Double Bass New Evah Pirazzi slap strings from Pirastro!

[ArcoPlayer]

Evah Pirazzi Slap Set A much less tension than the Eudoxa A. Don't have a Eudoxa E to
compare to the Slap Set E, but the Slap Set E is about the same tension as the Slap Set A.

 

[Clarkybass]

OK, Pirastro were so kind to send me a prototype synthetic G as well as D. So I put together a hasty vid on my Android phone. Please excuse scruffy playing, especially of Charlie Haden solo line. Hope it gives you all an idea of how these sound. Dark and closer to gut than EP Weich and really quite low tension (I can't measure them but certainly no higher than Velvet strings in my opinion). I think these would be an attractive option as an old school set, competing with the likes of Gut-a-like, Innovation, Cordes Lamberts etc but (in my view) better made and backed by a bigger company. Also a viable alternative to Velvet (and probably cheaper I would guess)

 

[Jay Corwin]

this video is private

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Watching now. How's the volume? Do they move air?

I'm impressed that Pirastro progressed from the conceptual phase of development to prototyping in just a few weeks.

 

[Clarkybass]

Watching now. How's the volume? Do they move air?.

Similar volume on my bass to Spiros - plain gut D and G are very loud on my bass and the Slap set synthetic D and G are definitely not as loud

 

[Francois Blais]

Did you crank up the action much on the bridge?
Nice tone anyway.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

Man... I might be interested in the D at least. Especially for a travel bass!
-J

 

[Clarkybass]

Did you crank up the action much on the bridge?
Nice tone anyway.

Nope, kept the bridge essentially the same as it was when it had Spiros on it before. String height at end of fingerboard is 8mm at E and 5-6mm at G. If I were a slapper or playing without an amp I would obviously raise the action a bit

 

[Clarkybass]

Man... I might be interested in the D at least. Especially for a travel bass!
-J

I have Damien Dlugolecki gut D and G at home and the Dlugolecki G definitely sounds sweeter (as well as louder) than the Slap set hybrid G. The gut D though is boomy and indistinct on my bass and I prefer the Slap set synthetic D for its better note definition

 

[Clarkybass]

Pics

 

[Clarkybass]

It's an unnamed German flatback from the 1880s and is all carved. However it has so many repairs and cracks it may as well be plywood!

 

[martinc]

It's an unnamed German flatback from the 1880s and is all carved. However it has so many repairs and cracks it may as well be plywood!

Clarky: Thanks...I removed my question after I noticed your list of basses in your signature line.

 

[Sam Dingle]

So that's the full hybrid set?

 

[Clarkybass]

So that's the full hybrid set?

Edit (following comment below): these are entirely synthetic

 

[Feral Feline]

OK, Pirastro were so kind to send me a prototype G as well as D. ...

Just to fully clarify: this is an all synthetic set? "Hybrid" to me means there's still some gut in the mix, so if there's no gut in the equation at all then saying it's a "full hybrid" is oxymoronic.


A fully synthetic set would appeal to me as I think the local heat/humidity would raise too many issues for me to have a gut set.

Been using Evah solo set tuned down to standard and wonder how that would compare with this prototype set...

 

[Clarkybass]

Just to fully clarify: this is an all synthetic set? "Hybrid" to me means there's still some gut in the mix, so if there's no gut in the equation at all then saying it's a "full hybrid" is oxymoronic.

A fully synthetic set would appeal to me as I think the local heat/humidity would raise too many issues for me to have a gut set.

Been using Evah solo set tuned down to standard and wonder how that would compare with this prototype set...

My bad. I thought hybrid meant the same thing as synthetic. So, yes, for the avoidance of doubt, these prototype D and G strings are like the stock Slap set E and A, i.e., entirely gut-free

 

[HateyMcAmp]

Nice! Looking at the pegbox photo, something that sticks out is how uniform the gauge is from string to string. In the past I've tried down-tuned solo strings as a gut alternative but always found the feel of such thin strings were not my preference, particularly on the uppers. @Clarkybass, could you be so kind as to compare these strings to Velvet Blue? I've currently been using them after years of gut and Animas, but I perceive them as being too bright and thin-feeling on the uppers. Maybe the slaps are the ticket in this regard?

