Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part I

[Uncletoad]

Ah, you must mean the room with the door marked "community orchestra tryouts".

Back, Back, Back, Back, Back.....GONE!

Home run for the Big Johnson.

 

[MR PC]

Ah, you must mean the room with the door marked "community orchestra tryouts".

Yeah, that's it, here tell, praise the Family Bible and everything else. That would be the door under Willie Nelson's wig.

Loved the Evah's 'till I didn't. It didn't take very long for that to happen.....

 

[Michael Eisenman]

But seriously, now.

I installed my first set of Evahs this morning. I lubed up all the slots really well. As they stretched during the course of the day, I kept tuning them up and had to knock the bridge back slightly a few times.

I practiced this evening (definitely easier to bow than Spiros), and after I finished I wiped the rosin off of the strings. As I was cleaning the E string, I noticed that the cloth was catching a bit on the winding. Turns out that the winding was sliding along the string as I wiped it. E string only, and otherwise seems okay.

Has anyone else noticed this, and if so, is it a problem; that is, does it get worse?

Thx,
Michael

 

[Stan Haskins]

I played these for the first time yesterday (three sets, outdoors, amplified -probably a 20 degree drop in temperature from the beginning of the day till packing up after sunset).

They sound really good amped for jazz. I did notice the "roll" people are talking about. Just the A string - it felt like the winding and the core are separate - the winding twists a little bit while the core stays put. Not a big problem, but it feels weird. Didn't notice the sliding you mentioned, though

The "rolling" seemed to get worse as the temp dropped.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Seems that if the core is going to stretch as much as it does, the wrap has to loosen up to compensate. Like pulling on a spiral spring.

It's very slight at this point; I'll monitor it.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

The Evahs haven't done that stretch thing at all, they've been solid and stable since day one.... Olivs did a little, but to be fair, they were well-used when I got them.

 

[Monte]

The Evahs haven't done that stretch thing at all, they've been solid and stable since day one.... Olivs did a little, but to be fair, they were well-used when I got them.

Ditto here. Just the normal stretch for a bit right after while they tighten to pitch.

As far as my progress on these so far.....G has loosened up as promised. Just put my new E string on a few hours ago. So far I like what I hear.

I am very tempted by the Oliv G that I just saw in my piano bench. It looks to be still in great shape.

However, I am very much a believer in leaving strings on awhile. I have a hunch that taking off non-steel strings takes about 3 months off the life span, so I'm going to stick with the all EP set for awhile.

 

[Damon Rondeau]

Me neither -- no stretching, and absolutely no rolling. I hate rolling.

 

[Uncletoad]

I am very tempted by the Oliv G that I just saw in my piano bench. It looks to be still in great shape.

However, I am very much a believer in leaving strings on awhile. I have a hunch that taking off non-steel strings takes about 3 months off the life span, so I'm going to stick with the all EP set for awhile.

Having played both the Oliv and the Evah G string I don't think I'd go out of my way to put an Oliv on top of the Evah set. While the Oliv G is a richer more complex tone it isn't so by much and really only in direct comparison. The spector of breakage would always make me uneasy about playing the Oliv G without reservation. I felt that way the entire time I've had olivs on one of my basses. As soon as I put some steel or plain gut on there I relaxed just a tad.

That's just my psychosis I suppose.

 

[Monte]

Having played both the Oliv and the Evah G string I don't think I'd go out of my way to put an Oliv on top of the Evah set. While the Oliv G is a richer more complex tone it isn't so by much and really only in direct comparison. The spector of breakage would always make me uneasy about playing the Oliv G without reservation. I felt that way the entire time I've had olivs on one of my basses. As soon as I put some steel or plain gut on there I relaxed just a tad.

That's just my psychosis I suppose.

Probably so. Although the windings do separate after awhile, I've never broke an Oliv in probably at least 4 years (total) of having a D & G on.

That was playing a lot of gigs no amp, and I tend to pull pretty hard.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

That's just my psychosis I suppose.

Probably not. I loved that Oliv G you gave me, and when it broke, it took a big chunk of my heart with it. It's kept me from going back to the Oliv G so far. Can't stand the heartbreak.

Cue the fiddles.

 

[Michael Eisenman]

Ditto here. Just the normal stretch for a bit right after while they tighten to pitch.

That's what I'm talking about. I put them on only yesterday; they're still looking for their pitches. I expect that from all strings.

 

[Mark Clout]

Can anyone tell me how the Evah's compare with Dominants for orchestral work?

 

[Stan Haskins]

This A string is a KILLER! So much power. G string, not so good.

I'm waiting to see if the whole set mellows out some - The strings as a set can be a little raucous under the bow. Tradeoff for having a good jazz pizz sound, I guess.

If they don't settle down some in the next couple of weeks, I'm thinking of mixing in some Permanents to see how they fit . . . Olivs are too darned pricey.

This EP A string is sure a keeper, though.

 

[MR PC]

This A string is a KILLER! So much power. G string, not so good. This EP A string is sure a keeper, though.

Reflects my feelings/experience about the set. Problem is that the A string sounds that way with the full set on. When you start mixing it up with other brands, everything changes.

String Roulette.

 

[Downright_Low]

It's interesting how the synergy of tension within a set can be thrown off or tweaked by mixing strings, leading to different overall harmony/blend from string to string. I wonder how a heavy E would affect things, in general, when the other strings are lighter - despite basses being different. Some people like a set to be completely even, but I have to wonder what would happen with volume/pressure all around when strings are varied in weight/gauge. Perhaps the results would be completely obvious - lighter or heavier sound following right with the strings. Somethings with the bass are totally obvious and natural...

 

[downneck]

It's interesting how the synergy of tension within a set can be thrown off or tweaked by mixing strings, leading to different overall harmony/blend from string to string. I wonder how a heavy E would affect things, in general, when the other strings are lighter - despite basses being different. Some people like a set to be completely even, but I have to wonder what would happen with volume/pressure all around when strings are varied in weight/gauge. Perhaps the results would be completely obvious - lighter or heavier sound following right with the strings. Somethings with the bass are totally obvious and natural...

it depends greatly on the bass, the setup, and on the other strings...for example, lots of people have found that a stark E opens up a set of spiro mittels, but on my bass the tension was just too much and, while the other strings *felt* looser in comparison, the sound just tightened up all the way across and got thin and tinny. not to mention all the other adjustments (internals, afterlength, bridge, etc) that go into making a bass shake the way it ought.

 

[Tom Baldwin]

Anybody who otherwise likes the Evahs have a problem with the D string? Right now I've got 3 EPs with a Jazzer E. The G and A sound good, but the D is unfocused, mushy, and even the pitch seems to waiver. I wonder if it's a dud, but I had a similar experience with the Obligato D on two different basses. So, is it just me?

 

[Tom Baldwin]

I have concluded that for now the EP set is not for me, but I'm keeping the Evah G with a Dominant D, Jazzer A&E. I've had this mix working for 9 months, which is pretty good in the world of string insanity!

 

[Dave Whitla]

I just put an Olive G on top of Evahs. It's still stretching out, but the sound is pretty enticing (so sad, since I was pretty happy with the EP G).

I've already had to crank the bridge up though, to reduce the gut string razzing on the fingerboard. That's got me thinking about putting an Olive D on, since I have to raise the action anyway and maybe the D will sound as cool as the G....

My questions are- Is it normal to have to raise the action significantly for gut strings? And has anyone using Evahs put Olives on both the G and D, and what did they think?