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Double Bass Hybrid Strings - Evah Pirazzi vs Thomastik Belcanto

Paul Baker

Paul Baker

Nov 25, 2014
11
2
50
#1
This could be opening a massive can of worms but here we go :-)

I am looking for a new set of strings for my Upright. I do about as much pizz playing as I do arco, so am really looking for something that will tick both boxes. This seems to be quite a rare thing, but after much noodling around on various sites on forums, it seems to come down to a choice between Thomastik Belcantos and Pirastro Evah Pirazzis.

I know this is very far from being an exact science and is vastly dependent on the bass itself, it's set up, and just plain personal taste. However I welcome opinions and wondered what your thoughts might be.

Paul Baker
 
#2
I don't know anyone using belcantos for pizz, so I'm thinking you must mean the spirocores. Evah pirazzi's are really dark strings bowed or plucked. Spirocores are very bright and have a really good growl on the bottom strings. Also worth thinking about, pirazzi's have a synthetic core and so won't last as long before breaking down. Spirocores tend to last for years and years.
 
#3
I've played a bass strung with Bel Cantos. Fairly decent pizz tone, but not a lot of sustain. Maybe using the two top strings combined with Spiros on the bottom can be good. I currently use Evah Weich A D G with a Spiro Mittel E. It's a wonderful set up for my bass. The Evahs might do more for you as you say you do an equal amount of pizz and arco. Another Thomastik string to check out would be Dominants. I've never played them but they get nothing but praise.
 
#4
The other strings that meet your criteria besides the Evahs are Obligatos and Zyex. Lynn, I believe, is using the Zyex for the past year or more. It seems as though the Zyex and Evahs are becoming more popular than the Obs, but that could just be the newness on the market. As icanjam said, the Evahs tend to be dark, darker than the Zyex and Obs. I hear the Zyex as being brighter with more sustain, and in some ways, more punch. The Obs are in between, IMO, and some folks don't like the Obs tendency to roll, although it never bothered me. I hear the Obs as sounding like 50s recordings, good thump, not too much sustain and the Evahs have more depth - overtones? - IMO. I like the sound of both the Evahs and the Zyex, arco, but the Zyex were much brighter on the bass that I played them on. Not nasal, but almost violin like, while the Evahs have a darker, richer, more cello-like tone. All three bow and pizz very well. The Zyex are easier to press down and softer on your fingertips.
 
#6
I have two Shens: a carved Rogeri willow with Evah Pirazzi regulars, and a hybrid SB180 which now wears guts, but previously had Bel Cantos for several years.

Both originally had Spiro mittels, but the brightness and zing were not the pizz sound I wanted. The EPs did seem to have a stronger pizz sound than the Bel Cantos, but both sets were more than adequate for my requirements.

The EPs seem stiffer than the BCs, so you might consider EP weichs instead of regulars. Both BCs and EPs are outstanding for arco.

When I restring the Rogeri willow, I may go with BCs for three reasons:
1. less tension / stiffness
2. all steel instead of wrapped synthetic
3. just for a change
(of course, EP weichs would also satisfy #1 and #3, and I really can't give a rational explanation for preference #2)

I guess this does not help you much with choosing between the two, but I hope it's reassuring in that either would be a good choice.

Thanks,
Pete

(anyone: Is there any way to turn off *&^% spell check autocorrect? If I wanted to say "pizza", "Eps", and "weighs", I would have typed them that way!)
 
Last edited:
#7
Sean Riddle said:
I've played a bass strung with Bel Cantos. Fairly decent pizz tone, but not a lot of sustain. Maybe using the two top strings combined with Spiros on the bottom can be good. I currently use Evah Weich A D G with a Spiro Mittel E. It's a wonderful set up for my bass. The Evahs might do more for you as you say you do an equal amount of pizz and arco. Another Thomastik string to check out would be Dominants. I've never played them but they get nothing but praise.
Click to expand...

Hallelujah! Useful advice, thank you all.
I think after reading this and other threads, and also listening to some youtube vids, the evah pirazzi weichs are the one for me. However I am also considering the Spiro Mittel E set up that jazzcat_13 uses, partly for the extra sustain but also because that is the string I tend to abuse the most (I can sometimes be an agressive player and it is always on the E) and I would get more life out of the Spiro E rather than the pirazzi. I know the bow response will not be as good,but am wondering jazzcat_13 how you find the Spiro E under the bow?

Thanks again guys, this is by far the most useful advice I've had!
 
#8
I was using Spirocore Weichs for a while quite a while as a do-it-all string, they require a bit more care with the bow but it really is a great string. I was pretty happy but wanted a sound under the bow that had a little more definition. I tried a set of Flexocore Deluxe with a Spiro Mittel E and I've been really pleased, Pirastros' core seems much more flexible and I think that helps. I've heard nothing but good things about Evahs, but I prefer steel strings and have never felt good with synthetics.
 
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#9
Paul Baker said:
Hallelujah! Useful advice, thank you all.
I think after reading this and other threads, and also listening to some youtube vids, the evah pirazzi weichs are the one for me. However I am also considering the Spiro Mittel E set up that jazzcat_13 uses, partly for the extra sustain but also because that is the string I tend to abuse the most (I can sometimes be an agressive player and it is always on the E) and I would get more life out of the Spiro E rather than the pirazzi. I know the bow response will not be as good,but am wondering jazzcat_13 how you find the Spiro E under the bow?

Thanks again guys, this is by far the most useful advice I've had!
Click to expand...

The Spiro E is a cannon. Pizz and arco sound monstrous
 
#13
I think that Evahs are a great hybrid string and my preference. Belcanto's pizz sound works well acoustically, but IME don't cut it amplified. Their arco tone is awesome and they are my favourite classical string, but amplified pizz doesn't work for me on my bass.
I tried the spiro mix as well and that didn't really cut it for me either, especially in thumb position. This is only an issue if you use a pick up and I really like the Evah Weich as a hybrid string so that's where I've ended up.
 

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