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Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part II

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#681
I've had Dominants on (the same set) for a couple of years. Definitely at the crepuscular end of their useful life (much like myself).

Orchestra season is drawing to a close, and I'd like to switch to a more jazz friendly set-up for the summer. I'd like to go with Spiro Mittel E and A, but don't want the twang on the upper strings. Would EP Mittels on D and G be a good match up?
 
#683
+1! Closer but still feel larger than Spiros-- especially the G, to my hands anyway. Evah regulars would be even farther from the Spiro mitt feel.
 
#684
I'm not sure I agree with these Spiro Mitt EP Weich comparisons. Yes they are slightly larger in gage. I think they have less tension than the Mittels, especially the E string. I don't think they are as light as spiro weichs either though, somewhere between.

Spiros have more pizz resistance and are harder to get started with the stick without some arm weight.

Obviously the spiro is a brighter string. I think it has more punch and definition unless the bass is young or not overly responsive. The Evah Weichs on my old bass sound tubby and lack definition, it needs spiros to define the note. The Cleveland benfits from the weichs round sound pulling more definition from the young plywood bass than it has under spiros.

Evah weichs wear me out on the same gig where Spiros do not.

YMMV, everyone is different, every bass is different.
 
#685
Mike Goodbar said:
I've had Dominants on (the same set) for a couple of years. Definitely at the crepuscular end of their useful life (much like myself).

Orchestra season is drawing to a close, and I'd like to switch to a more jazz friendly set-up for the summer. I'd like to go with Spiro Mittel E and A, but don't want the twang on the upper strings. Would EP Mittels on D and G be a good match up?
Click to expand...

I worked with EP mittels for a short time and tried the Spiro E/A with EP D/G and then the Spiro E with EP G/D/A and the full set of EPs. I thought the full set of EPs sounded best. They really are a very well matched set.

mark
 
#686
I have a new bass and I have used EP regulars on my old one. I just put on a set of Weichs in the process of getting to know what strings would work best on this new instrument.
It has been very challenging to find strings that work well with both pizz and the bow. The regular Evahs seem to have fit that bill on the old bass. I grew up playing Spiros so I need the growl and I find the Weichs are too gut-like when pizzed.
I understand that some players look for that specifically. I LOVE the Weichs with the bow but not crazy about the pizz sound. Of course this is just my $0.02 based on 5 hrs of playing it on this particular bass. If anyone wants to give them a try I'd gladly pass it on for 140. They have not streched out yet and I did not cut them.
 
#687
Just an update, the Evah regulars are amazing. They're much, much better suited for me compared to Spiro Mittels. The bowed sound isn't nearly as scratchy. The pizz sound is darker also. In general, they just feel better. They're not as stiff as they were when I first put them on the bass. Great strings.
 
#688
Uncletoad said:
Evah weichs wear me out on the same gig where Spiros do not.
Click to expand...

This was my experience with Evah Regulars and my concerns about weichs. If it turns out to be the case, I'll have bail early rather than wake up my old shoulder problems. I wonder how much of that, though is me playing harder because I can't hear the pitch as cleanly on stage? If I could convince myself not to do that, maybe all would be well.

We'll see. I don't have a lot of time to play around with something that isn't working for me. I've really enjoyed not screwing with or thinking about strings for the last few years.

Interesting point I forgot to make earlier, I've been getting along fine with Spirocore weichs under the bow, even had a classical teacher for about 6 months with them. When I put the stick on the EP weichs yesterday in our session, not so good. I'm sure there's a technique adjustment, but further praise for bowing spirocores.
 
#689
Uncletoad said:
Obviously the spiro is a brighter string. I think it has more punch and definition unless the bass is young or not overly responsive...

YMMV, everyone is different, every bass is different.
Click to expand...

YMMV and "every bass is different" sure holds here. Let's see, I think it's fair to say that my bass is quite responsive. Got a wonderful strong sound with Spiros but, as for punch-- on my bass-- Spiro mitts can't touch the EP weichs. That seems to be what most here report even among players with basses that aren't young or, I'm assuming, unresponsive. Maybe The Queen is atypical when it comes to Spiros/Evahs???

