Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part II

[AMJBASS]

They kind of get lost up close, but I think they sound great out front. At least, that has been my experience.

 

[TMSP]

Hello everyone.

After many years using Spirocore Solo, I'm testing Evah Pirazzi Solo for 3 months.
My double bass is an instrument that has the top table in spruce, back table in flame maple, but the ribs are lamineted. So I think it improved the quality timbre, do not know if he likes high or low tension.

The differences are many, as the Evah give a warm sound, full, nice touch, no noise, good response, note is less the wolf notes, etc., but after this time, seem to have lost some volume (or perhaps impression).

The Spirocore in my double bass, the sound is more metallic, the rope E2 is horrible, some noises with the bow, but have much volume. I know that strings are totally different, but I leave here some questions.
My teacher told me that I lost a little sound ... I'm thoughtful.

Is that really the Spirocore are the strings with more sound on the market?
Is the sound more resonable (EP), but as the strings are darker, with little gloss, does not seem to hear as much as Spirocore?
Has anyone tested the Evah Pirazzi Solo a recital? If yes, are strings that are heard well in an auditorium?
It is worth sacrificing some volume for the sound quality?

P.S.: I just play classical music.

Thank's.

Hello again everyone, but in need of your opinions ...
I wonder know if your think that the Evah Pirazzi Solo,are good for recitals of classical music, compared to Spirocore Solo, particularly on projection / volume and if Evah Solo are too dark for solo.


Thank.

 

[Uncletoad]

Hello again everyone, but in need of your opinions ...
I wonder know if your think that the Evah Pirazzi Solo,are good for recitals of classical music, compared to Spirocore Solo, particularly on projection / volume and if Evah Solo are too dark for solo.


Thank.

I know I'm not qualified to have an opinion about using Solo strings in an orchestra context. I don't do that, and few of the people on this board do. Perhaps someone who has experience with this can respond, I'd rather you not feel ignored.

Fwiw I love Spirocore Solo strings both at standard pitch and Orchestra pitch. They would be significantly brighter than the Evah strings given their construction.

 

[drurb]

Later I found that I was just laying into them way harder than any other string I'd tried. I've had to focus on easing up a little.

I think you hit the nail on the head. I suspect that's how my injury came about. In fact, I have been focusing on NOT doing that since I have returned to playing without the protection of my splint.

 

[kwd]

How do Dominants compare with EP Regs? I have Weichs but prefer the stiffer feel of Dominants. It sounds as if the regular tension EPs have more tension than Dominants, and that I should not expect as much pizz sustain as Doms.

 

[Uncletoad]

How do Dominants compare with EP Regs? I have Weichs but prefer the stiffer feel of Dominants. It sounds as if the regular tension EPs have more tension than Dominants, and that I should not expect as much pizz sustain as Doms.

Dominants are a lots brighter and much more "thomastic" sounding than EP. Their tension is lower Than EP regular I think but they can seem stiffer depending on the setup. As I recall not having them one after the other they are tensionwise somewhere between EP regular and Dominants. I think all three sustain pretty well with the Weichs perhaps longer than the other two. I don't know about regular EP vs. Dom in sustain. They are pretty close. Dominants don't hold up as well under taking them off and on as EP.

I liked Dominants a lot till I plugged them in, the same is true for the EP Regular, but the Weich is better for me in that regard.

 

[kwd]

I liked Dominants a lot till I plugged them in, the same is true for the EP Regular, but the Weich is better for me in that regard.

Thank you for the reply. I've also noticed that about the amplified sound. It seems like when I had the EPWs on, I always got compliments on my amplified sound. I like EPWs but they don't have a strong "living room" factor like Doms. I also noticed that while the G and D strings don't seem to have much ooomph, they have a pretty big sound out in front. If I stand facing a wall, the EPWs keep up with the Doms. Sort of like gut in that regard.

 

[moopants]

I just put the EP regulars on my bass today. Though they slipped out of tune a lot, when they were in tune, it seemed like they held better than my spiro mittels. Hopefully that continues.

The EPs definitely feel tighter, but IMO more comfortable than the spiros under my left hand. They felt easier to play in tune. The bow sound is great so far. We'll see how they sound in a couple weeks.

 

[tomshepp]

I know this has been a long thread so I'll apologize for the derail. I decided after much deliberation to put a pick-up on my carved bass. Thing is I needed to loosen the strings to do it. Tuned it back up and I go to the gig. These strings have been on for more than a year, but now I'm tuning between every tune. Seems to be slipping flat by quite a bit. Is this normal for Evahs? By the end of the night, I feel like nothing I play is in tune. Any one else experience this? I'm kinda regretting messin' with this bass. Problem is, I hate the Kay.
Thanks,
Tom

 

[Bijoux]

I am not enjoying the amplified sound of the EP. I got a regular set, an I use a realist on my carved bass.

 

[Eric Swanson]

I know this has been a long thread so I'll apologize for the derail. I decided after much deliberation to put a pick-up on my carved bass. Thing is I needed to loosen the strings to do it. Tuned it back up and I go to the gig. These strings have been on for more than a year, but now I'm tuning between every tune. Seems to be slipping flat by quite a bit. Is this normal for Evahs? By the end of the night, I feel like nothing I play is in tune. Any one else experience this? I'm kinda regretting messin' with this bass. Problem is, I hate the Kay.
Thanks,
Tom

Hi Tom,

I haven't used the EP's but I have had the problem you describe, both on bass and 'cello. Its a real drag on a gig...

