Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part III

[pmad_bass]

I think you will like the more “burnished” arco tone of the EP weichs- they are easy to start under the bow and are somewhat forgiving-but the EP’s are not going to have a wide palette of colors. To me, they sound good for what I do.

The weich set definitely feels like a medium set in terms of stiffness and the regulars were a bit of a chore for my left hand.

In terms of perceived power potential, you will have to see how they interact with your bass. Please share your impressions! I have a loud but mellow sounding hybrid, and I find that the EP weichs allows me to blend well with others without sounding like a foggy drone.

Will do.

I just took a set of EP regulars off of my bass after giving them a month or so.

After having tried both EP regulars and weichs, on my bass I’ve found that they’re about the most perfect string ever while they’re out-of-the-pack fresh, then after they settle in for a couple of weeks they’re too dark and I can’t hear myself at all on the gig/rehearsal/concert etc.

I’ve also noticed the EPs seem to favor slightly higher action than steels, as though they are designed for high impact, short decay, old school type of pizz. My Shen came with EP weichs set at 7-10 mm from G to E, which is where they sounded best. I found myself lowering the adjusters to find what felt best, and just couldn’t find a compromise I was happy with.

Long story short it’s back to FDs over Spiros again. I need to get it through my head that I am a steel string guy...

One of my section mates in my community orchestra, however, has EPs on his Kolstein and they sound and feel fantastic. As always it’s a bass-dependent thing.

Interesting...I have a Kolstein Fednt so *maybe I'll have good results as well. Though I have heard from others who have heard/played my bass and read on the forums that the bass seems to have more going for it in the volume department than the depth of character department. Perhaps the EP's won't be a magic bullet in that regard....just hoping that there is something left there after the EP have broken in/gotten past being out-of-the-pack fresh.

".....I need to get it through my head that I am a steel string guy."

Scott: Wish I had seen this 15 years ago! I could have saved a ton of money.
The only thing left over from those free-spending days when I tried just about every string that did not have a steel core, is the very playable pizz combination (on my bass) of Zyex G and D mediums with a Spiro Orch E/Weich A. The Weich D is a tad livelier than the Zyex D but the Zyex's have more punch but over the long term I have lived happily with the Spiro Orch E with A, D and G Weichs.
I also had a brief encounter with Helicore Hybrid lights on my new Eminence EUB. They were OK but when I tried a spare set of all Spiro Weichs I found a big improvement in the sound and feel for pizz.
So, even though I ranted on this forum many times about the Weich G being thin and tinny, I am now happy to admit that these Vienna string makers do know a thing or two about making a wonderfully-matched steel string set with comfortable tension.

I too think myself a steel string guy. We'll see. I will give the EPs time (once they get here) and share impressions.

 

[Sam Dingle]

I just took a set of EP regulars off of my bass after giving them a month or so.

After having tried both EP regulars and weichs, on my bass I’ve found that they’re about the most perfect string ever while they’re out-of-the-pack fresh, then after they settle in for a couple of weeks they’re too dark and I can’t hear myself at all on the gig/rehearsal/concert etc.

I’ve also noticed the EPs seem to favor slightly higher action than steels, as though they are designed for high impact, short decay, old school type of pizz. My Shen came with EP weichs set at 7-10 mm from G to E, which is where they sounded best. I found myself lowering the adjusters to find what felt best, and just couldn’t find a compromise I was happy with.

Long story short it’s back to FDs over Spiros again. I need to get it through my head that I am a steel string guy...

One of my section mates in my community orchestra, however, has EPs on his Kolstein and they sound and feel fantastic. As always it’s a bass-dependent thing.

If you have the time and patience throw the evahs back on and wait another month. i found with lights and mediums that new strings sound great, then get stupid dark, but come back around. I used to always take new evahs off and sell them, cave and buy a used set. Always stuck with the used set longer because they sounded better.

 

[what the pluck]

After about a month with the EP weichs this is my impression. I needed to raise the bridge height a couple of mm to get the tension right, (although still comfortable in TP) and also the G needs a bit more air... also needed to lower the endpin because the sweetspot with the bow seems to be a bit higher and closer to the fingerboard then the previous strings. Sound wise, arco is nice, needs a bit more finese then the belcantos and a bit of adjustment with the right arm to dial it all in. Pizz is awesome. I did an outdoor gig acoustically (not by choice - the battery operated amp i hired did not work! and the classical guitar got prioroty on the other one!) but from behind the bass they were loud enough and listeners reported that the bass sounded nice with a good arc of projection. I have an amplified gig this weekend so I can report back on that. I tend to only use my DPA 5066 these days and have ditched the bass max as I can usually position the mic so i get no feedback. Overall really happy with these strings, the only thing I have noticed compared to the BCs is tuning stability isnt as good... need to tune more... maybe they will settle... I am doing some recording in May so i will have a good recording where i can really hear them. I am a 50/50 arco pizz player and these strings seem to be a good compromise.... the perfect string for me would be Belcantos that pizz with a bit more character... ah well...

