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Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part I

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#441
I got a set of nearly new Evah Perazzis in a trade and I've been trying them out today on my Strunal Hybrid bass. My first impressions are pretty darn positive. They're somewhat like Obligatos but they don't roll and aren't whiney. Deeper tone and with more decay. As many have commented, there's some comparison to Olives. I always liked Obligatos for arco but the EPs are even better -- a really beautiful arco tone and great response, very even.

As for pizz, my first impression was that I wished they were just a tad brighter, but they are growing on me. The E and A are excellent in the sense that they they have some sing and growl, but they still are deep and punchy. I'd think that these would be a better choice to pair with an Olive G&D than Eudoxa for that reason. Still, I like the EP G&D quite well, and considering the price, tuning issues, etc....

Personally, I've never been that crazy about mixing upper strings like Olive with different lower strings. ( although Eudoxa has been the best so far, a fairly similar string) There always seems to be differences in timbre, tension, bow response, how they sound amplified, etc. The Evah Perazzis have the punchy top but pizz-friendly bottom too, and with consistant tension and timbre, all in one package. Impressive!

I did try the E&A with my Gamut guts on my Kay bass for a minute. A decent match but..
I really feel that these sort of strings -- EPs, Olives, Eudoxas, some of the Innovations, i.e. a flatwound string with a gut or synthetic core -- are a different animal than plain and roundwound gut. They are darker and more subdued. They don't pop and snap the same way and sound different with a pickup. As a full set they are consistant, but paired with plain guts, there's some real differences that bug me.

Having said that, I've been having some problems with my Gamut wound A, but I'll post in the Gamut thread about that.

I'm going top leave the Evah Perazzis on for a while and see how they hold up. Overall, I like them very much.
 
#442
Progress:

Acoustically, the Evahs just continue to kick ass.

I had some problems with Saturday and Sunday's gigs though. Amplified, I wasn't really happy with the sound. Saturday's gig was low volume and the amp was more for presence than anything else so the amplified sound didn't make that much difference. Sunday's gig, on the other hand, was a concert without sound reinforcement so I had to play fairly loud. I really didn't like the sound. Way too dark. To use the Evahs, I'll have to modify my rig for the first time in several years.

On my '28 Juzek, I use a BP-100 into a Focus 2 into 2 AI cabinets. The AI cabinets are dark cabinets. They helped to take some of the edge off of the BP-100 with Spiros. The Evahs are already dark and unedgy so the sound through the amp was really dark and both gigs were in dark sounding rooms which made the problem even worse. I just tried a Wizzy 10 with the above rig and it sounds 10 times better. I had tried the Wizzy when I used Spiros and hated it. Fingernails on the blackboard bright. But with the Evahs, it sounds really nice.

I'm going to try the Focus into the Wizzy for tomorrow's gig which is also a concert. Will report back.

Even if this doesn't work, I'm probably going to leave the Evahs on the bass. The acoustic sound is so good and so loud that my opportunities to play without an amp have at least doubled. I'll probably take the guts off of the '74 and put a Dom G and D and a Mittel E and A on it and try to work it up as a loud bass. I still have Spiros on my Kolstein (just put a Stark E on it) which would also work for loud gigs. When I get my '32 back, I'll put the guts on it.

mark
 
#443
I just ordered a set of EP's based on what I have been hearing...including this discussion. I have read most of the posts, I think, and am wondering if anyone can comment on the feel and performance of the Evah's vs. Bel Cantos.

I don't have experience with either string. I am playing arco, primarily, with some jazz pizz, on a new bass...

Anyone? Or have you all discussed this comparison extensively already and I just looked in the wrong place? If so, please forgive my callow inquiry...

Thanks,
Eric
 
#444
I'm also continuing to be very impressed with the Evah Pirazzis. I've done some recording with them and they sound great in front of a mic. Also good with a DI using a Rev Solo pickup. Fantastic arco!

I did one rehearsal with a jazz vocalist, played through an amp and they were a little muddy sounding. I also used them on a louder gig where I usually play my gut bass. They were OK but not quite cutting like the guts. Once again, this was with the Rev Solo pickup. To be fair, I should try them with the Underwood for the louder gigs.

I generally think that pickups like the Rev Solo, the Realist and the Full Circle sound better with steel strings. (at least for live) Those pickups are all sort of microphonic and dark and compliment the steel strings. But I always like the Underwood best for gut strings through an amp. The Underwood is bright and edgy and that seems to balance out with guts.

