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Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part III

#421
Great responses folks. Thank you. Decisions.....decisions. :-) Thanks all for the previous input on my questions re: EP Regulars compared to Helicore Hybrids and/or EP Regulars compared to EP Weichs. In regards to the tension of the regulars (E string in particular): I did have E & A Helicore Arco strings on my bass for a while....which was too much tension IMHO for my Jazz/Pizz technique. Tension wise, from a Pizz perspective, How do the EP regulars compare with Helicore Arcos (especially E & A, as that is what I am failure with)? Bout the same?....little less?


Thanks again,

-PMaddy
 
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#422
Bigbassguy said:
How do you tweak your bass? Slap e and a do not work well under the bow.
Click to expand...

Thanks for asking, I know that this is pretty hardcore but anyway: I have two ajustable bridges for my bass made by the same luthier, a traditional one made originally for gut-type strings and string heights + compensated E-side for Realist lifeline pickup. Then I have another one for lower strings, which i pimped to be a low-mass bridge with wings cut off. I`ve been trying lots of different string combinations lately and had shaped my standard bridge to accompany the changes. I ended up running out of safe room to use with low tension lower strings like E.P slaps and higher setup. Then I got the idea of combining the feet of the standard bridge and the wingless upper part, dropping the piezo and the bow quiver at the same time ( I`ve been using it only with the band I play in and have the change to use a mic straight via preamp to the PA in that system ). The bass became more resonant and the E string easier to start with the bow, and the overall sound is just so much better with the mic than with lifeline / Polytone minibrute II combo I`ve been using in that band. I`m thinking about going mic only system in amplifying, as i don`t need too often the sort of volume levels that requires a piezo.
 
#423
pmad_bass said:
In regards to the tension of the regulars (E string in particular): I did have E & A Helicore Arco strings on my bass for a while....which was too much tension IMHO for my Jazz/Pizz technique. Tension wise, from a Pizz perspective, How do the EP regulars compare with Helicore Arcos (especially E & A, as that is what I am failure with)? Bout the same?....little less?
Click to expand...

By Helicore Arco I assume you mean Helicore Orchestral? I've never strung my bass with those, but I've played basses strung with them before. To the best of my recollection, they don't have significantly more stiffness or tension than the EP Mediums. The EP Medium E and A give your left hand a pretty good workout.
 
#424
Lee Moses said:
By Helicore Arco I assume you mean Helicore Orchestral? I've never strung my bass with those, but I've played basses strung with them before. To the best of my recollection, they don't have significantly more stiffness or tension than the EP Mediums. The EP Medium E and A give your left hand a pretty good workout.
Click to expand...

Sorry...yes Helicore Orchestral. Trying before coffee. :-p

Dang. To me the Helicore Orchestral were too much of a workout for Pizz. And I didn't find that the stiffness in the Helicore Orchestral paid off in returns for the bow....especially given the trade off.

I still have time to ponder. Found a local shop that has a set of the EP Mediums...(probably has the lights as well).

I seem to recall a String gauge chart that made the rounds a while back. as that a gauge chare...or tension chart or tension chart? I don't see the gauges listed on the package of the Helicore Hybrids (lists tension). I'm assuming that the greater tension in the EP mediums (versus the EP lights) is due to gauge and not some other (core?) factor.


Thanks.

-PM
 
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#425
pmad_bass said:
Sorry...yes Helicore Orchestral. Trying before coffee. :p

Dang. To me the Helicore Orchestral were too much of a workout for Pizz. And I didn't find that the stiffness in the Helicore Orchestral paid off in returns for the bow....especially given the trade off.

I still have time to ponder. Found a local shop that has a set of the EP Mediums...(probably has the lights as well).

I seem to recall a String gauge chart that made the rounds a while back. as that a gauge chare...or tension chart or tension chart? I don't see the gauges listed on the package of the Helicore Hybrids (lists tension). I'm assuming that the greater tension in the EP mediums (versus the EP lights) is due to gauge and not some other (core?) factor.


Thanks.

-PM
Click to expand...

Were they stiff for pizz because you were playing tight? I find on some strings (belcantos) I pizz way to hard and squeeze on the left hand because I'm trying to force sustain out of them, and even though the tension isn't that huge I over play so it feels that way.
 
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#426
Sam Dingle said:
Were they stiff for pizz because you were playing tight? I find on some strings (belcantos) I pizz way to hard and squeeze on the left hand because I'm trying to force sustain out of them, and even though the tension isn't that huge I over play so it feels that way.
Click to expand...
I've found this to be true as well.

For instance, I'm currently playing Innovation Polychromes, which have less tension but also less sustain than EP weichs. At first I tried to compensate by plucking harder to "pull" more sustain out of them. But what I think that does is actually squash the tone (and of course, doesn't create more sustain). I've found that a more relaxed (and focused) attack yields a bigger & better tone and allows the string to sustain as much as it's gonna. The left hand also plays a part in achieving this.

