I don't recall if any poly user mentioned this but the set I used a couple of years ago were nice- not too stiff, good both arco and plzz. The reason I went back to Evahs was that the polys were chewing up my fingerboard in a rather alarming way. They didn't feel that rough while playing but I'd never had a set of strings that left that sort of string marks. Of all the strings I've tried over the years, Evahs work the best for me.
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Double Bass Evah Pirazzi strings megathread part III
- Thread starter Chris Fitzgerald
- Start date
Hi, PB&J,
I've used both at various times. Right now they're Regulars. I have an extension and the regular long E seems a little punchier on my bass but the Weichs are not bad. I tried Perps when they first came out. I had polys on before that as a trial and they were okay other than the f'board issue. I've tried pretty much all of the major brands at one time of another(I've been at this awhile) but Evahs are my choice now and are the ones I go back to after trying others.
I've used both at various times. Right now they're Regulars. I have an extension and the regular long E seems a little punchier on my bass but the Weichs are not bad. I tried Perps when they first came out. I had polys on before that as a trial and they were okay other than the f'board issue. I've tried pretty much all of the major brands at one time of another(I've been at this awhile) but Evahs are my choice now and are the ones I go back to after trying others.
Thank you for your reply. I'm kind of in the same boat. I mostly bounce back and forth between Helicore Hybrids and Evahs and find I'm getting less interested in experimenting with different strings.
I came across an old recording I was on where I know I was playing Thomastik Superflexibles, sometime in the '80's. They sounded pretty good, a little metallic but not bad. They were very stiff as I recall(superflexible?) but they lasted for a long time which was great for a pro player with a young family who didn't want to change strings any more often than necessary. I would not play them now. Evahs are preferable in every way for me except that I have to change them a little more often. I'll probably be tempted by something new,like perps last year, or polys before that, but there'd have to be some real advantage to make me switch permanently.
not to throw another thing at ya but I liked the evah med extension E with the rest lights. Not sure if you’ve tried it but it’s a cool sound and tension the light uppers are slightly more bright IMO and nice after long gigs. I’ve settled on perpetuals though
Hi, Sam,
I've hesitated to try lights because in orchestra playing I have had some lighter strings bottom out and I don't want to raise the strings too much. I tried Evah Weichs but they were a little too light, although the next time I change strings I may try them again. It will probably depend on how I feel that day. I still have the perps I tried for a while, so who knows? I also still have a set of Superflexs from the '80's along with I don't know how many others. I really need to do some housecleaning.
I've hesitated to try lights because in orchestra playing I have had some lighter strings bottom out and I don't want to raise the strings too much. I tried Evah Weichs but they were a little too light, although the next time I change strings I may try them again. It will probably depend on how I feel that day. I still have the perps I tried for a while, so who knows? I also still have a set of Superflexs from the '80's along with I don't know how many others. I really need to do some housecleaning.
got ya, Evah lights are the only “light” string im ok with but to be fair the perpetuals are pretty light too
They were called that way because they came after their Precision brand, which were using a solid steel core and were much stiffer. (they are still available, fwiw)
The Superflexibles are using a steel rope-core. (braided steel)
I recall they came with the little donuts and metal pieces that were supposed to fit between the string and the bridge slot. I never bothered with those but I guess some people did. I suppose they were a holdover from the solid cores? They were still pretty stiff but I used them for years.
Yes, the small metal grooves were provided to prevent having a sharp angle at the bridge.
Pirastro were also providing those grooves at some point in the past, but that's been a long time ago.
Possibly with their Ultra-Sensitive strings. (also full-core)
Pirastro were also providing those grooves at some point in the past, but that's been a long time ago.
Possibly with their Ultra-Sensitive strings. (also full-core)
I rather think the metal parts for the bridge grooves were provided to let the string slip over the bridge more easily or to correct the bridge angle manually with less power.
I also got them a bit larger from Super Sensitive with a high C string (probably the Supreme when they have been available).
The rubber disk was meant to place between bridge and string letting the groove push through the hole, so that the rubber pressed against the string on both sides of the bridge. It was meant to tame high frequency components when the string hasn’t been played in and should be removed when the string got darker. Mainly to use with the G string or maybe the D too. Not for the lower ones since it would not have much effect there.