I also have never really liked Olives/Eudoxas with a pickup. Same issues as the EPs. Innovation 140s likewise. My conclusion is that plain and roundwound gut are brighter than these flatwound strings and have more snap and "oomph" that translates when amplified. Even the roundwound Supernils sound decent and give a good amplified "gut" effect with a pickup. However, all of those flatwound strings sound great unamplified or just with a mic, and they all are excellent for arco.

My son got a great sound with a Realist and Superflexibles. Now he's an Obligato guy and still gets a good sound, but I think his amplified sound was better with the Superflexes. I've heard a lot of people get a good sound with Spirocores and a Full Circle or Realist.

Nevertheless, the EPs are great strings, the best hybrid I've tried that has a punchy pizz and great arco. (loved those Animas except for the arco!) I'll have to experiment some more with amplifying the Evahs.
 
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#446
T-Bal said:
Bobby, I think you make some good observations, if they are true in most cases. I don't know, I've never used plain gut. So you think a string like the Oliv is darker than a Gamut, for example?
Click to expand...

I do think Olive is darker, and a "tighter" sound. These things are subjective and others may disagree. While plain gut is usually associated with a dark sound, they actually have a kind of brightness of their own. Different than a Spirocore for sure, but it has a "snap" that comes through when amplified. The problems I have with plain gut are that they are harder to get a clear pitch in higher positions and I don't like bowing on them. I don't recommend them for everyone, it depends on the music you're playing. This thread, about Evah Pirazzis, has raised the issue of how these strings amplify with a pickup. Several people who otherwise love the strings have remarked that they've had issues with the amplified sound. I think I've noticed that (for me anyway) this is common with some of the flatwound gut and synthetic core strings. But those strings often address the other issues of bowablity and are clearer throughout the whole range. So it's always tradeoffs it seems. I'm lucky to have two basses so I can have options.
 
#447
I have a very positive experience when using the EPs through an amplifier. I am using a 1960s Pöllmann Gamba (which is a terrific jazz instrument to begin with), a Full Circle and an Acoustic Image Coda III. In fact, at certain volumes it is difficult to tell if the amp is on or not. I have had several people ask me whether I was using an amp (I like that). After first soft-seater concert I did with a group I regularly play with, the guys were all asking what I did to my bass. They all liked it before, but now it is even better sounding. Their remark was that it sounded very warm and rich, but with a clear "point" to the notes. That group is a loud post-bop style group, and I was using my amp on stage, with a line to the mains. From my point of view, having used guts for years, these are the best string I have ever played. Period.

For those of you who are getting string comparison vertigo, I would like to mention that in my experience, a great deal of the perception of any string, pickup, amp, or for that matter, bass, is due to a combination of your expectations (the "ideal" sound in your head), and what you are used to (the last sound you heard). I am saying this to caution those who might otherwise be tempted to take someone else's subjective (but nevertheless valid) experience too seriously or literally. You really have to find out for yourself, with your own gear and playing style.
 
#448
jazz bass guy said:
I am saying this to caution those who might otherwise be tempted to take someone else's subjective (but nevertheless valid) experience too seriously or literally. You really have to find out for yourself, with your own gear and playing style.
Click to expand...
+1

Thats a good caveat for the whole string category.
 
#449
Tonight's progress:

Replaced the AI cabinets with a Wizzy 10 and a brand new Focus 2R that came in the mail yesterday. I had it modified so that one of the inputs has a 10Mohm input so I don't need a pre-amp.

The amplified sound was much better but still not great. With the Wizzy, the sound wasn't muddy which is good. Like the acoustic sound (which is killer), the sound and response is very even across and up the neck which is also good. However, the attack is so strong and the fundamental is so present that amplified I feel like I'm playing a bass marimba sometimes. Amplified, I can't seem to get much nuance in the sound. It is predominantly heavy attack. It is so easy to get these strings vibrating that they kind of take on a life of their own.

I haven't decided if I'm going to keep these babies on or not. I might move them to my gut bass and put the dom/spiro mix back on the steel bass. I can't tell yet if I'm going to get use to the amplified sound and learn to work with it or if it is too far from what I'm going for.

It's been a depressing couple of gigs. Nothing sucks but I'm definitely not hitting it like I'm used to. I'm taking the Kolstein to tomorrow's gig.

mark
 
#450
I now have an EP G string replacing a Eudoxa. Its matched with Pyramid Soloflex's and a Spiro Mittel E on my Eberle ply.
After a couple of days the G has settled in nicely and opened up. Good volume and tone. Tension is great. Mixes well with the other strings.
Its staying on.
Problem now is....do I order the other three EP's and gamble on the chance they will sound better than the Soloflex/Spiro combination which I really like?
I am now waiting for reports on how long the EP's will last before the tone starts to go.
Then I will decide what to do. Other than that, I can now understand why EP's may be the first string that has almost universal appeal to posters on this forum since I joined years ago.
 
