Double Bass How do the Evahs compare to the Zyex strings?

[Sean Riddle]

just curious were the Evahs and Zyex mittel or weich? I was wondering if the Evah Weich would be similar in tension to a Zyex mittel.

People say Evah Weichs are really Mittels. I just stopped using Zyex mediums and switched Evah Weich on A D and G and Spiro Mittel on E. The Zyex have more tension than the Evahs IMO. They may be a bit similar, but the Evahs are nicer on my hands than the Zyex

 

[Tom Lane]

The Evah's were Weich, but I don't know about the Zyex, sorry I can't be of more help.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

If the surface was too rough, you can polish the surface of the string with fine steel wool. But don't use the one from the kitchen unless you washed out all of the soap that is hidden inside.

 

[daddarioorch631]

Yesterday, I had an opportunity to compare the Evahs with Zyex. Similar basses, 5 different bows. I found the Zyex very nice strings and at an excellent price. The Zyex are very smooth and low tension so they’re easy on the left hand. They have more sustain and are brighter than the Evahs.

Pizz, the Zyex had a bit more oomph in the lower register and spoke better in the 3rd octave because they sustain more. The 3rd octave with the Evah’s is almost a why bother because the note decays so fast it’s tough to hear the pitch. They had a bit more presence overall, IMO. Acoustically, I like their sound quite a bit, but I’ve heard them amplified and then I thought they had too much sustain for an upright, sounding a little too fretless bass guitar-like, but that could have been the room or the amp, I suppose.

Arco, both strings sang beautifully. Again, the Zyex were brighter with maybe a bit less depth, maybe more of a violin kind of tone rather than a cello tone, if that makes any sense.

I like the Zyex quite a bit, but I think I’ll stick with the Evah’s for now because I like their more complex and deeper tone.

Thank you for your review and kind words!

 

[martinc]

just curious were the Evahs and Zyex mittel or weich? I was wondering if the Evah Weich would be similar in tension to a Zyex mittel.

I found the Evah Weichs had more tension than the Zyex mediums. The Evah Weichs are dark and full....the Zyex have a punchy sound but not as dark as the Evah Weichs. Of the two.....I prefer the Zyex mediums for pizz on my German ply. The Evah Weichs are tough on the left hand if you play a lot. Maybe not a problem when you are young but not so great when you are a geezer.

 

[Mr Ralph]

Thanks Martin,
I got some Zyex Mediums hope to get them on my bass this week. I am probably not to far behind you can n the old geezer dept. I see you are from Peterborough I use to do a good bit of Muskie fishing just north of there in Lakefield. Katchawanooka and Stoney Lake.

 

[martinc]

Thanks Martin,
I got some Zyex Mediums hope to get them on my bass this week. I am probably not to far behind you can n the old geezer dept. I see you are from Peterborough I use to do a good bit of Muskie fishing just north of there in Lakefield. Katchawanooka and Stoney Lake.

Mr Ralph: The usual caveat applies though. Any string can sound good on one bass but not on another. Let us know what you think.

I moved to Peterborough from up north when I retired. It's a great area to live in. I seem to spend half my time in Lakefield because of my wife's connections there. Once a year my bass and I go out to an island on Stoney Lake for a band re-union. If you have not been up here for a while you would likely be surprised to see the disappearance of many of the old cottages around Stoney Lake, especially along Birchview Drive. They are being replaced by spiffy-looking new homes where people now live year-round.

 

[BassiklyAC]

Hi fellow bassists! Thought I'd chime in here as I've been using the Zyex strings with much satisfaction for almost a year now. I haven't used EP's so I'm merely offering my experience with one which may give you some insight as to how the Zyex play & sound.

I do enough arco work that the bow response with the strings I use is a significant factor. My experience has been that they bow great. When I chose the Zyex strings I was looking to move to a darker sounding string as my bass has a bright sound on its own. For pizz, what I didn't want to sacrifice was a long connected (modern?) sound for a thumpier less singing tone. I think Zyex succeeds in that department.

I also found that they are quite easy on the hands. There is a soft feel to them that allows for a great deal of articulation & wide range of expression. Finally, they project a strong fundamental that I'm pretty sure we all crave when we're laying it down and helping to "drive the bus".

Happy string hunting!
Adam

 

[PB+J]

I just put a set of Zyex strings on my bass, and so while I can't judge them long term, I can say that they are very different from the Evahs. I loved to sound of the Evahs. Pizz style they had this really great "thunk" on the front of the note, and they were dark and smooth. But after playing a set for a long time, about two years, I came to find them hard on the hands. Evahs are stiff-feeling, or they were on my bass

The Zyex feel completely different--much softer/lower tension feeling. They seem to be a more flexible string. They don't feel or sound like steel strings. So far I dont like the tone of the Zyex, there's a twangy rubber band thing going on. But they need to settle in. But in general Evahs and zyex seem radically different to me.

 

[PB+J]

So three months with the Zyex. I'm very happy with them. I'm over Spiros--done. Goodbye, import tarriffs.