A high C is as well a candidate to use it.
I also got them a bit larger from Super Sensitive with a high C string (probably the Supreme when they have been available).
The rubber disk was meant to place between bridge and string letting the groove push through the hole, so that the rubber pressed against the string on both sides of the bridge. It was meant to tame high frequency components when the string hasn’t been played in and should be removed when the string got darker. Mainly to use with the G string or maybe the D too. Not for the lower ones since it would not have much effect there.
A high C is as well a candidate to use it.
Super Sensitive- I had forgotten about those. I won a set in an ISB raffle years ago but I don't remember if I liked them. I guess I must not have enough since I never got another set.
Hey folks, Happy New Year!
Well, after being a D’Addario guy for many years (switching back and forth between Helicore Hybrid and Zyex) I’ve decided to take the plunge and give EPs a try. Been perusing the Evah Pirazzi threads on TB as well as a very informative review on the String Emporium website and I was convinced to give them a spin.
During the pandemic I’ve been spending a great deal of time practicing with the bow and I saw many references to Evahs being a superior hybrid string. Can’t wait to get them on the bass and see if I can grab some of that magic!
So glad to have this wonderful resource to connect with other bassists and read about their experiences. Stay well out there.
Well, after being a D’Addario guy for many years (switching back and forth between Helicore Hybrid and Zyex) I’ve decided to take the plunge and give EPs a try. Been perusing the Evah Pirazzi threads on TB as well as a very informative review on the String Emporium website and I was convinced to give them a spin.
During the pandemic I’ve been spending a great deal of time practicing with the bow and I saw many references to Evahs being a superior hybrid string. Can’t wait to get them on the bass and see if I can grab some of that magic!
So glad to have this wonderful resource to connect with other bassists and read about their experiences. Stay well out there.
Over the past half year I've become fully committed to EP strings. I first put EP guts on my ply. I LOVED them for pizz/slap - but had some challenges bowing them up in higher positions. (I'm basically self taught w/ rudimentary arco skills.)
At the same time - during COVID - I've been working far more on my arco. I ordered EP weichs on my new hybrid which I received last month. I'm really liking them so far for both arco and pizz. I have to experiment with raising the action to see how they optimally slap. I sure like their feel far better than spiros. Disliking the way spiros felt under my left hand, I never used them long enough to be able to appreciate their sound.
I'm sure the inconsistencies I'm experiencing w/ arco have more to do w/ my technique than the strings. Looking forward to my first lesson w/ a new instructor tonight!
At the same time - during COVID - I've been working far more on my arco. I ordered EP weichs on my new hybrid which I received last month. I'm really liking them so far for both arco and pizz. I have to experiment with raising the action to see how they optimally slap. I sure like their feel far better than spiros. Disliking the way spiros felt under my left hand, I never used them long enough to be able to appreciate their sound.
I'm sure the inconsistencies I'm experiencing w/ arco have more to do w/ my technique than the strings. Looking forward to my first lesson w/ a new instructor tonight!
This was brought up recently in a thread on the EUB section, but does anyone know of a steel/rope core string that has similar tonal properties compared to Evah's?
As mentioned in a previous post, I finally got around to trying EP (weich) strings. I really wanted to like these strings because they seem to elicit so much praise. Unfortunately, I did not have the same reaction. Playing arco they were, as expected, tremendous. What didn’t work for me (at least on my instrument) was the pizz sound. I’ve heard some great bass sounds with Evah Pirazzis but it just didn’t happen on my bass. They seemed, to use a word I saw in someone else’s review of the same strings, to be “choking” the sound of the bass.
Not much sustain or volume.
Good news is, I just tried a new set of Obligatos and I’m really pleased with the sound & feel (both arco & pizz) so far. If you’re still in the hunt, don’t sleep on these Obligatos; they might surprise you!
Not much sustain or volume.
Good news is, I just tried a new set of Obligatos and I’m really pleased with the sound & feel (both arco & pizz) so far. If you’re still in the hunt, don’t sleep on these Obligatos; they might surprise you!
