Ah, then you haven't yet lived!
I always heard good things (other than the breaking) about the Doms.
I'm pretty sure it's already been discussed already on TB, but I've got to ask ... Dominants vs. EPs?
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Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part III
- Thread starter Chris Fitzgerald
- Start date
I always heard good things (other than the breaking) about the Doms.
I'm pretty sure it's already been discussed already on TB, but I've got to ask ... Dominants vs. EPs?
You are correct, sir: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/comparing-dominant-and-evah.407294/
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/evah-pirazzi-vs-dominants.661404/
And I'm sure there are plenty more where those came from.
When started playing, the Superflexibles were still one string that got recommended as a hybrid set. I've tried them a few times and they are still a good choice, but the heavy gauge of the D string (nearly as thick as the A) turned me off. I think the newer designs like EP Weichs have taken over this role.
- Steve
Thanks, Steve. I do remember now that there was something different about the D string. I also recall, their intonation was pretty precise.
Superflexibles are a very common choise of strings among st Petersburg orchestras musicians. These strings can be seen on very expensive basses in Mariinsky theatre and spb phil. I think this comes from the times when string choices were limited, players just got used to what they had at hand.
This does not make superflexible a bad choise at all. To me, this set sounds and feels the best tension wise on my czech plywood that I bought as a beater but ended up playing it at many gigs last year. I tried many strings on it, including guts and Evah veich but superflexible are simply loudest and cleanser sounding set on that bass. They also have some vintage thump when played pizz, wich I like.
To come back to Evah, although they are advertised as hybrid, I've yet to see an orchestra player put them on his main bass. To me, this is more of a pizz set (very nice) that allows you to practice bowing and do occasional arco gigs. Definitely not solo strings, to me. I have seen them used by solo players but I personally didn't enjoy the sound in high register.
Sasha
This does not make superflexible a bad choise at all. To me, this set sounds and feels the best tension wise on my czech plywood that I bought as a beater but ended up playing it at many gigs last year. I tried many strings on it, including guts and Evah veich but superflexible are simply loudest and cleanser sounding set on that bass. They also have some vintage thump when played pizz, wich I like.
To come back to Evah, although they are advertised as hybrid, I've yet to see an orchestra player put them on his main bass. To me, this is more of a pizz set (very nice) that allows you to practice bowing and do occasional arco gigs. Definitely not solo strings, to me. I have seen them used by solo players but I personally didn't enjoy the sound in high register.
Sasha
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Thank you for sharing this story -- very interesting! All the more so, because the history of their use in Russia is very similar to my past experience with them. When I was at school back in the mid 70's, Superflexibles were also a common choice for both orchestral and jazz players who were looking for a string that could handle both. I think it's also interesting to point out that my teacher at that time (Bela Wurtzler of the BSO) was the person who initially recommended them to me, for classical studies (his only concept of "jazz" was the gypsy music he heard & loved growing up in Hungary).
A little bit of trivia: one of my favorite recordings of the Koussevitzky concerto is by Rustem Gabdullin on an old Melodiya LP. I have no way of knowing of course, but I could swear the sound on that recording is the sound of Superflexibles!
Finally: I hadn't used SFs for many years, but this discussion perked my curiosity. So a couple of nights ago, I installed some barely-used D and G SFs I had bought some years ago. They're "new string bright" of course, but their precise intonation and clean, punchy tone were instantly familiar. As you've pointed out, they have a nice supportive thump (esp. after they mellow), and the fact that they bow MUCH better than Spirocores make them (still) a viable solution/alternative.
We are so lucky to have all these choices now. But it can be overwhelming -- sometimes going back to what you're familiar with can be just the thing!
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Yes this is the great recording, my personal favourite for sure( the only one I like of this concerto to tell the truth). As far as I remember, his strings drawer was full of Thomastik and he played both red and blue ones, he wasn't picky. My first set of " decent " strings was the dead spiro set that he gave me. I gave it away to another student of his when I rather stupidly "upgraded" to Obligato ))
There were the times ( at least in Russia) when you wouldn't have many strings to compare to, there was nobody to tell professor Gabdullin or my current prof Yakovlev that spiros don't bow well so they spent some time getting used to their response and learned to produce great sound. In fact, I like these strings also for their brightness and response, in high register they sound much clearer than Evah wich is thick in gauge and sounds blunt above high g.