I still miss the front end thunk and dark tone I got from Evah weichs. But they were hard on the hands. The Zyex after three months have lost all that nasty twang and now they have the articulation of spiros but without the steely zing. Finally, somebody knocks spiros off the throne

 

[Eric Hochberg]

I've been using Zyex Lights since November. I decided to give them a try after hearing a recording of Ed Fuqua and digging his sound. They are really working great for me so far, both arco and pizz. Fat, punchy, with clarity and growl and very easy to get a solid, singing sound with the bow. I was an Evah user (all gauges) for a number of years. They probably come closest for me to Evah Weichs as hybrid strings, but are less dark which seems to bring out more "personality" in the sound, as with Spiros. They have a "sweet" upper register sound contrasting with Evahs and Spiros on this bass. There have been times when they have felt too loose, but raising the bridge a bit brought them back to a feel I can work with. These strings are also easy on the hands which I appreciate.

So, after 2.5 months, they are winners for me!

 

[Selim]

I've been using Zyex Lights since November. I decided to give them a try after hearing a recording of Ed Fuqua and digging his sound. They are really working great for me so far, both arco and pizz. Fat, punchy, with clarity and growl and very easy to get a solid, singing sound with the bow. I was an Evah user (all gauges) for a number of years. They probably come closest for me to Evah Weichs as hybrid strings, but are less dark which seems to bring out more "personality" in the sound, as with Spiros. They have a "sweet" upper register sound contrasting with Evahs and Spiros on this bass. There have been times when they have felt too loose, but raising the bridge a bit brought them back to a feel I can work with. These strings are also easy on the hands which I appreciate.

So, after 2.5 months, they are winners for me!

Eric, can I ask why you chose the light gauge over medium? Did you move to the lights after trying the mediums? I've yet to try any Zyex string, but since arco and pizz are equally important to me, I'm interested in any string that works well for both.

 

[Feral Feline]

+1 Why Light over Medium Mr Hochberg?

I've got a Light Zyex set headed my way, was using EP solos tuned regular, but on a different bass than what the Zyex will be on.

 

[james condino]

Aside from any tonal preferences, the main trouble with both of these string choices is that they are a weak synthetic core with an even weaker outside wrapping that will fail much too soon and leave you and your bank account depressed!

 

[Feral Feline]

Never had a problem with my EPs, but my Oblis ... acted like Rice Crispies' Snap Crackle and Pop.

 

[Ed Fuqua]

Aside from any tonal preferences, the main trouble with both of these string choices is that they are a weak synthetic core with an even weaker outside wrapping that will fail much too soon and leave you and your bank account depressed!

That hasn't been my experience, James. The Zyex that I have on my bass have been on several years. They still tune true, but I have started feeling that I have lost some volume in the last few months, so I'm thinking about a new set.

 

[martinc]

My Zyex medium A, D and G have been on and off the bass two or three times (for gut, Innovation and Flexocor experiments) in a period of about a year and a half. They still sound good and full and stay in tune. I don't expect to have to replace them anytime soon. But when I do, I'm sticking with the Zyex mediums.

 

[Eric Hochberg]

+1 Why Light over Medium Mr Hochberg?

I've got a Light Zyex set headed my way, was using EP solos tuned regular, but on a different bass than what the Zyex will be on.

I started with the lights because that's what Ed was using and I'm going for ease of play with daily use. I'd like to try the mediums at some point, too.

Oh, and it's Eric, please!

 

[Feral Feline]

Thanks for the swift reply, Eric.

Still waitin' for my local to get the Zyex Lights in... Will replace hellcores on my Shen; ease of play sounds good to me!

 

[martinc]

Let me correct some things that have been written about the Zyex strings:

- Zyex Medium tension. They are nowhere near the tension of Eva Weichs. Just check out the tension charts if you can't actually play the two strings. I have tried both strings and the closest string to the Zyex mediums in terms of tension is Spiro Weichs. Tensions from posts here on TB are:
EP Weichs: G-62.9 lbs, D-65.4lbs, A-71 lbs, E-68lbs
Zyex medium: G-61lbs, D- 62.5lbs, A- 64.5lbs, E- 66lbs.
I realize a bass set up (tailpiece angle etc) can make a string feel stiffer but it's all relative. All strings on such a bass would feel stiffer.

- "steel windings" on the Zyex: the G string is titanium, the D is stainless steel, the A and E are tungsten.

- descriptions such as "bright" and "growly". The reason I bought them and have kept them on is precisely because they are not bright and growly. At first they are a bit like new Spiro Weichs with that slight zingy-ness but once the Zyex have been on for a few days they settle down (like the Spiro Weichs) and produce a nice solid fundamental. No string should be judged for what it sounds like when first installed.

I realize that we all have different basses and different ears. But for folks who are scanning these string reviews to help determine a new string purchase, there needs to be some clarification on criticism that has been raised when it is counter to the facts and general experiences, such as those I have addressed.