One thing that has happened to me, is that the string wrapping around the tuning machine post can gets sloppy when the string get loosened, within that series of loops; when the string get retightened, it takes a while for the coils to get consistently tight again. In other words, for all of the coils to tighten up.

To fight this I pull a loose string away from the fingerboard pretty firmly with one hand while turning the machine with the other, keeping the string at the tuning machine under tension, in order to tighten up the coils going around the tuning machine post. After I have the string up to tension, I do the old trick one sees people doing on smaller string instruments (I think of my childhood 'cello teacher doing this); I pull the string (firmly, but not insanely violently) away from the fingerboard, to "stress" it a bit, as if it is being played hard. It will tighten up the windings and seating on both ends. Then retune.

Of course, this is a "touch" and "feel" thing. A person could also break a string if they start reefining on it like a cave person...

Knowing you, that wouldn't happen. Sorry if this is something you have been doing for thirty years and seems like a lame, patronizing post; I certainly don't mean it that way. You may already be doing all of that, with the number of sweet basses you own and your considerable playing and teaching experience. If not, it might help.

Other than that, are the synthetic strings actually stretching? I don't know...

 

[tomshepp]

Eric, actually, I didn't stretch the strings, thinking that since they've been on for so long they had been as stretched as much as they could. I'll try your suggestion. Makes sense about the wrappings on the machines.

When is your LaScala coming? Will you use Belcantos?

 

[Eric Swanson]

I guess it takes about three months; I am only a week into that lead time.

I was so sure I would use Belcantos, and may return to the light.

I am currently wandering in the dark abyss of string indecision.

Ask me tomorrow. Today I am thinking Permanents. Yesterday it was a light gauge of Flexocor 92's. Day before that it was Superflexibles. Or, maybe back to the Spiro Weichs. Or should I try the Solos. No, wait, Mittels.

Then, I've heard about these EP Weichs....

Etc...

 

[drurb]

Eric, I think your advice about tuning the EPs is spot on. As for choosing strings, if it were me, I'd start over again with Spiro Mitts because they're the standard by which I could gauge the sound of a new bass. After all, you may just leave 'em on. Just my $0.02. Looking forward to hearing about and pics of your new baby.

 

[AMJBASS]

I guess it takes about three months; I am only a week into that lead time.

I was so sure I would use Belcantos, and may return to the light.

I am currently wandering in the dark abyss of string indecision.

Ask me tomorrow. Today I am thinking Permanents. Yesterday it was a light gauge of Flexocor 92's. Day before that it was Superflexibles. Or, maybe back to the Spiro Weichs. Or should I try the Solos. No, wait, Mittels.

Then, I've heard about these EP Weichs....

Etc...

You are getting into dangerous waters there I just went through that again for some ridiculous reason. Spent about $400 and came back to Spirocores.

 

[Eric Swanson]

Amen. Luckily I have some time to work it out...

 

[TroyK]

I'm giving EPWs a second chance. I was due for a string change and thought I should try them or sell them. Thought it was worth one more try. Immediate impression, my Spirocores were getting dead, it's hard to tell until you put a fresh set of strings on.

Big sound, I like the feel. We'll see on my gigs this weekend.

 

[drurb]

My EP weichs are back on.

 

[TroyK]

So here's my early impression, by the way, when I tested them before, I never got the full set on, I started with the G and think I got the D on before I bailed.

I am having the same "problem" I now remember having with the regulars in that they are producing a host of rattles and buzzes in my practice space. Things that my bass wasn't shaking before. That can only be considered "impressive", I remember trying to record a little 40 second spot in a radio studio when I was using regulars and we had to keep switching studios to find one that didn't rattle. So, that's cool.

I played yesterday with a piano and vocals (unamplified). The piano is a Steinway grand and it's a pretty good room. The strings sounded great and I really liked the feel under my right hand. I've been using Spirocore Weichs and have really liked the sound (for the most part) and feel under my left hand, but I tend to overplay them at times with my right.

Tomorrow night I play with a quintet in a weird room which is usually when I love Spirocores and I have concerns about how they will perform then. I really like the woody/thumpy thing until I'm on stage with drums and horns. It's also a 4 hour gig and my left arm/shoulder has been healthy with my light spirocores, but has suffered in the past when I've used higher tension strings. The EPRs really seemed to torture me, though they didn't feel that high in tension (there's been a lot written about this). I really like the feel of these in the very limited sound settings that I've been in with them so far this week. We'll see, tomorrow night will be a big test.

If they don't pass muster, I'm not sure where to go from here except running back to Spirocores. I've been tempted over the years to try Velvets, since my bass and I seem to hold up better under lower tension, but I'm not sure i could adjust my right hand technique to how much lower in tension they are.

Stay tuned.

 

[drurb]

Oh yes, windows rattling, reports of earthquakes in the neighborhood. The fundamental produced by the EP weichs is really something. The regulars, as I've said before, were like playing on bridge cables. Too much for me. I'm not getting rid of the Spiro mitts-- gonna give the EPws a fair shot again and, as long as they don't bother my now-healed right hand, I think they'll stay.