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Double Bass Just purchased Helicore Pizz

L

Libersolis

Sep 9, 2004
180
2
45
Austin, TX
#1
I am changing from the orchestra strings that came on my bass years ago. Those things are just too freaking stiff for me. I mainly play jazz (though am studying with a classical guru right now) and found the orchestra strings to be to difficult to play on (not saying that you can't play jazz on them just saying I found them to be a bit difficult.

I know there are reviews of this string set, but just curious if anyone has had direct experience with the orchestra sets and the pizz. I have a carved bass BTW.
 
#3
Yes they are Helicore orchestrals. I found them to be much too rough on my fingers for both pizz and arco playing.

I just installed the full set of pizz a few days ago and am liking them much better. The main thing I was interested in was ease of play and these strings are much kinder to my hands, enabling me to practice longer and stay more relaxed. I know its all in the technique, but mentally for me if the bass is easier to play it makes me more relaxed.
I really like the way these strings sound, but they are new and I know they will even out so I can't really report on that though. So far I am happy with my purchase.
 
#5
Just adding my $.02. Had a set lying round and slapped them on. I'm growing to like them. Not quite as bright as spiros nor has the same punch, but they're... different. They are twangy, and still slightly banjo-y after a few days. They're on the bright side but a little more mellow than Spiro's. E & A esp twangy, and the G & D sound good without breaking in. The sound is more even than Spiro's I think.l

Playing the bass by itself, the sound is so-so. Play with other folks and it gets real interesting. The twangyness makes it easy to pick out from the background, and then tone reminds me of Milt Hinton's sound.

They're not bad. I'm enjoying them for what they have to offer.
 
#6
Libersolis,
I switched from the d'addario orchestrals to the hybrids last fall. I think the happiness came out of simply having something new on the bass. After a month or two, once the strings really started to settly in, I really began to become unhappy with their tone. Plenty has been plastered all over this site about the Evah Pirrazis from Pirastro, but I really urge you to check them out. There is a night and day difference between the tone (and the acoustic volume!) on my bass since switching to the EPs over the summer.
Tim
 
#7
tww001 said:
Plenty has been plastered all over this site about the Evah Pirrazis from Pirastro, but I really urge you to check them out. There is a night and day difference between the tone (and the acoustic volume!) on my bass since switching to the EPs over the summer.
Tim
Click to expand...

+1 I'd go for the Evah weichs. Great pizz., fine arco response. I say that even though I have switched back to Spiros. :hmm:
 
#8
I like the Helicore pizz. I was a guitarist long before bass, and always used D'Addario for electric, acoustic, and classical guitar. They just seemed to be the best bang for the buck.

I think the same for their Helicore strings, at least the hybrids and pizz (haven't used orchestral). The pizz strings are on my bass now and have been for about 1.5 years, they are starting to die out but lasted a pretty long time. The pizz's are fairly easy to bow as well. I have found they take at least a month to break in, they sound very tinny and thin at first but then dampen out.

The d string has broken on me twice within a month of putting it on. This apparently is not uncommon, just take the broken string back to your dealer and they should replace it for you.
 
#9
I started using D'Addario Helicore Pizz in the mid 90's and with a few detours (Spiro, Helicore Hybrid, Obligato, and EP, specifically), I can honestly say that they're my favorite string, despite the negative reviews you often read about them...

...imagine that. To each his own, I guess.

My bass, my hands, and my ears seem to really love them. I play as broad a mix of music as I can, which means I might make a jazz hit on a Monday, play in the studio on Tuesday, play a theater pit gig for the next 3 nights, and another jazz hit that weekend. Comparatively speaking, they fall exactly where I need to hear them. Easy, quick-speaking, loud pizz. Deep arco, quick-starting bow response, accurate pitch, and they're CHEAP. One thing I noticed about them recently: I tried EP Weich on my bass for a while due to the rave reviews I read about them. A good string (with a nice 'front-end' a la EP regulars), but lacking in the kind of overtones of steel strings. I'm a steel string guy and I'll trade chest-punching midrange for full-spectrum overtones. Steel strings, particularly the Heli Pizz strings, had that deep-deep overtone series that I wanted to hear. Not quite banjo-like at first, but pretty bright arco for the first couple of weeks. Of course, until my hands go up for sale in the classified section, they might sound different to you. For me, they've worked for a long time.

Remember, IMHO, YMMV, yadda, yadda, yadda...

Happy Thanksgiving...
 
#11
I've have had only problems with Helicore Pizzicato strings - especially with them breaking. I switched to Spirocore Mediums and am sold. I liked the sound of the Helicores over the short term but had so many problems with them breaking (no I don't take a hacksaw to the strings on a regular basis) that I just felt that I couldn't trust them. I wish I felt differently.

My $0.02.
 
#12
Flanning said:
How the longevity on your strings? The biggest complaint I see from people is that they go dead a lot quicker than other strings (I say this not having used them myself and trying to find great strings).
Click to expand...

