Thanks, Don. I wish Beautiful Downtown Burbank wasn't quite so far away. I really enjoyed hanging out with you this summer. Next time I come out to visit my brother I'll stay a little longer so I can make it to one of your gigs.
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Double Bass New! Pirastro Perpetual Double Bass strings
- Thread starter luisraulmunoz
- Start date
Thanks, Don. I wish Beautiful Downtown Burbank wasn't quite so far away. I really enjoyed hanging out with you this summer. Next time I come out to visit my brother I'll stay a little longer so I can make it to one of your gigs.
Great question, Don! Time will tell if they deserve the name based on longevity.
As to the customers 'endle$$ pursuit of (unattainable) perfection" I couldn't resist trying these strings, but, honestly, I think I am just as happy with the Obligatos on my bass. Last time I tried to claim that the Gear Junkie was retiring I caught some flack, but I really think I have reached the point of diminishing returns when it comes to gear.
The more I hear of your, and other's, experience with these strings, the more "intrigued...." I become.
Thanks.
Hi Dave,
The Perpetuals feel 'softer' than the Obligatos (lower tension?) especially the E string. I'm enjoying trying these strings but I'm not sure I don't prefer the Obligatos. The Obli's are a little darker which I like on my bass. Every bass is different, of course, but the Obli's may be my first choice. The Perpetuals seem to ring more clearly in thumb position but I'm not cleared to spend much time there. Frankly, I'm just as happy staying in the 'money positions (the octave and below).
Don, if (or more likely 'when') I put the Obligatos back on I'd be happy to send you the Perpetuals to try. Let me know if you'd like to check them out.
Thanks, Rick....
I'll pass for now - until the collective Herd Verdict (tm) has been determined!
Thanks!
The Perpetuals are staying on (at least for now).
I was really driven more by curiosity than a desire for an improvement when I took off the Obligatos and put on the Perpetuals. I DO like that certain something which places the Oblis slightly more toward 'old school' vs the 'Perps' rather more 'Spiro-like' without the twang. They are both Excellent strings in my book.
My pianist friend really liked the sound of the 'Perps'. He said they were rich sounding with great articulation.
One thing my bass really likes is how the open E string speaks so freely. With most other strings it sounds a little choked. Also, the 'Perps' speak more clearly in thumb position (an area that is, unfortunately, largely outside my ken).
So, for now, the Perpetuals stay on. Time will tell whether I develop the same visceral relationship with these strings that I had with the Obligatos. Since that feeling was pretty much immediate when I put on the Oblis I think it's still likely I may go back to them, but I don't want to do that before living with these for a while.
I was really driven more by curiosity than a desire for an improvement when I took off the Obligatos and put on the Perpetuals. I DO like that certain something which places the Oblis slightly more toward 'old school' vs the 'Perps' rather more 'Spiro-like' without the twang. They are both Excellent strings in my book.
My pianist friend really liked the sound of the 'Perps'. He said they were rich sounding with great articulation.
One thing my bass really likes is how the open E string speaks so freely. With most other strings it sounds a little choked. Also, the 'Perps' speak more clearly in thumb position (an area that is, unfortunately, largely outside my ken).
So, for now, the Perpetuals stay on. Time will tell whether I develop the same visceral relationship with these strings that I had with the Obligatos. Since that feeling was pretty much immediate when I put on the Oblis I think it's still likely I may go back to them, but I don't want to do that before living with these for a while.
In thinking about how these two string sets compare I thought I'd visit Gollihur's descriptions of them:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Pirastro Obligato Upright Bass Strings
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Pirastro Perpetual Upright Bass Strings
I don't know who wrote these descriptions (is that you, Mark), but I think they are Bang-on.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Pirastro Obligato Upright Bass Strings
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Pirastro's Obligato strings have a solid synthetic core with a very thin metal wrap. They do a pretty good job emulating gut strings, and have a real organic vibe to them; ..... and they do have quite a satisfying thump to their tone. They also bow quite well. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Pirastro Perpetual Upright Bass Strings
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Pirastro's Perpetual strings, released in July of 2019, are a chromesteel/ropecore string that are designed to provide great clarity and punch for pizz playing, while offering excellent potential for arco too. With a much softer feel and flexibility when compared to similarly positioned strings, they are a new option that finds a perfect balance between the extremes.I don't know who wrote these descriptions (is that you, Mark), but I think they are Bang-on.
I've been using Spiro S42s with a Oliv G for almost three years so those are against what I'm going to compare the Perpetual set that's been on my bass for the last 10 days.
Tone: A very well balanced set with a G string that sounds like you're playing a bass from the get go.
Tension: They feel looser than Spiro S42s, closer to the Oliv G. They have a very nice bounce. Might like a midge more tension on the E but that's maybe because I'm still playing them as I play the Spiros.
Touch: They are very soft to the touch and easy on the fingers.
