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Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part II

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#341
ehochberg said:
...after the big front end pop/thump, the sustain, while there, is quite a bit darker than Spiros and other brighter strings. I enjoy playing EPWs quite a bit but I think the sound might be a bit old school for some.
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Agreed. I do wish they had a bit more sustain but, all things considered, I really like their old school sound.
 
#342
BCAlbin said:
...The tension of the EPWs is the best part; a very playable, "buttery" feel. Nothing like the high tension of the EP standards that I've read about.

...Great arco. The EPWs make even my ham-fisted bowing sound nice! Easy attack.

...I came up with what I thought might be a good mixed set of Pirastro strings (EPW E/A, EP Standard D, Oliv G) and wrote to Pirastro for advice before purchasing them

....And eventually, I want to purchase the EPW D/G just to give the full set a fair shake as durub had advised.

...I miss the overtones and growl of the Spiros a little, but the Evahs come pretty darn close to the sound in my head and I think I'll stick with them a while...
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A fine review-- thanks for all that detail. Your experience sure matches mine. It still amazes me how across all these basses and preferences, there is such a consistent experience. I hope you'll report back when you try the full set of EPWs. Not sure how the regular D would fare with the weich E and A. I don't think that would work for me given their different feel and sound. Curious to know what you find if you throw on that D before you switch to the full EPW set.
 
#343
drurb said:
I hope you'll report back when you try the full set of EPWs.
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Will do and thanks durub. My original intent with the EP standard D was; it would be a good "crossover" string to "marry" the gut and the weichs. This was, of course, before I had tried the EPW E/A. I now feel that the EPW D would most likely "crossover" just fine. As I mentioned, the EPWs are much less growly than I had expected and match very nicely with the Olivs. In the EP standard D, I was predicting a 'middle-of-the-road" string. But, to my ears, there's no need for any sort of "crossover" from the weichs to the gut.

In hindsight, heeding the advice of more experienced, senior players/members (;)) probably would have been the most prudent decision. Thanks to Adrian at Pirastro, my experimentation won't prove as costly as as it could have been. I do love the Olivs on top but have a feeling that the full EPW set (or EPW w/ Oliv G) would have pleased me just as well. I'll post as the story unfolds...and my bank account dwindles...

-BCA
 
#344
Adrian is truly helpful and kind. He sent me a test set of the weichs after I had already purchased the regulars. I'm hooked.
 
#345
I just ordered a set of the EP Weichs and I eagerly await their arrival! I've been using EP regular G&D with Spiros on the E&A (I've used both weich and mittel). I was thinking of just ordering the EP Weich E&A, because I like the regular G&D just fine, but a bunch of folks here advised against mixing them. I recall the EP regular E&A being a little stiff and dull sounding.

I've gone through a lot of string changes recently, mostly because I only have one bass now. I've put the gut habit aside for the time being because I like to practice arco and I hate bowing on plain gut. I like Spirocores quite a bit, but for much of the Nashville stuff that I do, they're just a bit too "steely", especially the high strings. The Spiro/Evah mixes have worked well, but I still would like to go darker on the bottom. So, I have high hopes for the EP Weichs, based on what I've been reading.
 
#346
Bobby King said:
I just ordered a set of the EP Weichs and I eagerly await their arrival! I've been using EP regular G&D with Spiros on the E&A (I've used both weich and mittel). I was thinking of just ordering the EP Weich E&A, because I like the regular G&D just fine, but a bunch of folks here advised against mixing them. I recall the EP regular E&A being a little stiff and dull sounding.

I've gone through a lot of string changes recently, mostly because I only have one bass now. I've put the gut habit aside for the time being because I like to practice arco and I hate bowing on plain gut. I like Spirocores quite a bit, but for much of the Nashville stuff that I do, they're just a bit too "steely", especially the high strings. The Spiro/Evah mixes have worked well, but I still would like to go darker on the bottom. So, I have high hopes for the EP Weichs, based on what I've been reading.
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Sounds about right. Having similar thoughts. Glad you went there first. Be sure to let me know they suck so I can save my $$$.
 
#348
Bobby King said:
...I like Spirocores quite a bit, but for much of the Nashville stuff that I do, they're just a bit too "steely", especially the high strings. The Spiro/Evah mixes have worked well, but I still would like to go darker on the bottom. So, I have high hopes for the EP Weichs, based on what I've been reading.
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Well, then I think you're gonna be really happy! As I've said before, I like the EP weich G much better than the regular.
 
