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Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part II
- Thread starter bonaventura
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I did another go around with these strings recently. My tendonitis in my elbow does not like the tension on my left hand. I played a blues gig with them on and after the gig my elbow was aching and decided to sell them the next morning.
The gig was really loud and i had to have myself turned out of the monitors because i could'nt contain the feedback. I could'nt really hear myself during the gig but heard a recording of the gig after. They sounded fantastic so much so i took them down from the classifieds.
Maybe the fact i could'nt hear myself during the gig caused me to play harder which in turn ached my elbow. These are great strings. I do have my super silvers back on the bass right now but i had changed strings before i heard the recording.
The gig was really loud and i had to have myself turned out of the monitors because i could'nt contain the feedback. I could'nt really hear myself during the gig but heard a recording of the gig after. They sounded fantastic so much so i took them down from the classifieds.
Maybe the fact i could'nt hear myself during the gig caused me to play harder which in turn ached my elbow. These are great strings. I do have my super silvers back on the bass right now but i had changed strings before i heard the recording.
Hi Micheal. I'd be interested to know how the tension compares between these two sets. Any thoughts?
Also, I wonder if there's anyone here who can compare EP weichs with EP solos tuned to orchestra pitch. I know what Pirastro says, but wonder if there's a bassist here who has tried both and has any comments.
Well, the published tension specs show the EPW to be higher tension than the HHL, but they certainly don't *feel* that way. In fact, the tension on the EPW felt lower to me enough that I felt I could go ahead and raise the action. I did, and it's still very playable, and somewhat louder.
Thanks for your comments. I looked around, but couldn't find any published tension specs for the EP strings anywhere...
Quinn Violins used to have a nice long list, check out their site sometime.
They also have a really lovely string identifier page - has been useful in the past.
They also have a really lovely string identifier page - has been useful in the past.
I've listened to the sound clips of Evah Pirazzi mediums that are in the stickied link above. The clips of those mediums does not have enough sustain for my tastes. I've read that the weichs have more sustain and less thump. Are the EP weichs closer to the EP mediums tonally in that recording or say the Oligatos? Yes yes, I know, different basses, different hands, different planetary alignments.... Still I am curious.
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
I found these somewhere:
Code:
G D A E Total
Helicore Hybrid Light 58.2 61.3 63.0 64.0 246.5
Evah Pirazzi Weich 63.3 62.7 68.7 66.9 261.6
Having had both the regulars and weichs on the same bass, here's my experience. I found the weichs to be a bit less powerful sounding than the regulars but substantially easier to play. In terms of sustain, my recollection is they had a bit more than the regulars but they didn't differ dramatically. Despite their wonderful deep powerful fundamental, I gave them up and went back to Spiros. Now, there's sustain!
Does anyone have any tension specs for the regular Evahs? Used the search extensively and can't seem to see owt anywhere....
Spirocores sound a little metallic to my ears. I just bought a new bass that came with a set of these on it. I've had two basses in the past, one for jazz and one for classical. This bass is definitely good enough for both so I have to find a solution. I can't stand the sound of the Thomastiks for arco though! Do any of you think the Evahs have a sort of metallic sound like the Spirocores?
Evahs? Metallic? Not really. Fat, warm, dark and powerful are adjectives I'd use to describe them - both for arco and pizz. I suppose while new they have a bit of zing, but that vanishes very quickly. Also if you wanted to save money, you could wait it out with the spirocores. Many on talkbass say they warm up nicely after time, sounding pretty good with arco.
Thanks! That's just what I wanted to hear. I had a set of Evahs but they were on a not so good bass. It sounded pretty blah no matter what strings it had on it. I just ordered some for my new bass. Can't wait to put them on!
I got in touch with Pirastro to try to get some information about tensions and such, to try to get an idea what might a good set for me to try. Actually, they were totally unhelpful, I don't think they want to give out any objective tension information.
Is there anyone here who's used both the weich and solo strings (at orch pitch) and can compare the 2, sound-wise and tension-wise? Francois, maybe? I'm sure I'll try one of these, but which is a bit unsure. Their literature makes me think solo would be a better fit, but I'd love to hear from someone who's experienced them. (I've been playing on Helicore orch for 15 years, but just can't take the problems anymore.)
Thanks,
Brent
Is there anyone here who's used both the weich and solo strings (at orch pitch) and can compare the 2, sound-wise and tension-wise? Francois, maybe? I'm sure I'll try one of these, but which is a bit unsure. Their literature makes me think solo would be a better fit, but I'd love to hear from someone who's experienced them. (I've been playing on Helicore orch for 15 years, but just can't take the problems anymore.)
Thanks,
Brent
I tried both, yes.
The weich set is reletively well balanced here.
The solo D-G were quite bright. (more than the weichs)
When I got the solo A-E and put them on, they were very dark, very bland.
Very disappointed.
YMMV though...
In my opinion there's no sense in not telling the tension to players since it can help to decide on choosing the right string.
and tension is not a big secret at all, all string manufacturers have a machine to measure tension so, thats no secret at all.... usually the secrecy is in the cores....
sorry for derailing the thread and please erase it if its not appropriate...
Nuno
and tension is not a big secret at all, all string manufacturers have a machine to measure tension so, thats no secret at all.... usually the secrecy is in the cores....
sorry for derailing the thread and please erase it if its not appropriate...
Nuno
Thank you, that helps a lot. It's funny, according to their website, the solo strings are closer to the sound of the original evahs than the weichs are. I'm glad to have something else to go on. Would you say the 2 types were similar in tension?
Don't forget we're talking of playing them at orchestra pitch.
Their website talks about solo-tuning I guess. (which would be obvious)
The solos felt floppier, as one would expect.
Well, people seem to confuse tension and stiffness.
The first is an objective measurement, while the second may be more subjective.
Tension doesn't mean much I think.
Maybe that's what they think too. (just a guess)
Yes, this is why I wanted to ask someone who'd tried it. There's not really any way to judge how a solo string will sound tuned down without trying it. Just since I've been using a light gauge string, and the Evahs seem to be heavier than usual, I thought tuned-down solos might be worth checking out.
I think they can be useful numbers for people who are concerned about the pressure a set of strings exerts on the top of their bass, which is a separate issue from feel.
Thanks Francois, for your help.
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