Rustem Gabdullin used to practice 9 hours a day since he was 13 by the way. I think after that many hours he would make a solid metal string sound like angel singing!
There were the times ( at least in Russia) when you wouldn't have many strings to compare to, there was nobody to tell professor Gabdullin or my current prof Yakovlev that spiros don't bow well so they spent some time getting used to their response and learned to produce great sound. In fact, I like these strings also for their brightness and response, in high register they sound much clearer than Evah wich is thick in gauge and sounds blunt above high g.
Rustem Gabdullin used to practice 9 hours a day since he was 13 by the way. I think after that many hours he would make a solid metal string sound like angel singing!
To be sure. When there's that level of devotion and discipline .... great musicians will take any instrument with any strings and make it sound good.
I will want very much to listen to that Rustem Gabdullin record when I get home today.
Bill Shetler who plays 2nd chair in the Louisiana philharmonic orchestra plays Evahs. Loves them on his bass.
For the past few years I've been using Evahs (both regular & Weich gauges, sometimes the whole set, sometimes substituting Spiro E/A). But just for the hell of it, I threw on a barely used set of Superflexibles (right now a Spiro E) a couple weeks ago and they sure do provide a pitch stability/clarity that I was not able to get with the Evahs, which I found to be more blunted, esp. in the upper register.
This is an EP thread, so don't get me wrong . . . I think the Evahs are a GREAT string. But, as Steve Boisen further up in this thread, the SFs got pushed to the wayside once more hybrid designs (like Evahs) came on the scene. However, right about now, I'm really enjoying how the SFs project, and I'm going to stick with them. For my bass anyway, they work (just like they worked when I used them 30 years ago).
This is an EP thread, so don't get me wrong . . . I think the Evahs are a GREAT string. But, as Steve Boisen further up in this thread, the SFs got pushed to the wayside once more hybrid designs (like Evahs) came on the scene. However, right about now, I'm really enjoying how the SFs project, and I'm going to stick with them. For my bass anyway, they work (just like they worked when I used them 30 years ago).
I just bought a brand new set of Pirazzi Weich and I don't know it that's normal but they sound much more dead that another set I had for few months. Especially the D string not bright at all and very thump sound without that typical pop they have... Shouldn't they be brighter out of the box? Do I have a bad set or someone else experience that during the first hours of their life?
It's getting better, it's opening up but maybe it's too dark for my bass, I'll try a dominant instead
Andrea: That was my experience with EP Weichs too. The Dominants have more life to them. So much depends on the bass though.
I tried the EP Weichs once but didn't like them. Just decided to try another set and they sound good on my bass. I'd like a thicker G but its fine for now. My only issue is the E string. Not as powerful as my spiro E (both weich and Medium). People who have used a spirocore: which one did you use? I would be worried about the bow ability across the set though. Thanks.
I currently use a Spiro Mittel E with my Evah Weich. I tried a Spiro Weich E for about a month, but went back to the Mittel. If you're concerned with bowability, the Weich E might be your best choice. The whole set played evenly with the bow, but I found that Weich E didn't work well for ME since I mainly play pizz. If you are concerned about a really powerful low end, the Mittel E will serve you well. The only problems I had with the Mittel E in regards to arco is that it has taken nearly a year for the whole set to sound even across the strings. Once the strings settled in, the only problem I had was adjusting my bow weight from the Spiro E to the Evah A
Just put a new set of EP Weich on my hybrid. Kept the Spirocore Mittel E per discussions on here. Hoping for a somewhat darker sound, although I'm not totally sure what that means 
I've only ever used Spiros on any bass I've owned over the past 30 years or so. Correction - I did try Lenzner gut D and G for about three days a few months ago on my Kay and realized I don't like the feel under my right hand. Thanks to all of the comments here that provided some direction for me.
I've only ever used Spiros on any bass I've owned over the past 30 years or so. Correction - I did try Lenzner gut D and G for about three days a few months ago on my Kay and realized I don't like the feel under my right hand. Thanks to all of the comments here that provided some direction for me.
Early report is that I really like the A and D. Not sure yet on the G. I have gigs on Thurs and Fri, so I'll know more.