I have to remind myself from time to time that you have to be relaxed in order to play music.
 
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#427
Selim said:
I've found this to be true as well.

For instance, I'm currently playing Innovation Polychromes, which have less tension but also less sustain than EP weichs. At first I tried to compensate by plucking harder to "pull" more sustain out of them. But what I think that does is actually squash the tone (and of course, doesn't create more sustain). I've found that a more relaxed (and focused) attack yields a bigger & better tone and allows the string to sustain as much as it's gonna. The left hand also plays a part achieving this.

I have to remind myself from time to time that you have to be relaxed in order to play music.
Click to expand...

Selim
Could you comment on the difference your finding between the EP weich, and the new Poly chromes. Using the EP W on one of my bassses. I like the sound but they are getting a little tight after 6 months. Thinking of giving the Poly chromes a try.
 
#428
lrhbass said:
Could you comment on the difference your finding between the EP weich, and the new Poly chromes.
Click to expand...

I've had the Polychromes on for about a month now. But I should also say that I've been experimenting a little with them in combination with other strings (Spiro mediums, Sweichs, EP weichs on the bottom). Now I'm back to a full set of polychromes.

On my bass (2003 Schnitzer/DeSola, spruce top, ash back & sides):

Polychromes are springy out of the package, but play with less tension than EP weichs.
They have a soft feel under the left hand.
The set has good balance (in terms of tension and consistent volume), although for the first few weeks, the A & E were tighter than the G & D (hence the experimenting with Spiros, then EPw's on the bottom). With more playing time, the A now feels more like the G & D and the E is starting to head in that direction. (Maybe like what I've heard about Zyex, they just need some time to work out their kinks.)
Dark sound, yet good clarity in the pitches.

Less sustain than EP weichs, but a solid output with a tighter low end response. EPw's sound more "modern" (growl, more mid frequency content) in comparison. Polychromes sound more like 50's Blue Note, or 50's Sinatra.

Just as loud as EPw's, and they have a higher dynamic ceiling than EPw's. (They just seem more robust in general.)

Very smooth & easy to start under the bow. Like their pizz sound: dark, yet good clarity in the pitches. For arco, I like the polychromes more than any other synthetic string - by far. A legitimate arco set, particularly for (I'd imagine) orchestral work. EPw's are more coarse in comparison (esp. in thumb position).

Bottom line? Big, dark, solid sound. I like 'em.
 
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#430
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#431
Interesting question (and no not thinking about evahs again...): How do you clean these strings? I mentioned to a friend who uses these that whenever I would clean them with alcohol, they would loose something about them and I would end up changing strings. I did it twice with the same affect and didn't think anything of it. He said that could damage the strings, or at least isn't good for them. He doesn't use alcohol, just wipes them down after the gig.

Does alcohol affect the strings sound? I use it on spirocores and it works great. If it hurts synthetic core strings then I won't do it with my dominants...
 
#435
misterbadger said:
My teacher is big on slacking the strings, one by one, before cleaning with alcohol - claims the windings compress when tension is released and squeeze out grease/dirt/whatever. I tried cleaning under tension, then slacking the string-sure enough, lots of additional gunk came off on the rag...
Click to expand...
wow I just tried that it's really true
 
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#436
I recently put a new set of EP Weichs on my bass (the set before that was on for 3 years-- 2015-2018--and the set before that was on from 2012--2015-- and the set before that was on from 2009–2012!!) and was immediately reminded once again of the qualities that made me fall in love with these strings 9 years ago. And why I keep coming back to them! And why I’m going to repeat myself here.

Newly installed on the bass, EP Weichs are robust, fat and resonant, rich in presence and depth, round sounding, with “bounce.” It took them about two days to settle in, and as they did they continued to open up, especially the E string. The notes blossomed, and the strings had sustain for miles. On my carved Juzek (YMMV) they sounded warm, woody and organic, yet they had lots of punch and projection, and it seemed impossible to overplay them. They feel supple under the fingers despite their stiffness (I know that’s an oxymoron, but that’s the way they feel), and never get in the way of cross string movement. And there’s the familiar “click” in front of the note.

How did the 3-year-old Evahs compare with the new Evahs that replaced them? In truth, I hadn’t found any glaring deficiencies in the older EPs that would drive me to replace them, and

after 3 years of actively gigging with them they were still keeping me happy. Overall the sound quality seemed “burnished,” as if some of the highs had been smoothed off (as they no doubt were). The G string sometimes seemed a bit thin higher up on the fingerboard, but they were otherwise satisfactory. But when I put the new strings on, I realized that while the old EPs had retained the qualities that I love in EP Weichs, those qualities were, understandably, somewhat diminished by the age of the strings. Perfectly serviceable, but not as alive as the new set.

So I’m looking forward to another 3 years of great sound with EP Weichs. Pirastro, please keep these strings in production!
 
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