Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part II

[Gornick]

I think I am in the same boat with Marcus. These so far are perfect for what I am looking for. Did two gigs this saturday and they held up perfect. The regulars tended to disappear about 3/4 of the way through a gig, maybe due to the losening of the core or something. these held strong. Easier on the hands for sure, but no drop in volume or projection. My jazz gig, I needed very little amp support to fill the room, on the loud rockin' drummer gig, they cut through very nicely, and didn't go the flabby route. I think the dullard at the soundboard liked them too.

Guts are next, when i hit the lottery or something, otherwise I am relaxin' my brain on string choices.

 

[drurb]

Hey Gornick--

As you can see from my posts here, I certainly agree with you about the EP weichs. This really puzzled me, though:

...The regulars tended to disappear about 3/4 of the way through a gig, maybe due to the losening of the core or something. these held strong.

Gee, when I had the regulars, I certainly never experienced anything like that at all. For me, the regulars were enormously strong. Hmm... Chalk it up to YMMV, I guess.

 

[TroyK]

Famous last words: And with that- Im gone. You will probably read in the paper soon about a deranged kid who burns his bass in front of a luthier.

Hey I remember that kid! Ah, memories....

The comment about regulars pooping out confused me too. I kind of relate, though. My conclusion was that with regulars *I* pooped out about 3/4 of the way through the gig.

You guys may get me on the EP Weichs, it sounds more and more like what I wanted the regulars to be, but they were never quite. I've had Spirocore Weichs on now for 13 months and have mostly been quite happy with them, but I wish the feel was bigger. The sound is usually okay and is sometimes great. The tension is mostly okay, but sometimes I wish they pushed back on me a little bit more, but the gauge just the thiness under the mitts is a bit thin for me at times.

I know that I can't wait for the Spirocore to wear out because they never will, but I may try the EPs, I know one of you guys will always buy them back from me if I give up. Until then, I'll keep following the thread with interest.

 

[drurb]

Hey I remember that kid! Ah, memories....

The comment about regulars pooping out confused me too. I kind of relate, though. My conclusion was that with regulars *I* pooped out about 3/4 of the way through the gig.

You guys may get me on the EP Weichs, it sounds more and more like what I wanted the regulars to be, but they were never quite. I've had Spirocore Weichs on now for 13 months and have mostly been quite happy with them, but I wish the feel was bigger. The sound is usually okay and is sometimes great. The tension is mostly okay, but sometimes I wish they pushed back on me a little bit more, but the gauge just the thiness under the mitts is a bit thin for me at times.

I know that I can't wait for the Spirocore to wear out because they never will, but I may try the EPs, I know one of you guys will always buy them back from me if I give up. Until then, I'll keep following the thread with interest.

Ah, how could I ever forget Brandon?
Gotta say, from what you describe as what you want re the Spiros, the EP weichs sound like just the ticket! Aw, c'mon-- go for it! So easy for me to spend other people's money.

 

[Gornick]

Hey Gornick--

As you can see from my posts here, I certainly agree with you about the EP weichs. This really puzzled me, though:



Gee, when I had the regulars, I certainly never experienced anything like that at all. For me, the regulars were enormously strong. Hmm... Chalk it up to YMMV, I guess.

Yeah, I don't know how to describe it. It seemed that the regulars would loose their meat somehow, and require more pull to get the same volume I was getting just a half hour before. And that extra effort to overcome the flabbiness is what would cause quick fatigue more than anything. Maybe it was the bass, maybe the drummer's rising volume, maybe just me.... hell if I know, but I didn't get that this last weekend. If I remember right, later in the gig, I was turning the amp down so that I could dig in more to test it out, and the strings popped right into the mix.

 

[MR PC]

Definitely. The only thing that would make me do anything different would be if I somehow tripped over enough $$$ to try my gut experiment. I don't see that happening soon, though.

Good!

And with the guts, well, maybe there will be a "backup" bass in the future for you.

 

[Marcus Johnson]

And with the guts, well, maybe there will be a "backup" bass in the future for you.

Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!






Oh..... you were serious..... dude, I'm married.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!






Oh..... you were serious..... dude, I'm married.

Me too, and my financial advisor - who is a 5'2" brown eyed petite brunette - authorized a ply LaScala for keeping at the office for teaching, scary weather gigs, etc.

Go ahead, pull the trigger.

 

[drurb]

Me too, and my financial advisor - who is a 5'2" brown eyed petite brunette - authorized a ply LaScala for keeping at the office for teaching, scary weather gigs, etc.

Go ahead, pull the trigger.

Pull the trigger without prior authorization?

Hey, that's a risk you didn't take! Always check the WAF (wife acceptance factor).

By the way, I have one bass. Gee, I'd like a ply as a backup for... oh wait... what am I saying??!!

 

[David Kaczorowski]

The other day I replaced my EP regular E, A, D with EP weich E and A and an Oliv D. I'll just say my bass sounds awesome again

 

[MR PC]

Bwahahahahaha!!!!!!
Oh..... you were serious..... dude, I'm married.

I didn't say anything about the limitations of ownership. Oh dear......

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Go ahead, pull the trigger.

