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Double Bass New! Pirastro Perpetual Double Bass strings

they bright and annoying for a week up to a month and a half on some basses just a warning
A month and half? Yikes, sounds a like Spiro break in.

I’m giving the Perp G another try with the Spiros. It’s a winner over the Sweich with the bow in multiple ways, but it sure is bright. I’ve done on average a couple of hours of arco practice on it for about a week now.

Patience?
 
That wasn't my experience. I'm sure they mellowed out a little bit in time, but there wasn't a big before and after on my bass.
That wasn’t my experience the first time I tried them either, that’s why I was puzzled.

But I am puzzled no longer. I just discovered the problem - the darn string wasn’t in the nut groove, it was sitting on top of the nut. Serves me right for not having my glasses on!
 
Progris report-
More metallic than the Kaplan solos but in the same ballpark, not Spirocore twangy.
More tension than the KS or KS/gut but very easy to play and definitely louder. On my bass a full gut set is really loud and resonant so tension isn't the whole story.
I like the KS arco a lot. I think the PP may need to settle a bit to catch up.
Keep in mind this is only at home so far...
I definitely like them.
-Jeff
 
...part, the 2nd,
Had a 2+ hour amplified outdoor gig this evening with cold humidity (mist and drizzle) and I'm pretty satisfied with the Perpectuals so far. They're plenty loud, sit nicely in the mix and amplify well (with the added benefit of not getting sticky or pitchy in humid, unsettled weather.) They don't quite have that beautiful bloom to the note that gut has (especially acoustically) but they're close. Overall they're a great option and will probably be living on my bass for the foreseeable future... FLWs!!
-Jeff
 
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Yeah I just put back on the "Perpectuals" as Jeff calls them after a gig with the spiros that practically broke my hands. I think I had the action too high.
The moment I put the perps back on (the Orchestras not the solos...) the warmth came back and the ease of play. I DO love the sound. I think that these strings are great. I am of course putting them on a specific small bass but I cant help but imagine all the basses I have owned with perps on. I can (imagine)hear how on some of the big open basses they prolly have a whole other thing going on. I think they are going to stay on now.
 
Yeah I just put back on the "Perpectuals" as Jeff calls them after a gig with the spiros that practically broke my hands. I think I had the action too high.
The moment I put the perps back on (the Orchestras not the solos...) the warmth came back and the ease of play. I DO love the sound. I think that these strings are great. I am of course putting them on a specific small bass but I cant help but imagine all the basses I have owned with perps on. I can (imagine)hear how on some of the big open basses they prolly have a whole other thing going on. I think they are going to stay on now.

My 43.5 inch scale juzek loves them for the loose reason
 
I think this has been discussed here or in other threads, but how do Perps compare with Zyex? They seemed aimed at a similar goal. I’m looking for a feel / tension similar to Obligatos, but with a sound closer to Spiros.
 
...I’m looking for a feel / tension similar to Obligatos, but with a sound closer to Spiros.

Having played and loved Obligatos, I would say the Perpetuals are very much a steel core equivalent to them, tending slightly more metallic. On my bass (42" string length,) the tension is a bit less than Obligato orchestra gauge and very similar to Spirocore 4/4 weich.
 
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Having played and loved Obligatos, I would say the Perpetuals are very much a steel core equivalent to them, tending slightly more metallic. On my bass (42" string length,) the tension is a bit less than Obligato orchestra gauge and very similar to Spirocore 4/4 weich.

I played Obligatos for years and I agree with this description. I also think the Perpetuals are clearer when amplified.

- Steve
 
I think this has been discussed here or in other threads, but how do Perps compare with Zyex? They seemed aimed at a similar goal. I’m looking for a feel / tension similar to Obligatos, but with a sound closer to Spiros.

Nothing like Zyex IMO. I think Perpetuals are very much in the ballpark of Spiro Weich more than anything, but with a slightly different tonality. They are also very soft on the hands, more so than Spiros to me. They are thin like Spiros, and not fatter like some synthetic strings.
 
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I bought an used set of Perps here recently.
I don’t like the G, and it seems I’m not alone.
The led me to try some mix-and-match with other strings.
Since I’m not a fan of growl all over the fingerboard, I found a great setup with:
Perp E, to get a solid, warm, growly bottom end.
Permanents on the A, D and G to get a clean, focused high end.
Works for me at least.
 
I felt the same way about the Perpetual G and considered subbing either an Obligato or Evah Weich G when I was trying them.

As I get more experienced I've actually been getting less picky when it comes to strings but I've found that I shy away from synthetic core strings (though I often miss the warmth of the Evah's) and am drawn more towards various steel core strings like Helicore and Spirocore. The Perpetuals are kind of unique in that, from my experience, they behave more like a synthetic core string which may be why I didn't end up sticking with them.

I'd like to try the Permanents at some point as I've heard of them being described as a better sounding version of the Helicore Hybrids.
 
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