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Double Bass Innovation Silver Slap vs Piastro Evah Pirazzi Slap

Which do you like best?

  • Innovation Silver Slaps

    Votes: 6 35.3%

  • Piastro Evah Pirazzi Slaps

    Votes: 11 64.7%
  • Total voters
    17
jdh3000

jdh3000

May 16, 2016
1,702
1,830
#1
I think I've narrowed down my string search to these two for pizzicato and slap(bowing not necessary); styles are bluegrass, rockabilly, and country

I'm wondering what y'all's experience with these two; durability, ease on fingers, volume, tone... Just how they compare overall and which you all like best.

Thanks!
 
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#3
I haven't used Evahs, so can't really compare (so didn't vote).

For the bluegrass heavy roots music I play (and slap for), I've settled on SilverSlaps EA over SBW Deluxe Dirty Guts D (.105") G (.095"). On my DB it's a well balanced mix for tone, clarity, volume and feel both acoustically and amped. This mix has been at work on my DB for 3.5 years with no wear showing yet, but YMMV.

@Francois Blais has it right though, different strings do different things on different instruments. Just have to make an educated guess, and then dive in and try them.
 
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#4
Francois Blais said:
Get both and let your bass tell you what she likes.
Nobody can guess how your instrument will perform with them I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

Don Hergert said:
@Francois Blais has it right though, different strings do different things on different instruments. Just have to make an educated guess, and then dive in and try them.
Click to expand...

I appreciate the advice, and I wish I had the scratch to throw down one a couple sets at once, because that would definitely tell me something... unfortunately I can only get one set right now.

I just trying to get a pretty good idea before I pick one.

Thanks!
 
#5
You can buy new individual strings from various sellers including Gollihur Music. That's how I got my SilverSlaps E and A. And you can order a bump set (6-strings of graduating gauge and tension) of Superior Bassworks Deluxe Dirty Gut strings direct for $62.97; Amazon also carries them.

FWIW, I really like the whole set of Dirty Guts when amped, but the E and A were too quiet and unclear acoustically, which is how I play most of the time. The SilverSlaps E and A took care of that.
 
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#6
I've tried both and they are pretty different. The one thing they have in common is that they are low tension.

Evah Slap: The E & A are the best match for a gut D & G I have tried, and if I ever play gut again that's what I'd choose. They are dark sounding and the flats metal metal wrap makes them both comfortable and bow-able. I tried the synthetic D & G on a friend's bass and I was surprised at how gut-like the sound was. Not a good set if you like a lot of growl, but that's not really the goal here.

Innovation Silver Slap: now that I think about it I actually tried the Golden Slaps, but from what I've read they are basically the same as the Silver Slaps, but in a different color. I didn't like these for jazz pizzicato as they had a springy sound with strange overtones that seemed to mask the fundamental. They were easy to slap, but they were very difficult to bow. Unlike the Evah Slaps, there is a plastic quality to these strings, both in sound and feel. I'm told that they mellow out and become darker over time, as most strings do, but I did not stick with them for long enough to experience this. Acoustically, they may have been a touch louder than the Evah Slaps, or that was my perception as they were brighter.

I realize I mentioned bowing which is not a concern, but if I were playing a mix of pizzicato and slap in any genre I'd go with the Evah's

- Steve
 
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#8
bassfiddlesteve said:
Innovation Silver Slap: now that I think about it I actually tried the Golden Slaps, but from what I've read they are basically the same as the Silver Slaps, but in a different color.
Click to expand...

I know that's what the former company used to say, but it's incorrect. The materials used in both Silver and Golden Slaps are different and will yield some different sounds, with the latter being more focused and forward sounding than the former.


bassfiddlesteve said:
… there is a plastic quality to these strings, both in sound and feel.
Click to expand...

That's a direct result of the nylon tape used to build up the string to the final diameter.
 
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#10
jdh3000 said:
I appreciate the advice, and I wish I had the scratch to throw down one a couple sets at once, because that would definitely tell me something... unfortunately I can only get one set right now.

I just trying to get a pretty good idea before I pick one.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Watch the Classifieds, these strings are often offered at very good prices.
You'll save a lot of money when buying second-hand.
 
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#11
I used Evah synthetic Slaps a lot last year for gigging (late Spring-early Autumn). They're durable (though after taking them off and trying the G with a mixed set, I must say be careful of the wrap if you take them off/on). They are "soft" on the hands, delightful really. As for how the are on your fingers depends on how you are on them. When I'm stinky to any strings they reward me with blisters. Volume & tone...not sure how to answer these cuz I'm a TI Spiro junkie these days. To be fair re: vol/tone, I'm seriously thinking about putting my set on the Czech flatback to hear if I like them on "my other axe".
 
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#12
Dang, right I after I posted that I thought "I hope @Jon Moody doesn't read this" :laugh:

I'm a big fan of GHS strings, but this particular Innovation set wasn't for me. Perhaps I would have tried the Silver Slap instead set if I had know about this difference.

- Steve
 
#14
bassfiddlesteve said:
Dang, right I after I posted that I thought "I hope @Jon Moody doesn't read this" :laugh:
Click to expand...

Hahahaha sorry, no such luck lol

bassfiddlesteve said:
I'm a big fan of GHS strings, but this particular Innovation set wasn't for me. Perhaps I would have tried the Silver Slap instead set if I had know about this difference.
Click to expand...

If they don't work for you, that's totally cool! My only gripe is when someone says something like "I don't like them" without any thought behind it. I find that more on the EB side of things. DB players seem much more intune with their basses; what they excel at, and where the shortcomings are.

The Silver Slaps aren't bad, just a bit more mellow than the Golden. I'm using a hybrid Rockabilly/Silver Slaps set on a Baby Bass, and I might go to the Golden Slaps for the extra definition on the pizz attack.
 
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#16
While we're waiting for Jon's response, here's what Gollihur Music's Krivo description says:

"
...

Strings reported to be GOOD for magnetic pickup use:

  • Eurosonics
  • Pirastro Original Flexocore
  • Thomastik Spirocores, Superflexible
  • Corelli 370 (I can vouch for these)
  • Innovation Polychrome (work but with lowered output)
  • D'Addario Zyex (work but with lowered output)
  • Jargar dolce
  • D'Addario Helicore-- (Note: though I have my concerns with the E string; seems as if its response is somewhat lower than the other strings, at least the Orchestra and Hybrids I tried seemed that way.)
...
"
 
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#18
Had Rockabilly slaps on my ply for a number of years and loved them. Very poor for arco. No experience w/ Innovation's other products.

Replaced them w/ EP slap guts, and love these SO MUCH more. Plus easily bowable. IMO there's no comparison.

I guess I understand going w/ Innovations if $ is that much of a consideration, but when so many strings say they are "gutlike", why not see what gut is actually like? :D
 
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#20
Ed S said:
Had Rockabilly slaps on my ply for a number of years and loved them. Very poor for arco. No experience w/ Innovation's other products.

Replaced them w/ EP slap guts, and love these SO MUCH more. Plus easily bowable. IMO there's no comparison.

I guess I understand going w/ Innovations if $ is that much of a consideration, but when so many strings say they are "gutlike", why not see what gut is actually like? :D
Click to expand...

I believe they are both close in price at the String Emporium, that of course would both being fully synthetic.

Thanks!
 

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