Arco: This is very subjective, but I find them to bow better than S42s. They start much easier and I can play with more dynamics (especially piano) with cleaner notes. I get much more scratchy noises with Spiros. Even better than how I remember Evahs.
Volume: I found them to be loud; even louder than my previous setup but it's not a fair comparison since the brightness of a new set can be deceiving when you compare it with older strings.
What would I like to be different on these? and this is personal preference: a thicker G string. Might be that I'm spoilt by the Oliv G, but I'm not a fan of thin G strings; I like to feel more meat under my fingers.
Last but not least, the yellow silks are a beautiful, subtle yellow.
I recorded some quick clips with my old Spiro/Oliv set, the Perpetuals/Oliv G and the full Perp set but I don't know how to post them. Suggestions?
Will these stay on my bass? Yes, at least for a while and then they might replace the Belcanto on my son's bass. He liked thema lot on my bass.
Tone: A very well balanced set with a G string that sounds like you're playing a bass from the get go.
Tension: They feel looser than Spiro S42s, closer to the Oliv G. They have a very nice bounce. Might like a midge more tension on the E but that's maybe because I'm still playing them as I play the Spiros.
Touch: They are very soft to the touch and easy on the fingers.
Arco: This is very subjective, but I find them to bow better than S42s. They start much easier and I can play with more dynamics (especially piano) with cleaner notes. I get much more scratchy noises with Spiros. Even better than how I remember Evahs.
Volume: I found them to be loud; even louder than my previous setup but it's not a fair comparison since the brightness of a new set can be deceiving when you compare it with older strings.
What would I like to be different on these? and this is personal preference: a thicker G string. Might be that I'm spoilt by the Oliv G, but I'm not a fan of thin G strings; I like to feel more meat under my fingers.
Last but not least, the yellow silks are a beautiful, subtle yellow.
I recorded some quick clips with my old Spiro/Oliv set, the Perpetuals/Oliv G and the full Perp set but I don't know how to post them. Suggestions?
Will these stay on my bass? Yes, at least for a while and then they might replace the Belcanto on my son's bass. He liked thema lot on my bass.
I've been using Spiro S42s with a Oliv G for almost three years so those are against what I'm going to compare the Perpetual set that's been on my bass for the last 10 days.
Tone: A very well balanced set with a G string that sounds like you're playing a bass from the get go.
Tension: They feel looser than Spiro S42s, closer to the Oliv G. They have a very nice bounce. Might like a midge more tension on the E but that's maybe because I'm still playing them as I play the Spiros.
Touch: They are very soft to the touch and easy on the fingers.
Arco: This is very subjective, but I find them to bow better than S42s. They start much easier and I can play with more dynamics (especially piano) with cleaner notes. I get much more scratchy noises with Spiros. Even better than how I remember Evahs.
Volume: I found them to be loud; even louder than my previous setup but it's not a fair comparison since the brightness of a new set can be deceiving when you compare it with older strings.
What would I like to be different on these? and this is personal preference: a thicker G string. Might be that I'm spoilt by the Oliv G, but I'm not a fan of thin G strings; I like to feel more meat under my fingers.
Last but not least, the yellow silks are a beautiful, subtle yellow.
I recorded some quick clips with my old Spiro/Oliv set, the Perpetuals/Oliv G and the full Perp set but I don't know how to post them. Suggestions?
Will these stay on my bass? Yes, at least for a while and then they might replace the Belcanto on my son's bass. He liked thema lot on my bass.
Upload your clips to SoundCloud or YouTube and post the link on TB.
Greg Clinkingbeard
Commercial User
I put these strings on a carved bass for a customer and really like them for pizz. I didn’t try to bow them.
They feel very pliable to me but still have a great core to the sound. The note has a nice clarity to it, almost like there is more tension to the string, if that makes sense. In a way, they remind me of Spirocore weich in the way they feel and their response but the D and G sound more mellow. Think a bit more polite. They are easy to get around on and a lot of fun to play. I didn’t find myself compensating in any way for any uneven tone or response from top to bottom as happens with some strings.
Pirastro makes great strings for sure. These are on the expensive side and I’m not sure I would spend the money on them, but they might last a long time.
They feel very pliable to me but still have a great core to the sound. The note has a nice clarity to it, almost like there is more tension to the string, if that makes sense. In a way, they remind me of Spirocore weich in the way they feel and their response but the D and G sound more mellow. Think a bit more polite. They are easy to get around on and a lot of fun to play. I didn’t find myself compensating in any way for any uneven tone or response from top to bottom as happens with some strings.
Pirastro makes great strings for sure. These are on the expensive side and I’m not sure I would spend the money on them, but they might last a long time.
It all sounds good to me, Fran. Certainly nothing lacking in your Spirocore/OLIV setup.
My test set is on it's way
- Steve, the Perpetual string-tester.
- Steve, the Perpetual string-tester.
My test set is on it's way
- Steve, the Perpetual string-tester.
You’ll enjoy them
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