You said it, Dave. With the originals, for me there was always the feeling that, at some point during any given evening at work, there probably was going to be something that I couldn't quite pull off. With the Weichs, I never have that feeling. They give me the same freedom of expression that I get from Spiro Weichs, but with a tone and volume level that just sounds better to me.
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Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part II
- Thread starter bonaventura
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Has anyone seen tension specs for EP Weichs? I know that Pirastro says they are 10% lower tension than regular EPs - but 10% of what?
Arghhh...I love and hate this forum! I've read dozens of posts and can't make up my mind on new strings. I've been playing DB for about 6 months. Love it. My laminate Meisel bass has Spirocore Weichs. Sounds good and I dig how the strings feel and play. BUT I'd like to get more 'push', more bite or articulation in my tone especially for soloing. I play jazz exclusively and my teacher only teaches me with a bow, so Evah's sound like the best crossover. Along with my desire for more volume, am I biting off more than I can chew going with standard Evah Mediums?
I love the idea of a bit more 'tension' on the string thus going to a heavier gauge but will I go 'backward' in playability? So...is EP Weichs a good step up in string to my Spiro Weichs? Or should I just bite the bullet and try for the EP Standards.
Please help me make this decision. Being a newbie there's just so much to digest. You guys are SO great....thanks for all your posts!
I love the idea of a bit more 'tension' on the string thus going to a heavier gauge but will I go 'backward' in playability? So...is EP Weichs a good step up in string to my Spiro Weichs? Or should I just bite the bullet and try for the EP Standards.
Please help me make this decision. Being a newbie there's just so much to digest. You guys are SO great....thanks for all your posts!
Hi chasyboy. I did not tried the Evah Weich but they are very popular right now. It is true that Evah Medium have good projection and big fundemantals. I find the Spiro Weich very easy to Bow. If your want more Push or articulation, maybe you should tried to find a teacher who can show you a good jazz pizzicatto and how to get volume from your bass. I personally have very good results with Spiro weich on my bass. IMHO
With only 6 months under your belt, stick with the Spiros, don't worry about strings yet. The Spiros are great strings, easier on the hands than even the Evah Weichs and will take you a long way. After a couple of years when your chops have come together, experiment then if you want (or now, I just don't think strings are going to make a difference for the better at this point in your development). Both Evah sets take more strength and endurance than Spiro Weichs, IMHO.
I tried the regular Evahs and they are significantly stiffer than Spiro Weichs. You'll also have to work much harder to get the same amount of articulation. I'd stay with the Spiro Weichs. They are an excellent all around string and will last for a very long time.
If you really want something other than the Spiro Weichs, try Spiro Mittels. Honestly, everyone should try Mittels. They are sort of the defacto standard for jazz upright bass and the one that every other string is compared to. Probably most common preparatory phrase to exit a professional bassist's mouth when discussing strings is "well compared to Mittels they are <fill in observation>"
Most importantly, before you jump headlong into the blackhole of trying different strings, you really need to learn to play. You'll just be wasting tons of money (like the rest of us) but not have the tools to really evaluate them. So, get a teacher who can teach you jazz pizz or spend 10 hours a day playing along with Ray Brown CDs until you sound like him. THEN and only then, you can waste all of your disposable income on strings most of which you won't use.
mark
If you really want something other than the Spiro Weichs, try Spiro Mittels. Honestly, everyone should try Mittels. They are sort of the defacto standard for jazz upright bass and the one that every other string is compared to. Probably most common preparatory phrase to exit a professional bassist's mouth when discussing strings is "well compared to Mittels they are <fill in observation>"
Most importantly, before you jump headlong into the blackhole of trying different strings, you really need to learn to play. You'll just be wasting tons of money (like the rest of us) but not have the tools to really evaluate them. So, get a teacher who can teach you jazz pizz or spend 10 hours a day playing along with Ray Brown CDs until you sound like him. THEN and only then, you can waste all of your disposable income on strings most of which you won't use.
mark
Thanks for all the great advice. I just got off the phone with Bob Gollihur and he said almost the same thing - stick with Spirocores over the Evah's mainly because I want to retain volume not reduce it (which the Evah's will do) and so I can have more solo articulation, bite and growl (Evah's are browner and warm). He did say I could go up to Mittels as an option, so thanks for confirming that advice.
With that said, I sure like John Clayton's and Charlie Haden's tone. Sure, I have many years to go but I play pretty steady now in a trio and have had good fortune converting from electric bass to upright. Can I get that deep, rich tone those guys have, in part, by going to a heavier string?
I read what people have to say about the Evah's and they 'sound' like the kind of strings that I want. My teacher makes me use a bow primarily because of being able to hear the intonation and technique development. I am just so curious about those Evah's.
Note: I have Obligatos on my EUB and I can handle those just fine...even for a 4 hour gig.
With that said, I sure like John Clayton's and Charlie Haden's tone. Sure, I have many years to go but I play pretty steady now in a trio and have had good fortune converting from electric bass to upright. Can I get that deep, rich tone those guys have, in part, by going to a heavier string?
I read what people have to say about the Evah's and they 'sound' like the kind of strings that I want. My teacher makes me use a bow primarily because of being able to hear the intonation and technique development. I am just so curious about those Evah's.
Note: I have Obligatos on my EUB and I can handle those just fine...even for a 4 hour gig.