 

[thesneakyjesus]

The other day I replaced my EP regular E, A, D with EP weich E and A and an Oliv D. I'll just say my bass sounds awesome again

What is this tension like? I absolutley loved the evahs and the oliv G and D, but never imagined pairing them up. Thinner evahs with such a huge G string?

Photos maybe?

I'm getting new strings in a few days! It's been so long.

What's the E string like in this set?

 

[David Kaczorowski]

EPW tension feels the same as the oliv, maybe slightly lighter, but I'm not sure. The Evah weich A appears to be the same diameter as the oliv D.

 

[BCAlbin]

What is this tension like? I absolutley loved the evahs and the oliv G and D, but never imagined pairing them up. Thinner evahs with such a huge G string?

The set on my bass is; Evah weich E & A, Oliv D & G and I can't imagine being happier. There is a diameter dissimilarity, (with the gut Oliv D/G, as would be expected, being a little chunkier than the Evah D/G), but it doesn't bother me in the least. Same with the tension difference. The Olivs are slightly tighter than the EPWs, which surprised me. I was expecting the gut cores to be looser/sloppier feeling than the Evahs, but the opposite is true. (not that the Evah weichs are loose or sloppy, just softer than the Olivs). Sonically, the EPWs and Olivs match up well, both dark and full. Just my $.02...

-BCA

 

[Major-Minor]

My EP story:
After having Spiro Weichs on my "jazz" bass for more years than I'm willing to admit, I finally got round to getting some Evah Weichs a month ago. Put the G on - sounded great, getting really excited... Then put the D on ..... disaster !! The machine head started clicking when I had tuned it up to about a C. It just wouldn't go beyond this pitch, the bloody thing was worn out! I think they were rather ancient and probably cheaply made. This is a very old English bass.
So now I'm having to have new machines specially made (will probably cost £££), as the scroll is wider then the standard size. My luthier first tried a ready made set he had to order from Germany - but they were too small. Now I've got to wait even longer while he sources and fits some custom-made machines. I'm really missing this bass - and I can't wait to get going on the Evahs when I get it back. Poor me... sob!
Had to do a jazz gig on my orchestral bass (Flexicores set at orch height / no pickup)
Now got blisters on my right hand for the first time in 40 years !!

The Major

 

[jfv]

....

4.) The pizz sound has nice grain, like good mustard. I can't tell yet if that little "pop" is there... that took awhile to develop on my earlier set of EPs.

Sorry, don't like mustard on my strings, its Tabasco or nothing

 

[moles]

Alright - 18 pages and no mention of slap, so here goes...

Just got a new-ish set from Clink here. I've only had time to play around with them for a few minutes, but my immediate impression of the strings at this point is better than I expected. The short version (I've got to high-tail it to my first gig this weekend) is that the pizz is exactly where I want it in terms of darkness/growl etc...on my bass they sustain just peachy. The slap sound is bright, but not harsh at all - and they don't "thin out" when slapped either. Play a pizz note...and the tone pretty much stays the same when slapped, only with the click on top of it. Again, this is a first impression, but I think these will be great for Big-Band type stuff, weddings and gigs where you're asked to play a huge variety of tunes from jazz to rock'n'roll/whatever - and they won't feel like you're missing out on something when playing a straight jazz gig, or a straight rockabilly gig. I think this just might be the first (almost) no-compromise string if you need pizz, arco & slap in the same package.

 

[thesneakyjesus]

Just got my bass fixed up, bought a new bow, and new EP weich's.

So far. I'll be simple

1)The arco sound is right there. It's great. With the practice I need, this sounds as good as any arco string I've played except maybe bel cantos.
2) Jazz pizz. My main things. Beautiful. Not Spirocores. Not a bright front end which cuts. Much more like gut with a little less attack right on the front with a HUGE amount of richness to the sound.

I'd say if I did a ADSR (attack decay sustain release) or

Spiros - Attack = 10 Decay=7 Sustain=10 Release=8 The string has a really string sharp front end, quick to settle on tone, it rings out forever, it clicks a little on release

EP weich's - Attack - 7 Decay = 10 Sustain = 8 Release - 10
The string has a blunt but articulate attack, kind of like guts with less front end, the tone is consistent the whole life of the note, the end of the note is even and ends without a bit or bad sizzle steel sound. Does growl a bit if you give it a little vibrato.

Love them. I think maybe about putting oliv strings on the top, mostly the G. It's a great set, but the G and D haven't settled all the way. Out of the package the most playable set I've used though!


Through an amp = money. With this new acoustic image I've been borrowing and my full circle I think the sound is a 10. I'd probably like a mic and an extension cab to make the set up complete. But this is the most happy I've ever been with my tone by far.

Gigs up coming. Will report back. Thanks everyone for the info!

 

[drurb]

Just got my bass fixed up, bought a new bow, and new EP weich's.

So far. I'll be simple...

Another satisfied customer! Thanks for the analysis. Your experience matches mine. The only thing I'd add is that I find the EP weichs to have a nice BOOM on the front end-- as you say, not bright like Spiros-- but powerful, indeed. Please do let us know your thoughts as you get used to them.