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Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part I

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#401
Well, I guess I don't have any patience when it comes to strings. If a string takes a couple days to settle in, then fine. When you start talking about 2-3 weeks, I don't see myself tolerating it with the hope that maybe one day it will come around. That's my problem but I can live with it.

I'm back to the Spiro D, but it occured to me to try the rubber washer to take the raspy edge off. Whaddayaknow, it really works! Everything is nice and balanced now.

Gotta go practice...
 
#402
Okay, I've spent the last three or four months with a Belcanto ext. E and regular A on with Spiro solo E/A tuned down to D/G. I've been loving the feel and all, but I just don't get the beef I'd like from the arco. Now that I'm doing a bunch of pizz work with the Rufus Reid dvd and book, I'm noticing just how floppy the tuned-down solos feel, and how thunky-dead the BC's are.

I just put on the EP A on and it blends very well with the Spiros, moreso after 24 hours. I'm tempted to switch out the Spiro solo-e-tuned-d with the EP d and to give it a few days to see how it goes. I really like the Spiro G, so I'm hard-pressed to give it up.

Now, my question: how many of you are judging your sound based mainly on the amplified results versus the acoustic results (or a mixture of each)?
 
#403
Basschair said:
Now, my question: how many of you are judging your sound based mainly on the amplified results versus the acoustic results (or a mixture of each)?
Click to expand...
Definitely the latter. I'm lucky enough to be able to play a lot of acoustic gigs, so having a great acoustic sound is of paramount importance to me; and in my experience, a good acoustic sound translates into a good amplified sound. IMHO.
 
#407
Basschair said:
Now, my question: how many of you are judging your sound based mainly on the amplified results versus the acoustic results (or a mixture of each)?
Click to expand...
Acoustic only. It's gotta work for me acoustically first. If there turns out to be a problem ampifying, I'll try to deal with it in that part of the chain (pickup, EQ, head, cab, whatever). If you somehow manage to have a great acoustic sound and a bad amplified sound, I wouldn't be looking at strings for a solution.

Just IMO, naturally.
 
#408
. . . and they're still kicking my ass! They sound so good. Full, round, and louder than anything else I've ever put on this bass. Big bottom and fundamental, with just a little edge on top. Huge sound, with way less effort in making it (a la Spirocores). I continue to stuff the ballot box on these strings. They're exceptional and, well . . .

. . . I can't stop playing!
 
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#409
Played an amped gig tonight. Mix of Jazz tunes, blues tunes rock etc. Strings were great. Not a fan of the E but it works well with the set. Amped tone is dark and kinda tubby with the Full Circle/ VL208. A little less distinct and tight than with spiros on the bottom and a bit more clear and less bottom on the top strings where the Gut usually lives. Best non Gut or Gut core G string I've used.

Really a great set. I could live with these for awhile.

Not gonna. I miss the Stark E spiro and the Gut G string. I think I have found a voice in them that works for me as hard to play as they are. If I hadn't played gut I'd use the EP A/D/G with a Stark E Spiro and be totally happy.

Prolly go back where I was though.

I'm gonna put EP on my backup old Joe German plywood bass and see how they do on there. I have a feeling they could be a real godsend for ply's that are weak on the bottom.
 
#410
Thanks for the comments guys. Sometimes I don't trust my ears to hear all of the character flaws in strings acoustically, and feel the need to amp it to get a better idea of the sound. Still, it doesn't make much sense unless I've got an absolutely pure amp'd sound, or a sound that I am fully familiar with. At any rate, I think I'll take the plunge and put on the D/G and give them a few days to see how they do. I do love the Spiro solo E/A-tuned-down, but they are just a bit too relaxed in the sound at times...
 
#411
Response to your question about pirazzi-flex o.

For your reference let me describe my bass. I use my bass for all gigs- jazz to orchestra and everything. I play an Italian flatback 3/4 bass with tight punchy sound and response. The Flex Orig.'s were the strings of choice for me an my bass. FlexO's were about the only thing I could put on my bass and like- sound wise.- especially the D+G strings. I have used spirocores on the E+A strings, too.

I just replaced Flex Org with Evah Pirazzis. The EP's are thicker, though the tension is about the same. They bow well, but perhaps not as easily as the FlexO.s The sound is comparable in volume, but due to the thicker strings I find the sound is fatter. It is definitely a "ropier" sound. EP's have a Better pizz, too- more like the Olive sound.

I find the EP's to be more comparable to the FlexO's than Obligatos, actually. On my bass, they respond sound, and feel more like the Flex O.'s. I hate the Obligatos on my bass.
I am now (3days later) committed to using the EP's. I think they sound better and double better between pizz and arco work. They are harder to handle up high, though, so be warned. I'll have that to work on.