I didn't understand your comment that Spiros have more pizz. resistance than Evahs but Evahs wear you out. Could you explain a bit more?
 
#690
drurb said:
YMMV and "every bass is different" sure holds here. Let's see, I think it's fair to say that my bass is quite responsive. Got a wonderful strong sound with Spiros but, as for punch-- on my bass-- Spiro mitts can't touch the EP weichs. That seems to be what most here report even among players with basses that aren't young or, I'm assuming, unresponsive. Maybe The Queen is atypical when it comes to Spiros/Evahs???

I didn't understand your comment that Spiros have more pizz. resistance than Evahs but Evahs wear you out. Could you explain a bit more?
Click to expand...
Whatever...I'm worn out from gigs and don't feel much like discussion. Spiros work better for me on the gig. They are fast, clean, loud and punch like hell. They are expressive and accurate both pizz and with a bow, loud or quiet. EP on any bass I've played a gig with aren't near as good in any of those departments FOR ME.

I leave the EP weichs on my ply bass at home because in the practice room on that bass at home they sound and feel good. Out on the gig night after night I'd put spirocores back on that bass too.

Once again YMMV...play what you like.
 
#691
I had the same experience as the Toad with the EP's. I liked them by themselves, but preferred something quicker and brighter when playing with other instruments. I feel I intonate better on spiros/dominants than on any other string - must have something to do with which frequencies pop out quickest on those. At any rate, everyone should play the strings they like!
 
#693
A little update on my EP experience. I've been playing on solos tuned down for a while now and while I've enjoyed them for their sound and feel, intonation, particularly in the upper register has been much more difficult, so the solo D and G are now replaced with EP weichs and problem is solved. Don't know if I'll keep this mixed set going, go to all weichs, or go back to spiros for some brightness on this bass, as the EPs are pretty dark.
 
#694
moopants said:
This has probably been clarified before, and forgive me if it has, but why does it seem that the evah weichs are preferred over the regulars?
Click to expand...

For me, regulars had too large a diameter and were too stiff. They wore me out-- like playing on bridge cables. YMMV
 
#696
That was my experience with regulars too. I put a weich G and D on for one gig with my spirocores and had the feeling that it was going to end the same way, so I pulled them off. I'll find out tonight just how it goes.

Thomastik really needs to come out with Superflexible weichs and have them fall between Spiro mittels and weichs. I think there's a void there to be filled.

In answer to the question, yes it appears that people in general seem to prefer EPWs to EPRs. I'm sure not all people, but the winds have shifted in that direction. Having some experience with both, I think Pirastro simply improved their first generation Evah Pirazzis and called the new version "weich" without taking the old version off the market. If you knew nothing and picked up a bass strung with Evah Pirazzi Weichs, you'd never think you were playing a light gauge string.
 
#698
TroyK said:
That was my experience with regulars too. I put a weich G and D on for one gig with my spirocores and had the feeling that it was going to end the same way, so I pulled them off. I'll find out tonight just how it goes.
Click to expand...

Really anxious to hear how it goes!

moopants said:
Are they weak when played pizz? I love my EPRs but when I play pizz for awhile, they are a bit hard to play, but that could just be me.
Click to expand...

Weak? Who said anything about weak? The EPWs sound quite powerful for me on my bass.
 
#700
I've been in the EP club for a whole 4 days now. Gigged with it for the 1st time last night.
Mine are orchestra's.
1. Great big dark sound pizz acoustically
2. Clear focussed arco

With my Bassmax pickup mounted on the bass wing of the bridge, the E A and D strings sounded great on the gig. I thought the G was weak. That could have been my position relative to the amp I don't know.
Unfortunately, when I tried to switch to the treble side of my bridge, I busted something on the pickup (which was already compromised) so I don't know if that would have evened out the sound. We'll see when the pickup is replaced.
I've used Spirocore, Spiro Weich, Corelli and most recently D'Addario Helicore Med, and I like the EP's a lot. Once they lossen up a bit, it should be even better.
 
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