Double Bass Evah Pirazzi medium

[Bassman415]

My two cents for what it’s worth

I feel you have to mix the tensions offered within Evahs (and most of the pirastro line for that matter) to find the optimal set up. Evahs are finicky strings by nature due to the synthetic core. On some basses they sound great and on others you want to slit your wrists.

My experience with them has been good and bad. On my previous instrument which was a Tom Martin 4/4 made in 2008 the Evahs exacerbated my F# wolf and brought out new ones. I couldn’t take them off fast enough lol.

Now on my current old Italian bass I use the medium extended E, medium A, weich D and G and my bass loves them. Color, complexity, quick response, loud, and responsive. With this combo they really feel like a balanced set. A full set of mediums is too much tension imho as the d and g are insanely stiff and thick in diameter. I found the solo register of the medium g string was quite shrill and grainy sounding. Not the case with the weich. Id venture to say these strings suit older instruments better than more modern basses but if you were going to try them I would recommend the set up I mentioned with two mediums and two weich

 

[PBandJazzBass]

I’ve used both the regular and Weich sets as well as Weich G, D & A with a regular E.

I loved the acoustic sound. Possibly more than I do with my current set of Spirocores. Especially when playing by myself. But amplified and/or in a group context, they were very hit or miss. Tonally, they have a difficult time cutting through a mix. I frequently found myself “overplaying” which could lead to fatigue.

That being said, a lot of A-list players use them. So maybe I’m being too critical.

I’ll also add that the Evahs are possibly the most finicky strings as far as set up, sound post, bridge alignment, etc that I’ve tried. And I’ve tried A LOT of strings in my brief bass playing time on this planet.

On the other end of the spectrum, I think you could put Spiros on an old barrel and they’d sound fine.

 

[Selim]

most dealers seem to have EPs on most of their basses

My theory on that is that there is something about the basic tone of EPs that is initially very seductive - they give a “burnished” sound that shouts BASS. And that goes for pretty much every bass I’ve played with them on it. In other words, they can help sell the bass. Contrast that with trying out a bass in a shop with brand new Spiro mitts…

All this is not meant to be disparaging on the EPs in any way. They work nicely on basses and don’t work on others (just like every other bass string out there).

 

[MikeDavis]

I've tried looking through the mega thread but it seems like almost all of the discussion was about Weichs.

I was curious if anyone had any opinions on the mediums. I tried the Weichs on my old bass and I found that in thumb position they got a bit weak.

FWIW, my recollection is the first portion of the megathread is focused on the “Orchestral” set as the Weichs were not created until a little bit later.

I’m currently using the mediums and have had the set on for a few years and still enjoying them very much. After trying both sets, I prefer these over the Weich set.

 

[sean_on_bass]

something to keep in mind is that tension selection is very much bass dependent. hence moving to mediums may or may not be an upgrade depending on how your bass handles heavier strings.

 

[Leif Dering]

Thanks everyone for the replies. My bass currently has bel cantos and I like a lot about them but am looking for something slightly more punchy under the bow and a less boring jazz sound. I have a couple auditions next months but afterwards I may change to Evah mediums.

 

[pmad_bass]

Couple stream of consciousness questions re:comparison of the Evah Mediums to Flexocore Deluxe:

How does the stiffness/tension of the compare?
For me/maybe my perspective/bass: the FDs seem fairly high tension.

Is the stiffness of the Evan Mediums due to gauge?
Are they thicker than FDs?

Re: Tone: I have read folks describing the FDs as having a mid range focus to them. I will say I think the FDs def had more volume/character and brightness (not unpleasantly so but in a good way) on the D and G (arco) than the Bel Cantos it came with did. The BC were nice on the lower strings but a little tame and did not cut as well on the D & G. I would describe their tonal personality as a bit attenuated when compared to the FDs…though the BC were way easier to start under the bow compared to the FDs. Where might the Evah Meds come in by comparison (here maybe both to the FGDs and the BCs) re: arco playability/volume/tone/character?

I’ve heard the FDs described as a Hybrid string. I would largely agree/echo that sentiment….though I *think for me/my bass, they seem better for Arco than Pizz. Nothing’s perfect as we know…but if I had to rate on a scale of 50/50 (Arco/Pizz) I say the FDs are somewhere at about 65/35, where as I might put the BC at 80/20 (pizz/arco). How would folks that rate the Evah Mediums in this regard?

The FDs I have are about a year old…with the C/E extension string about three months short of that. I’m aking my bass to Mike Shank to have the fingerboard dressed and am contemplating using the opportunity to maybe give the Evah Mediums a go.

Thanks in advance!

 

[pmad_bass]

I'll be able to answer my own query (above) as I just pulled the trigger on the Mediums.

 

[BHBassman]

Hello Bass Bros. Love EPs-great & warm sounding “Hybrid” Bass String, and made my UBs sound good-but I’m having some doubts and considering a string change…
Only keep them on for a couple of years and am aware of humidity, weather, wear, etc.
I’ve used Gut, Spiros, D’Addario Heliocore, Kaplan Heavy, Zyex, Obligato, Eudoxa, Olives, Flexocore Orig (now on my EUB).
Pro Gigs:Jazz Combo & BB, Orchestra, Broadway Pit Shows, Rec, Studio, and have used both EP Reg & EP Weichs since they were out. Have EP Reg. on my full size UB (45 1/2” fingerboard nut-bridge)with a C-Ext., and EP Weichs on a 1940 Kay & a ‘40s American Standard UB.
The EPs sound great acoustically & with an amp(Underwood PU-various Bass Amps), but
some orchestra stand partners put EPs on & off(!) to change back to Flexocore Deluxe, Spirocore Weichs and even Belcanto.
I need to use a “Hybrid” string because of my Gig variety-want a warm sounding string that bows well & has a strong pizz.
FD was suggested by a friend as a better “ Hybrid choice-but I’m looking for a dark, powerful tone, and keep seeing FD tone descriptions as “bright”.
I’ll probably stay with EPs…
Thoughts?
Thanks.

 

[Lee Moses]

I’ll probably stay with EPs…

Based on everything you describe, that sounds like the right choice.

And EPs are not a good string to take off and put back on repeatedly, IMO.

 

[pmad_bass]

So, I have the Mediums on my bass now. While it had been about 3 years since I've had the Weichs on (during which time I was playing Felexocore Deluxe), I am please to say that I (me/my bass) do not find the mediums to be stiff. Arco wise they start a lot easier/smoother than the FDs. Pizz wise they feel better tension wise (albiet thicker gauged) than the FD. My .2 cents

 

[Francois Blais]

After some time you may find they feel stiffer though.
Several people have reported this change.

 

[AndersLasson]

So, I have the Mediums on my bass now. While it had been about 3 years since I've had the Weichs on (during which time I was playing Felexocore Deluxe), I am please to say that I (me/my bass) do not find the mediums to be stiff. Arco wise they start a lot easier/smoother than the FDs. Pizz wise they feel better tension wise (albiet thicker gauged) than the FD. My .2 cents

@pmad_bass : Any updates on the Evah Pirazzi Medium strings? Any changes over time?

 

[pmad_bass]

@AndersLasson I can't say that I have noticed at this point. Though was just thinking about that I may want to be cognizant of just the other day. I've had them on now for about sis months. I'll def be mindful to see if I notice anything in the months ahead.

-PM