I find that they mellow out quite nicely. I've never had problems with them going 'false' or having bad pitch later on. That being said, I don't beat the crap out of them ;)

I read alot of posts on strings and while your bass and your hands have much to do with the way they sound and their longevity, I find that action and how hard you play have everything to do with that as well. My action is med to med low (6mm-9mm) and I try to play as relaxed (i.e. LIGHT) as possible. While I've never broken a string, I can imagine that someone with 11mm-15mm heights really pulling might have problems. Helicore strings are not Spirocores. They can't take that kind of beating, IMO. The trade-off on my bass is that they're a little warmer, a little easier on my hands, and sound better arco. I have tried the other Helicores: Hybrid & Orchestra, and did not like either, particularly the Hybrids. Talk about a string dying...

BTW, I've had the same set of Heli Pizz (lights) on my bass now for almost a year now. Still going strong and gigging regularly...
 
#13
Hi all,

I think the Helicore Pizz are just a very sub-par effort to have something similar to Spiros. They are thinner in gauge (meaning their soft is softer as Spiro´s Weich), if that´s what one likes...

They bow good, but then again, so do spirocores if you know how. Good heavens, those spiros bow WAY better.

I had them Helicores (god knows why) for way too long before I went back to Spiro. There was nearly always something:

-G-String muff and dead right out of the box (if that´s "broken in", well...).
-A-String buzzy as ****.
-A-String breaking either right away or 2 days after I put them on.
-D-String feeling weird in terms of the winding being somehow loose.

I don´t know, I don´t see the point, especially since the price tag in Europe is the same as Spirocores (at least where I shop). Plus, paying maybe slightly more for Spirocores but having them on for years pays off in the end. D´Addarios always went dead after roughly a year for me.

Best

Sidecar
 
#15
For what it's worth. I used Helicore Orchestra medium gauge strings for a bit. I thought they were very easy on my hands, I'm not sure what you're feeling, might you have the heavy gauge?

I LOVED the pizzicato sound in my practice room and they may be my favorite arco strings in a vacuum. However, I don't live in a vacuum and they just didn't get by on a jazz gig. The sound was lost. I've never personally cared for the sound of their hybrid strings, except on my friend's bass, though I can't help buy wonder how that bass would sound with some different strings. I also played on the Helicore Pizz strings once or twice on other people's basses and thought they were loud and clear.

But, all helicore strings, with possible exception of the Orchestrals have many more reported breakages than most any other all metal string that I know of. I can't live with that risk, even if the dealer (I refer to anyone who feeds my string habit as a "dealer" by the way) will replace them. I just can't live with failure risk of any of my gear. If you've ever talked to anyone who has finished a gig without a D string, you'll agree.

Just my added vote. For bright, zero maintenance strings, Spirocores and Pirastro Jazzers are flawless. As other mentioned, there is the middle ground of hybrids (use and material). The Evah Pirazzis seem to be reliable after a few years on the market now with heavy use, but they don't sound like any of the Pizzicato strings we've been talking about here. Closer, perhaps to the Helicore Orchestrals.
 
#16
My E string, relatively new, just broke tonight. It just unraveled up near the tuning gear, out of the blue. So I came on TB to discuss and, sure enough, it looks like others have had a broken string issue with the Helicore Pizz's. Well, I am not a happy camper about it and am looking for a new string type in view of this. Suggestions? This is an Upton Hybrid on which I mainly play jazz, little or no arco.
 
#19
FWIW: I put helicore pizz's on my old chrissy hybrid. Not so sure about the E and A but the D and G are some of the best strings that bass has had. Matching them with a Spiro E and A might be good. Made me think twice about that bass vs. the Carved Cleve for a short moment.
 
#20
I put Helicore Pizz Heavies on my bass about a month ago. I really like them. I was concerned that they'd sound like fingernails on a chalkboard when bowed but I can get a good sound if I concentrate on being deliberate about committing my arm weight. The bowed sound is more penetrating than, say, what you'd get with Dominants but there is a lot to like about it if you work at it. The pizz sound is about the best I've experienced on this bass (Chrissy Hybrid), understanding that 'the best' is very objective. The Christopher seems to need a lot of tension to wake up so I'm not sure the Heavies would be the best for everyone.

I'm sure Sprio Mitts are much better strings but at roughly $80 less, I'm not complaining. I know that people have had quality issues with these strings. I noticed some cracking sounds as I brought them up to tension which I think was windings slipping against the pegs. I just let them sit for an hour or two and went back to it with no problem.

As a side note, I replaced them temporarily with Jargars because I was playing with the bow for a memorial service. I ended up not playing that piece. I think I felt like the Jargars were going to give me a much more lyrical arco sound. They did to some extent but I missed the directness and power of the Helicores and put them back on.

My strings search if far from over but I haven't thought about new stings or trolled the String forum for a while. I'm trying to enjoy my temporary sanity, recovery. This too shall pass.
 

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