#451
Ehh... if you like what you have on there, I don't see the point in changing it unless the strings are dead/dying. I'm in the E-P lovefest camp at the moment, but I wouldn't have tried them if my Spiros weren't doing it for me when I ordered them. I just wanted a different sound.

That said, they do work extraordinarily well as a set. I'm only using my amps sporadically now, as they're just not needed on many gigs. A friend who's a monster DBist strolled into my (unamped) gig last night, and commented on the projection of my bass. He said he could hear it all the way out in the valet parking area.
 
#452
Marcus Johnson said:
Ehh... if you like what you have on there, I don't see the point in changing it unless the strings are dead/dying. I'm in the E-P lovefest camp at the moment, but I wouldn't have tried them if my Spiros weren't doing it for me when I ordered them. I just wanted a different sound.

That said, they do work extraordinarily well as a set. I'm only using my amps sporadically now, as they're just not needed on many gigs. A friend who's a monster DBist strolled into my (unamped) gig last night, and commented on the projection of my bass. He said he could hear it all the way out in the valet parking area.
Click to expand...

Marcus:

Story of my life....a perpetual state of string envy. Do I or don't I?
I will be doing my regular club job tomorrow night so I'll have a chance to hear the EP G through the PA.
I don't expect that will change much though. I'm from the "if the bass sounds good on its own to heck with the PA. I can dial up whats missing if necessary when I plug in" school. I adopted that attitude after I heard one the worst-sounding plys I had ever heard sound fine when it was plugged in. :hmm:

My Soloflex will be due for a change once the "EP longevity" threads begin a few months from now so I'll have to see if I can last that long.....
 
#453
Well I've used the Ep's on my German bass for a few weeks and a bunch of gigs now. Deffinately makes me want to play this bass more. Acoustic sound and arco continue to be loud and nice. The amplified sound is deffinately different than Spiros w/ a Realist. Maybe not as powerful and robust as the acoustic sound, but totally usable w/ nice point to the upper register. Eventhough these strings are deffinately darker I find myself dialing out some mids w/ the amp for they have plenty of punch. I'm really loving the dynamic range of these strings. They speak well at ppp and really can cut thru when you hit them hard. I have lowered the string height just a tad w/the slightly increased tension, but I might have done this anyway since the bass just came back up to NJ from FL. Like Marcus has said eventhough the string tension seems a bit more than Spiros or Superflexes the left hand feel is softer and a bit easier on the fingertips. I'm really enjoying them and I believe that they are speaking a bit clearer as they break in. This is really making me curious about what they might sound like on my Prescott. Maybe they wouldn't be too dark after all? One slight minus so far. Although I love the sound and response of the E acoustically, through the amp it seems a bit more fuzzy than the other three. I do love the lack of hesitation when switching to arco. All around great strings. We'll see how things develope. BG
 
#454
Seems that many people like these things. So I guess the next question (other than availability) is one of durability and lifespan. Time will tell. If they hang in there for a reasonable amount of time, I have to consider them one of the great bargains in the DB world.
 
#455
I'm giving up on the Evahs on my main bass.

They're loud and even across the bass but I need a little more mwwaah and a little less thump. I just can't get enough expression out of them. Dom G and Spiro everything else is going back on. I need my overtones back. I still think the Evahs are nicer acoustically but after 4 gigs, the Spiros are better amplified.

The Evahs are either going to be put on my gut bass in place of the Gamuts to be used as a strictly acoustic bass or I'm going to try them on the Kolstein but they are coming off of the main bass.

mark
 
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#456
I apologize if this question has already been asked and answered. How are the EP's in terms of darkness/brightness? I'm considering getting at least the D and G, but I'm having some second thoughts. I've used the Dominant D and G, which were just too dark for my already dark bass, and I'm thinking the EP's may be a little too dark as well. How do EP's compare to the Dominants in these terms?
 
#457
Phil Rowan said:
I apologize if this question has already been asked and answered. How are the EP's in terms of darkness/brightness? I'm considering getting at least the D and G, but I'm having some second thoughts. I've used the Dominant D and G, which were just too dark for my already dark bass, and I'm thinking the EP's may be a little too dark as well. How do EP's compare to the Dominants in these terms?
Click to expand...
Darker than Dominants. Quite a bit.
 
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