the clips.
One pizz and one arco. Both done with state of the art monster recording equipment (my macbook pro internal mic) and representing me at the pinnacle of creativity and inventiveness. I especially do think that each and every c-major scale should start with the root just that bit off pitch. [/sarcasm]
Any percussion or vocals you might hear is my 15-month-old daughter totally digging the sound of wooden toys on wooden floor. Thrown. Any speedups you'll hear is me getting the panics because she actually might be hitting something remotely valuable.
Those clips are actually from when the Eudoxas had been on two days or so.
Digest. (Enjoy would be too much to ask).
Best
Sidecar
One pizz and one arco. Both done with state of the art monster recording equipment (my macbook pro internal mic) and representing me at the pinnacle of creativity and inventiveness. I especially do think that each and every c-major scale should start with the root just that bit off pitch. [/sarcasm]
Any percussion or vocals you might hear is my 15-month-old daughter totally digging the sound of wooden toys on wooden floor. Thrown. Any speedups you'll hear is me getting the panics because she actually might be hitting something remotely valuable.
Those clips are actually from when the Eudoxas had been on two days or so.
Digest. (Enjoy would be too much to ask).
Best
Sidecar
I'd love to try a Eudoxa D with my Spiro E&A and my Oliv G. The Olive G behaves very well on my bass, hardly ever have tuning problems. I didn't like the Oliv D and the Eudoxa might be a great option.
Sounds great, I hope you get some more time on them, than my time with them, a fragile string,but sound great and feel super!