I just had a set put on my bass today, and so far I really dig 'em. I had a set of Obligati replaced, so there is a certain element of similarity, but there are some nice differences right off the bat. I like the feel of them mostly so far: comfortable to play for me. They still have a tiny bit of new string metal zing, but I'm sure that'll mellow quickly enough. I'll give some more impressions as they break in a little. I've got a big gig coming up next Sunday, where they'll get their first trial, and I'm betting they'll come through smiling!
Charlie uses gut on his D and G and Spirocore Mittels on his E and A and I think Clayton use Spiro Weichs. While strings make a difference, most of that deep rich tone is in their fingers, hands and arms. Learn to pull the sound out of your bass. It's there, you just don't have the time on the instrument yet.
As for strings,I, personally, always preferred Mittels over Weichs soundwise; they seem to have more depth. But the drawback is they are harder to get around on. A lot of guys prefer the sound of the Weichs. If you HAVE to try something, give the Mittels a shot for two reasons: 1) you should have some experience with Mittels and 2) they are about $100 cheaper than a set of Evahs.
mark
As for strings,I, personally, always preferred Mittels over Weichs soundwise; they seem to have more depth. But the drawback is they are harder to get around on. A lot of guys prefer the sound of the Weichs. If you HAVE to try something, give the Mittels a shot for two reasons: 1) you should have some experience with Mittels and 2) they are about $100 cheaper than a set of Evahs.
mark
- May 6, 2003
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- Proprietor Fifth Avenue Fret Shop. Technical Editor Bass Gear Magazine
I wouldn't change a thing. The compulsion to reach for equipment and instrument changes to find a sound is expensive and futile.
The sound is in your instrument right this minute. Go find it. Don't stop practicing till you do.
The sound is in your instrument right this minute. Go find it. Don't stop practicing till you do.
I'm pretty sure John Clayton uses Evah Perazzi's. He has some pictures on his website and you can see the windings. He used Obligato's before that. But, I'm sure that he would sound like John Clayon using Spirocore's as well.
Mr. Clayton was pretty committed to Obligatos for a few years and I know he was testing Evah Pirazzis, but the last time someone asked about them when I was around he was non-committal about what he thought yet. I don't know if he stuck with them or not. I thought he sounded better with Obligatos, but I never quite understood how he was able to keep Obligatos together under his heavy hands.
I don't believe that he's used Spirocores in the last 6 years or so, that I've had some limited access to him. I think he endorsed/was endorsed by Thomastik Superflexibles before Obligatos.
His main bass is Ray Brown's old bass with violin corners and it's a fine instrument and his tone is mostly influenced by his awesome technique, which he also inherited from Ray Brown. He walked into a rehearsal I was in once, took my bass in the middle of the tune, turned off my amp and told me to go across the room and listen. He sounded like him, not like me and said I didn't need the amp. So, anyway, his strings or even his bass will not make you sound like him. Learning technique through arco is a good thing to do, but if you're working pizzicatto and are struggling, you need a lesson in it as well.
It's tough to get more articulation via strings than with Spirocore Weichs. If anything, you might try Spirocore Mittels, but they're going to be a bit more work under the bow. In my experience with EP Regulars, you will certainly get less articulation with them, than with Spirocores. They have a thing and it's cool, but it's not clarity over Spirocores.
I don't believe that he's used Spirocores in the last 6 years or so, that I've had some limited access to him. I think he endorsed/was endorsed by Thomastik Superflexibles before Obligatos.
His main bass is Ray Brown's old bass with violin corners and it's a fine instrument and his tone is mostly influenced by his awesome technique, which he also inherited from Ray Brown. He walked into a rehearsal I was in once, took my bass in the middle of the tune, turned off my amp and told me to go across the room and listen. He sounded like him, not like me and said I didn't need the amp. So, anyway, his strings or even his bass will not make you sound like him. Learning technique through arco is a good thing to do, but if you're working pizzicatto and are struggling, you need a lesson in it as well.
It's tough to get more articulation via strings than with Spirocore Weichs. If anything, you might try Spirocore Mittels, but they're going to be a bit more work under the bow. In my experience with EP Regulars, you will certainly get less articulation with them, than with Spirocores. They have a thing and it's cool, but it's not clarity over Spirocores.
Nope. Evahs are listed at $152.26 at Quinn, in any of the three gauges.
But I agree.... hang with the Spiros and play them for awhile, 'til you and the strings are both well broken in.
Sorry guys. I thought Evahs were more expensive than they are. I did a quick check a while ago and thought they were going for $270. I either read it wrong or was looking at a list price or something.
mark
mark
I put EP Weichs on this Tuesday. I was not immediately enchanted by them as most are. I may have been better off with the regular tension. I changed from Dominants and found the EP Ws to be wimpy in comparison. YRMV.
They are easier to bow than Dominants but the arco sound doesn't have any special character or charm for me.
After 5 days I am liking them more but I will probably go back to Dominants for the long haul. Just my 2 cents.
They are easier to bow than Dominants but the arco sound doesn't have any special character or charm for me.
After 5 days I am liking them more but I will probably go back to Dominants for the long haul. Just my 2 cents.
Ben
Coincidentally, I did that about half an hour ago and I like the results. I can dig in more. I think I'm going to like these strings as I get more accustomed to them. It's hard to let go of the power of Dominants but they had their own set of issues.
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