 

[pmad_bass]

Just dipping in. Put the Weichs on yesterday. First impressions as I compare them to the strings I have had on for last couple years (Medium Helicore Hybrids):

Played them yesterday for a bit, they seem to have settle in (at least re: staying in tune)....though mabye that's the bass settlling back in. I did need to tune them this AM. The G (and maybe the D) *seemed to be slightly larger gauge....which I like....(especially for Pizz) and have what I'll describe as a tad of the new string brightness. By that I don't mean harsh bright like the Heilocires (which were still bright ish after years) ...quite the opposite. They sound nice/smooth....warm....fatter maybe, right outta the pack. The E and A seem slightly darker and have a little less of what I describe as that new string brightness that I recall from previous sets (e.g. Spiros) during the break in period. The EPs seem to have less tension, are def less loud/less powerful than the Helicore Hybrids easier to play both Pizz and Arco. I did raise the action a bit (which negated some of the ease of playing Pizz wise). Not that I have a developed Spicatto...but they seemed to give a better bounce than the HHs.

I realize I'm only one day in...so will continue to check out and report observations.

 

[Fat bob]

New EP weich user here. Set has been on 2 weeks or so, coming from spiro weichs. My bass is much louder and fuller with the EPs, actually this is the loudest and fullest my bass has been. They're not as easy to play as the spiro weichs, but the sound!

 

[pmad_bass]

Did my first (orchestra) rehearsal last night. Gotta say, I think I'm hooked on these EPs.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I'm back to Evah Weich on my main bass after nearly 2 1/2 years with a set of Spirocores. While I do miss some of the brightness and growl, I am enjoying the nice feel under the left hand and the easy arco response. The latter is especially important to me as I like to play bowed melodies and solos on jazz gigs and I sometimes do theater work which calls for a lot of arco playing. With hybrid strings there is always a compromise, but I think Evah Pirazzi has the right mix for me.

- Steve

 

[Sam Dingle]

I'm back to Evah Weich on my main bass after nearly 2 1/2 years with a set of Spirocores. While I do miss some of the brightness and growl, I am enjoying the nice feel under the left hand and the easy arco response. The latter is especially important to me as I like to play bowed melodies and solos on jazz gigs and I sometimes do theater work which calls for a lot of arco playing. With hybrid strings there is always a compromise, but I think Evah Pirazzi has the right mix for me.

- Steve

Fine. We’ll be waiting for you back in the Spiro club...

So evahs on the carved and obligato on the hybrid?

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

So evahs on the carved and obligato on the hybrid?

Yes. Exactly where I was six years ago.

- Steve

 

[Hoyt]

I’ve had the EP full synthetic “Slap” set on both my Roadking and my Kay for over a year now. I’m still in love with the E, A, & D, but still hate the G string.

Granted I play mostly rockabilly, but I can never make gut strings last any length of time (basically I sweat battery acid).

So, I’m on the hunt for a G that will match well. Spiro solo gauge was too thin under the fingers and nasally for slapping. Pirastro Weich G is close, but after 6 months I can still feel and hear a difference.

I also tried a couple synthetics with no luck. The whole set is SO close to being perfect for me that it’s really frustrating.

 

[Francois Blais]

Tried Jargars?

 

[Reiska]

How about a nylon wound gut G? I`ve understood that Gamut offers this option for Lyon at least.

 

[AGCurry]

How about a nylon wound gut?

Yeah ... the Gamut Red Diamonds.

 

[Hoyt]

How about a nylon wound gut G? I`ve understood that Gamut offers this option for Lyon at least.

That might be an option. Can you bow them? I don’t bow often, but I would like to still have that option.

 

[Hoyt]

Tried Jargars?

I have not. They’re on my radar just because of the affordability. It’d be nice to try them on a bass to get a feel for the tension and tone though. I loathe buying strings sight unseen. So much money for something you are guessing “might” work.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Jargars were totally devoid of personality both times I tried them. I don’t get their appeal at all.

A Tynex-wrapped gut string under the bow might as well be a Supernil. Same concept. Similar grip.

 

[Reiska]

That might be an option. Can you bow them? I don’t bow often, but I would like to still have that option.

At least I couldn`t bow a now discontinued Pirastro Pizzicato G, but it might be different with Red Diamond or Lyon G. I recall rewievs that claimed Red Diamond G beeing bowable.

 

[Reiska]

@Hoyt Have you tried varnished gut?

 

[DoubleMIDI]

What about an Innovation Silver Slap G?

 

[Hoyt]

@Hoyt Have you tried varnished gut?

I haven’t. I tried a Göetz set and a Lezner set each lasting me less than 4 months. After that I decided gut strings just weren’t worth the investment or the hassle. I almost prefer the feel of steel strings anyway.