Double Bass New! Pirastro Perpetual Double Bass strings

[DaveAceofBass]

Pirastro strings go on a carved bass. Period.

A King Mortone gets strung with gut. Period.

You have to use the right tool for the right job.

Take it easy! You’re entitled to an opinion but no need to force it on others. I don’t care for guts, so that’s why I went with the Spiro/Obligato combo...very Charlie Haden sounding on my King Mortone bass. The carved bass has a fairly new set on it now.

I’ll probably change these tomorrow. I have an electric bass fusion gig today.

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

That’s years of experience trying ALL DUH STRANGS.

Just trying to save folks some money, that’s all!

 

[threetone]

Sorry gang, i’m back with my crusty old mittels on my carved Martin.

Having just made the switch;
- i like the higher tension of the Mittels more than the lower tension of the Perpetuals.
- The mittels have the classic sound, i really missed the fat Ray Brown midrange in the Perpetuals.
- Mittels are louder, no doubt.
- Perpetuals are nicer to bow, vibrato is beautiful and easy.
- Amplified, the Perpetuals were much much brighter than my old mittels, less low end in every string.

I may sound that i didn’t like the Perpetuals, but i did, a lot.
I just like the familiarity of my Mittels more.

Good luck everyone!

 

[Sam Dingle]

Sorry gang, i’m back with my crusty old mittels on my carved Martin.

Having just made the switch;
- i like the higher tension of the Mittels more than the lower tension of the Perpetuals.
- The mittels have the classic sound, i really missed the fat Ray Brown midrange in the Perpetuals.
- Mittels are louder, no doubt.
- Perpetuals are nicer to bow, vibrato is beautiful and easy.
- Amplified, the Perpetuals were much much brighter than my old mittels, less low end in every string.

I may sound that i didn’t like the Perpetuals, but i did, a lot.
I just like the familiarity of my Mittels more.

Good luck everyone!

The familiarity is the only thing I'm missing but each time I pick up my bass I love the sound. If they made a heavy tension version of these strings I'd be super happy. I asked and there was no plans to do that, but they are coming out with a solo set...

 

[rickwolff]

I'd like to start an 'I love Pirastro Perpetuals' club.

If you would like to join, @Sam Dingle, I think you deserve #1. If you want that I'll take #2.

 

[Sam Dingle]

I'd like to start an 'I love Pirastro Perpetuals' club.

If you would like to join, @Sam Dingle, I think you deserve #1. If you want that I'll take #2.

Works for me. These are great strings

 

[TroyK]

...
- Mittels are louder, no doubt.
...

This deserves to be repeated from time to time:

Strings are not "loud" or "quiet". Basses produce more or less volume with setup changes and strings can be an important component of a setup change. Some basses produce more sound with more tension, presumably if it takes more to get their tables moving, and some produce more volume with less tension. All basses speak the best when they reach their optimal setup.

My bass happens to choke down with tension and open up with less. At a certain point, (tuned down solos), it starts to go the other way. Your's sounds different than mine. If I ever buy another bass, this is something that I will focus on so that I have the most setup options.

Also worth occasionally repeating is that tension and stiffness are different things. Perpetuals are ropecore strings and when you take them out of the package, you can feel how flexible they are going to be. More or less opposite of how a ... Dominant, for example, feels out of the package. That is different than tension which is a measurement that I don't have the equipment to do.

Perpetuals may be lower tension than Spirocore Mittels, but that's only part of what you are feeling.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

Perpetuals may be lower tension than Spirocore Mittels, but that's only part of what you are feeling.

Agreed - "tension," "flexibility," and "gauge" are terms that are often improperly used interchangeably, or confused. They are all a part of the whole that comprises playability (for each player.) Because of the many variables, it can get complicated to try to help folks find their perfect blend of all three.

Put simply, Tension is the "weight" - in lbs. or kilograms - required to bring the string up to its required pitch at its designated scale length.
Flexibility is how easily the string can "bend" - a less scientific term, without practical measure in our world, it can vary based on the type of materials used in making the string. As a simple example, consider strings you may have in your overflow drawer; if you coiled them as tightly as you could without damaging them, a more flexible string could coil more tightly with less effort.
Gauge is the measurement of the string diameter - it's almost meaningless for upright strings, as the different materials strings are made of change the other two properties and render gauge only a useful stat for your personal preferences (do you like beefy strings or skinny ones?) For instance, a Eurosonic Ultralight E string is 0.150, while a Thomastik Spirocore Stark E is 0.120. But that Eurosonic, because of the materials used, is MUCH lighter in tension, and probably more flexible, than the considerably "thinner" Spirocore.

 

[threetone]

This deserves to be repeated from time to time:

Strings are not "loud" or "quiet". Basses produce more or less volume with setup changes and strings can be an important component of a setup change. Some basses produce more sound with more tension, presumably if it takes more to get their tables moving, and some produce more volume with less tension. All basses speak the best when they reach their optimal setup.