Another reason I really hope that these strings make it to mass production is that they seem like they could be the holy grail of pizz/arco/slap strings. Steels bow and pizz, but the slap is compromised. Gut and nylon pizz and slap, but the arco gets a little tricky. Having a thick, low tension string with solid bowability would really be a dream come true. Please let Pirastro know that other bassists are very curious!

 

[Clarkybass]

Nice! Looking at the pegbox photo, something that sticks out is how uniform the gauge is from string to string. In the past I've tried down-tuned solo strings as a gut alternative but always found the feel of such thin strings were not my preference, particularly on the uppers. @Clarkybass, could you be so kind as to compare these strings to Velvet Blue? I've currently been using them after years of gut and Animas, but I perceive them as being too bright and thin-feeling on the uppers. Maybe the slaps are the ticket in this regard?

I probably should have said that I am enjoying the thick gauges of the upper strings as I too don't like skinny steels. The synthetic D/G are certainly much chunkier than Velvet Blues and probably not far off Velvet Garbos in terms of gauge. The D and A are remarkably similar in gauge, so much so that I had to refer to the website to check the A silk colour and make sure I had them the right way round when installing (I had re-installed my Spiros before the prototype G arrived from Pirastro).

The synthetic G specifically feels very similar to me to an Oliv G in terms of smoothness and gauge but is noticeably lower tension. It doesn't sound as good/complex as an Oliv G but you wouldn't expect that (especially given the price of the Oliv!) but its not far off.

To your question, the Slap set are deeper and much less bright than Velvet Blues (which I always found had a metallic-y zing compared with other Velvets) as well as chunkier under the fingers. I really do think Pirastro could be on to something if they decide to commercialise this full set (assuming there are no issues with string longevity).

For balance, I think the downsides are (1) there is no real growl on the lower strings for those that love that particular quality (2) the E is a tiny bit thuddy and less distinct than the ADG (3) you inevitably lose a bit of a volume with the lower tension (although I think these are not dissimilar to Spiros in overall volume) and I don't think they project as well as plain gut on the upper strings. However, I think those that play bluegrass/old-time, roots or Blue Note era jazz will like these a lot. They are also VERY easy on the hands which matters to me as I have had some issues in the past (broken fingers, gout).

 

[Clarkybass]

Another hasty clip, after a morning run (so excuse hi viz top and sweaty appearance!)

 

[martinc]

I probably should have said that I am enjoying the thick gauges of the upper strings as I too don't like skinny steels. The synthetic D/G are certainly much chunkier than Velvet Blues and probably not far off Velvet Garbos in terms of gauge. The D and A are remarkably similar in gauge, so much so that I had to refer to the website to check the A silk colour and make sure I had them the right way round when installing (I had re-installed my Spiros before the prototype G arrived from Pirastro).

The synthetic G specifically feels very similar to me to an Oliv G in terms of smoothness and gauge but is noticeably lower tension. It doesn't sound as good/complex as an Oliv G but you wouldn't expect that (especially given the price of the Oliv!) but its not far off.

To your question, the Slap set are deeper and much less bright than Velvet Blues (which I always found had a metallic-y zing compared with other Velvets) as well as chunkier under the fingers. I really do think Pirastro could be on to something if they decide to commercialise this full set (assuming there are no issues with string longevity).

For balance, I think the downsides are (1) there is no real growl on the lower strings for those that love that particular quality (2) the E is a tiny bit thuddy and less distinct than the ADG (3) you inevitably lose a bit of a volume with the lower tension (although I think these are not dissimilar to Spiros in overall volume) and I don't think they project as well as plain gut on the upper strings. However, I think those that play bluegrass/old-time, roots or Blue Note era jazz will like these a lot. They are also VERY easy on the hands which matters to me as I have had some issues in the past (broken fingers, gout).

Thanks Clarky ...excellent assessment. Just when I thought I had finally found my best string combo.......