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Double Bass New! Pirastro Perpetual Double Bass strings
- Thread starter luisraulmunoz
- Start date
Well, data doesn't lie, but it does surprise me sometimes.
I think I’ve only used a weich G once, about 10 years ago and it didn’t stay on the bass for very long. I’ve used a different G with Spiros ever since.
The Perp G sounds like it could work out tho if I can get used to the gauge. It still sounds “new.”
You may be right. 10 years ago I had a different bass that really didn’t sound good with Spirocore of any stripe.
One good thing about the Perp G/Spiro combo is the overall tension is very good, seems just right. I’ve been using Polychrome G mostly, which is bigger, stiffer and has a bit more tension.
A Sweich G is worth the experiment just to have an all Spiro set (for the first time in probably 10-15 years or so).
Between the Perp G and Weich G —
which has more depth?
Also, is it correct to assume the Perps are at least marginally easier to start with the bow than Spiro weichs?
Is there all that much difference between the two Gs?
— If not, then maybe I should go ahead and break in the Spiro that has been sitting new in the pack for 4-5 years now...
which has more depth?
Also, is it correct to assume the Perps are at least marginally easier to start with the bow than Spiro weichs?
Is there all that much difference between the two Gs?
— If not, then maybe I should go ahead and break in the Spiro that has been sitting new in the pack for 4-5 years now...
I had a Spiro Weich G as part of a set of Weichs for almost 6 years of mostly pizz practice, jamming and gigs on an Eastman Hybrid. I never really liked the pingy, metallic tone it got on my bass. Eventually I added a Mittel E to the set to get more depth on that string and this change in pressure on the top didn’t move the needle in the G’s tone either way.
A year later I gained access to a full set of Perpetuals and I instantly loved the more natural, organic sound of the Perp G on my bass. YMMV.
In fact, I liked the new tone so much I took a chance on a set of old Artone guts from the same source. I am currently bowing gut D/G and Perpetual E/A a lot in the COVID gig slowdown and look forward to starting fresh with my Spiro Weich set (for a baseline) on my new-to-me German shop bass that is currently on the operating table at The Bass Spa
I’ll give the weichs at least month of bowing to loosen up the strings and the instrument (I never really bowed the Spiros when they were on the Eastman) but after a fair trial, I won’t hesitate to switch to Perpetuals for comparison since the I love that G‘s tone and the Perps have been fairly kind to my developing Arco skills.
A year later I gained access to a full set of Perpetuals and I instantly loved the more natural, organic sound of the Perp G on my bass. YMMV.
In fact, I liked the new tone so much I took a chance on a set of old Artone guts from the same source. I am currently bowing gut D/G and Perpetual E/A a lot in the COVID gig slowdown and look forward to starting fresh with my Spiro Weich set (for a baseline) on my new-to-me German shop bass that is currently on the operating table at The Bass Spa
I’ll give the weichs at least month of bowing to loosen up the strings and the instrument (I never really bowed the Spiros when they were on the Eastman) but after a fair trial, I won’t hesitate to switch to Perpetuals for comparison since the I love that G‘s tone and the Perps have been fairly kind to my developing Arco skills.
It all depends on the bass...take that spiro and make it a full set. commit for a few months and see if it works.
Back during my Sweich phase I started with guest G strings and went through a few before even trying the Sweich G, then I was like...duh, why didn't I start with that. It was better by far than any substitute, arco, pizz and certainly balance with the set. I think I even documented that somewhere in the deep archives of TBDB. I recall that set overall feeling a little wirey to me, but not specifically the G.
To me, a full set of anything is always better than mix and match. I know, most bassists wont agree...
I agree. can't do mixed sets now. Tried many times. Only "edits" I can personally see is something like tension. Sprio light with medium E etc. I know people need to mess with gamut gut tensions but thats still the same.
This is clearly not a solid rule. I don't see many orchestra bassists with a full set on their basses.
I 100% agree, though I do feel compelled to mix with most sets. Perpetuals are a balanced set that I haven't messed with and Spirocore Weichs worked well for me as a set. Zyex worked as a set for me (sort of) as did Evah Pirazzis.
But a lot of sets (Like Jazzers) that I otherwise like seem either sonically or tactile-y unbalanced, so I do sometimes mix.
Well I just now swapped out the Perp G with the weich G and even tho it’s new and sitting next to broken in weichs & mittel E, it was clear right away that it works better than the Perp. So it will only get better as it breaks in. Nice.
Good suggestion - thanks!
give it a rub down with some vaseline let sit for 5 and then wipe off. Should help
Completely agree. A lot of players mix & match and have great success. If that works for them, more power to them. But I've tried it before but have never been satisfied with the results.
Another trick for Spiro Weichs, particularly the G, is to bow the ever loving snot out of them for a few weeks. Helps them lose that "zing" pretty quickly.