Hope that helps.
-Seaybass
 
#412
They allow me do work comfortably without a net... er, amp... in many cases. They aren't as devastatingly loud as Animas, or as a set of good guts is likely to be, but they're pretty close. As I mentioned in another thread, I played almost a whole set unamped by accident last week (forgot to turn the speaker on after a break) and it was fine.

I like that I can really dig deep into them and they just keep coming. They are sounding less and less "generic" (something I accused them of earlier) the more I get used to manipulating them. They aren't really "autopilot" strings IMHO... you have to work 'em a little to get the best results. That's fine with me, 'cause I ain't dead yet. I'm also really getting a kick out of jumping into arco solos without having that moment of "hmmm.... dare I?"
 
#413
Marcus Johnson said:
They are sounding less and less "generic" (something I accused them of earlier) the more I get used to manipulating them. They aren't really "autopilot" strings IMHO... you have to work 'em a little to get the best results. That's fine with me, 'cause I ain't dead yet. I'm also really getting a kick out of jumping into arco solos without having that moment of "hmmm.... dare I?"
Click to expand...
Yea. I wondered about that. I don't have the patience to break them in just yet. I like the way they sound for me under the bow. They make arco whole lot easier than Guts and Spirocores.

Without doubt these are the journeyman bass players one size fits all string.
 
#414
Uncletoad said:
Yea. I wondered about that. I don't have the patience to break them in just yet. I like the way they sound for me under the bow. They make arco whole lot easier than Guts and Spirocores.

Without doubt these are the journeyman bass players one size fits all string.
Click to expand...

Just got my German bass back up to NJ from Miami. I decided to put my new set of EP's on that rather than the Prescott.
The German is brighter and is more in need of a louder, darker string. The already dark and lush Prescott does fine w/ Spriro Mittels w/ a Superflex G as a counterbalance to its darker sound. The rusult is robust, but clear, to-die-for pizz sound. But I do long for easier bowing lower strings.

Just put the EP's on the German taking off newish Flatchromsteels that I was experimenting with.

First impressions: Piz; Deffinately thicker, darker, 'ropier'. Nice warm G sound. Less pingy than Spiros or FC's. Nicely balanced set. I can see what you guys mean about the E needing to break in. Definately makes this bass louder. Could be just what the Dr. ordered for this bass. There's some growl down there, but not like Spiros.
Maybe a little more work than the FC's, but I'm enjoying the volume.

Arco; seems pretty outstandig. All the strings including the lower ones get started pretty easily. More robust and pleasantly darker than FC's. Can't help wondering what they would feel like under the bow on the Prescott.

BG
 
#417
Well, maybe that's a thread by itself. I find the opposite to be true; the acoustic character helps me to make the choice of strings, and then I attempt to recreate that sound at a louder volume through amplification if needed. I can see your point, though... these strings sound overly dark through my amps, while Spiros are very brittle amplified unless I tweak them. Again, it's no big deal; I have the Raven Labs and the iAmp, so I've got more than enough tonal control.
 
#418
Marcus Johnson said:
Well, maybe that's a thread by itself. I find the opposite to be true; the acoustic character helps me to make the choice of strings, and then I attempt to recreate that sound at a louder volume ....
Click to expand...
It is a whole nuther thread. I don't know if we have done that directly or not.

I so rarely play out without an amp that the amplified sound is crucial to my overall thing. I see my sound as an acoustic instrument and as an amplified acoustic instrument as two different things. I'm not a "my bass only louder" kinda fellow. I'm far from a purist and wouldn't suggest anyone look at things that way if they don't want to.

I address acoustic and electric sounds as separate but I do so simultaneously. Each component must function well and sound good in both cases, but they don't have to sound the same.

There have been strings I liked amplified that I didn't dig acoustic so I disregarded them. Likewise there are some strings that sounded great off the bass acoustically but sounded terrible through the amp, I disregard them too.
 
#420
Down the road a bit.... I had "bad hands" last night... couldn't seem to get 'em going! It still happens from time to time. So I concentrated on solid time and simple soloing. Tonight will be fine, I'm sure... I spent all yesterday roofing my shed, so I guess that's my excuse.

Anyway... these things really seem to be getting LOUD. I mean Anima-level loud (but with more focus). Maybe the bass and I are getting accustomed to them. I think the pickup that I have does them a bit of a disservice. They are cannons all by themselves.

The PA (Bose L1/B1) is not necessary at my regular gig at the moment. As I mentioned before, it sounds bigger to me without it. The E has stepped up to the plate and matches the rest of the set perfectly now. Seems patience is a virtue with these strings. I need to get my AMT mic cable fixed (again! :rolleyes:), because I think that will work well with these. They sound great with the amp as well, I'll be doing that tonight.

Arco is ridiculous. Can't begin to say how much fun I'm having with the bow. Life is good. If there's a better all-round string for my purposes, I don't know what it would be.
 
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