My bass happens to choke down with tension and open up with less. At a certain point, (tuned down solos), it starts to go the other way. Your's sounds different than mine. If I every buy another bass, this is something that I will focus on so that I have the most setup options.

Also worth occasionally repeating is that tension and stiffness are different things. Perpetuals are ropecore strings and when you take them out of the package, you can feel how flexible they are going to be. More or less opposite of how a ... Dominant, for example, feels out of the package. That is different than tension which is a measurement that I don't have the equipment to do.

Perpetuals may be lower tension than Spirocore Mittels, but that's only part of what you are feeling.

Agreed, nicely explained, tnx

 

[martinc]

Pirastro strings go on a carved bass. Period.

A King Mortone gets strung with gut. Period.

You have to use the right tool for the right job.

Kung Fu: Not so fast.

I had an early (1937) King Mortone and went through a pile of strings...including guts....before finding which ones brought out the best (for pizz) in that bass.
Spiro Weichs turned out to be the best for me except for the zingy G. For a while I used an Oliv gut on the G but ended up with a Spiro Weich/Dominant Solo G and Pyramid Soloflex G mix before I sold the King.
I have found there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to strings and basses. Set-up and the way it is played have a huge part to play in how a bass responds to strings.
The only generalization I could ever make is that Spiro Weichs may be a good starting point on a string quest. They have worked well on my 1949 Kay C-1, my King Mortone, my Eberle....and more recently my new Eminence EUB. And as per my recent posts, the Pirastro Perpetuals are in the same category.... for me.

 

[Peck_Time]

Just to add to the bass / string matrix: some basses feel more ‘stiff’ than others.

My plywood New Standard sounds good with Spiro Mittels (the strings it came with from Arnold & Wil), but they felt like playing fence wire. I have all guts on there now and that works well.

 

[martinc]

Just to add to the bass / string matrix: some basses feel more ‘stiff’ than others.

My plywood New Standard sounds good with Spiro Mittels (the strings it came with from Arnold & Wil), but they felt like playing fence wire. I have all guts on there now and that works well.

Peck_Time: A "New Standard"? Lucky you. Hope you are enjoying it.
I thought I was close to buying an American Standard a few years ago but it did not work out. I had planned on using a gut mix on it. Dennis Crouch has been using all-Pirastro Chorda's on his American Standard and it sounds wonderful.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

I just put a set on my one year old Chinese bass and have to run for an easy trio Country Club gig. First impressions:
-the E string growls like no string I have ever touched. Really ridiculous but I’m curious to see if it has enough meat when the music starts.
-the D and G are sufficiently dark that I think they will be good.
This set feels like Spirocore Weichs but almost in reverse. I generally find the Weich D and G to be too bright and the G, especially, goes thin up high.

The Oliv G is the best thing going. I’ll have to see if this Perpetual G doesn’t feel too thin.

I love the feel of these strings. Several gigs this weekend will decide their fate.

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Just to add to the bass / string matrix: some basses feel more ‘stiff’ than others.

My plywood New Standard sounds good with Spiro Mittels (the strings it came with from Arnold & Wil), but they felt like playing fence wire. I have all guts on there now and that works well.

I have used Spirocore Mittens for the E and A on my Chinese bass since I got it. The combo is very punchy but I always thought the tension was choking the bass. The Perpetuals have opened it up considerably. Whether it has that punch is to be seen.

 

[bassfiddlesteve]

I'd like to start an 'I love Pirastro Perpetuals' club.

If you would like to join, @Sam Dingle, I think you deserve #1. If you want that I'll take #2.

Sign me up for #3!

- Steve

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

Martin, I assure you I did my research.

On my ex-‘39 guts opened up the low end to an extent that was simply unmistakable.

The ‘34 I have now wears a full plain set.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Martin, I assure you I did my research.

On my ex-‘39 guts opened up the low end to an extent that was simply unmistakable.

The ‘34 I have now wears a full plain set.

How’s that plain E?

 

[martinc]

Sign me up for #3!

- Steve

Rick: #4???

 

[martinc]

Martin, I assure you I did my research.

On my ex-‘39 guts opened up the low end to an extent that was simply unmistakable.

The ‘34 I have now wears a full plain set.

Kung: That's great. They just did not do it for me on my King. I would have thought the guts would have worked well because those are the strings that were used back then.
Anyway....never mind me. After responding to your post it all came back to me how close I was to getting that American Standard. The guy decided not to sell it.
I'm heading off now to a corner to assume the pre-natal position and suck my thumb. And it's all your fault!

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

A few minutes into the second set th strings settled in, held pitch and sounded a bit darker. I grabbed the bow and was relieved by their response. They are staying on.