#349
So far I really like them. There's alot of similarity to the Obligatos (no surprise), but I'm hearing the improvements of the EPs over the Oblis to. So far the G seems a little bright compared to the Obli (I'm really talking arco here), but I haven't had them on that long... just over a week. They're settling in nicely, and have only taken a few days to hold their tuning. They sound great acoustic and they seem to be well represented amplified too (RSII -> Fdeck HPF --> PA or amp). The fundamental is strong, as folks have said. I love the open E on my bass, nice and strong! I'm having a much easier time bowing these than the Obligatos too. The tension is wonderful too... I've only been playing DB consistently for more than a couple years now and my hands are still wimpy.... a long gig of pizz can give me sore hands, so the lighter tension of the EP weichs are very comfortable to me. As they settle in some more, I'll add a bit.

So far, so great!
 
#350
Reading this thread makes me very happy and hopeful for the future, but right now I'm so digging my Dominants. After nearly a month they're holding up fine, knock on wood, and sound great. But it's great to know EPW's are out there and getting almost univerally good reports.
 
#351
fred pratt said:
Reading this thread makes me very happy and hopeful for the future, but right now I'm so digging my Dominants. After nearly a month they're holding up fine, knock on wood, and sound great. But it's great to know EPW's are out there and getting almost univerally good reports.
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Well, as a former Dom enthusiast... :)
 
#352
I just got (few hours ago) the EP Weich and my initial impressions are that I like the E and the A . Powerful, quick and sounds great. Similar to what I liked about the mediums, Just a little tighter in terms of focus and sound (not tension) .

The G and D however feel a little too, for lack of a better, word wussy. They are a little bit brighter, which I was hoping for but I can't bow a FFF out of them. I liked the mediums because I could lay into them and get most of what I wanted. They just max out. I also feel like they max out on pizz.

Maybe just a little too soft for me.
 
#353
BrandonTurner said:
I just got (few hours ago) the EP Weich and my initial impressions are that I like the E and the A . Powerful, quick and sounds great. Similar to what I liked about the mediums, Just a little tighter in terms of focus and sound (not tension) .

The G and D however feel a little too, for lack of a better, word wussy. They are a little bit brighter, which I was hoping for but I can't bow a FFF out of them. I liked the mediums because I could lay into them and get most of what I wanted. They just max out. I also feel like they max out on pizz.

Maybe just a little too soft for me.
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Well, to each his own. I have my string heights on the high side and have an old school type of style. Even with that I get plenty from the EP weich D and G. For me, that regular EP G was just a bit too beefy and made quick pizz. runs difficult to articulate. The weich G rings out more for me. Just individual preferences. YMMV.
 
#354
DRURB, Thank you again for the recommendation. For sure these are great strings! I didn't mean to really imply otherwise. I had to really raise my action to get them to do what I wanted to , thus eliminating the advertised benefits of said strings. I just found the G and D to be particularly soft, when at a medium to low string height.

Of special note, I really beat the crap out of strings.
 
#359
Has anyone felt the Evah Weichs to be a bit "buzzy", at least for orchestra?
I just put the G on tonight to compare with my Belcanto and Permanent G.
Thus far the EW G is brighter than both, does not bow as well as either. It has stetched over 4 full steps tonight as it settles!
To me an oddly focused bright sound like the Corellis, but missing something in arco. Sounded hot in pizz tho. Not sure how to describe it!
Strangely, it has an irritating buzz to it from within the string when bowed on my instrument, especially at the left hand, though may be useful to hear yourself better???
 
#360
bonaventura said:
David

I have that mix too, Evahs plus an Oliv G. Also a Spiro Mittel E.

Why are you not satisfied with the Evah regulars?

I didn't like the E, but the A and D are very nice.
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I've had them on for two and a half months and I think their range of possible timbres is limited compared to Olivs/Dux (which I've been using for quite some time.) That might be due in part to what sounds to me like a limited overtone series, making each note sound less colorful to me. And they don't have that openness that goes "Aaaahhhh" underneath each note.

I like a round sound, but they often sound more like an oval on it's side.
 
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